While his overall approval ratings may be inching downward, President Obama’s job approval ratings on the economy are holding steady. But “steady” means three in 10 Americans (30 percent) giving the president positive ratings for his handling of the economy; 70 percent still give him negative marks, which is unchanged from last month. These are […]
Tag: legislation
Posted in, National, Store News
Top 8 Ways Grocers Can Survive Plastic Bag Bans
by Pete Grande, CEO, Command Packaging For The Shelby Report All over the country, plastic shopping bags are being outlawed in grocery stores and other retail outlets. Fees are being imposed on all shoppers who do not bring their own bags. Plastic is no longer an available option at the checkout counter except at stores […]
Posted in, California Perspective, Guest Contributors, West
A Light At The End Of The WIC Moratorium Tunnel?
by Ron Fong, CGA president/CEO For The Shelby Report California continues to suffer under an indefinite moratorium on new WIC vendor authorizations. The issue remains one of the most critical facing California’s retail grocers. The California Grocers Association (CGA) has taken a multi-pronged approach in an attempt to help the California WIC Department and the […]
Posted in, National
NGA, FMI Support Effort To Reform Patent System
The National Grocers Association (NGA) and Food Marketing Institute (FMI) have voiced their support of patent system reform. NGA VP of Public Affairs Greg Ferrara made the following statement upon introduction of the Innovation Act of 2013, a patent reform bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week: “NGA commends Chairman (Bob) […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
NGA Member Testifies On Healthcare Law’s Full-Time Definition
National Grocers Association (NGA) member Steven Hermann, VP of Paul’s Supermarkets based in Eldon, Mo., testified this week before the House Small Business Subcommittee on Health and Technology at a hearing titled “The Effects of the Health Law’s Definitions of Full-Time Employee on Small Business.” Hermann’s testimony, on behalf of NGA, focused specifically on the […]
Posted in, National
SNAP, WIC Benefits Continue During Government Shutdown—For Now
A number of state grocery associations are reporting that there has been confusion over the contingency plans for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and WIC during the government shutdown. There will be no change in the SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) benefits for October, though the future of issuances for November and beyond are […]
Posted in, National
New House Farm Bill Cuts $39B From SNAP Budget
The House of Representatives passed its latest version of the Farm Bill Thursday with a vote of 217-210. One of the most widely debated issues, food assistance and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is cut by $39 billion in the current version. According to Feeding America CEO Bob Aiken, who recently undertook the SNAP […]
Posted in, National
NGA Provides Testimony At Swipe Fee Litigation Fairness Hearing
The National Grocers Association (NGA) provided testimony Thursday at a fairness hearing before U.S. District Judge John Gleeson in Brooklyn, N.Y., in the case “In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation.” The purpose of the hearing was to determine whether to approve the motion for final approval of the settlement. After […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Whole Foods And PBS Kids Partner To Support Healthy Eating
Whole Foods Market and PBS Kids have partnered to offer families tools to support healthy eating. Designed to leverage the educational content of PBS KIDS and Whole Foods Market’s commitment to nutrition, the partnership will provide families with free resources in Whole Foods Market locations across the country as well as online. The effort kicks […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Wenning Announces Retirement From NGA
Tom Wenning, EVP and general counsel for the National Grocers Association (NGA), has announced his retirement, effective in December. “It has been a real honor and privilege to be a legislative, regulatory and legal advocate on behalf of independent retail grocers and wholesalers for the last 40 years before Congress, presidential administrations, regulatory agencies and […]
Posted in, National, Southeast
Alabama Grocers Honor Rep. DeMarco For ‘Buy Alabama’s Best’ Advocacy
Alabama House Rep. Paul DeMarco (District 46) received the Alabama Grocers Association (AGA) Spirit of Alabama Award at the Alabama Grocers Association Annual Convention in Sandestin, Fla., in July. AGA President Ellie Smotherman Taylor presented the honor to DeMarco for his “support in promoting positive and effective legislation for the food industry and for his […]
Posted in, National
NGA: Corporate-Only Tax Reform Is A Non-Starter
President Obama released on Tuesday a proposal that attempts to simplify the tax code for American businesses by reforming only corporate tax rates. Though the National Grocers Association (NGA) says efforts to lower the top corporate tax rate from the highest in the world at 35 percent to 28 percent is a step in the […]
Posted in, National
NACS: ‘We Fundamentally Won On All Counts’ In Swipe Fee Decision
The U.S. District Court ruled today in favor of merchants in a challenge to debit card interchange rules set by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The decision blasts the board for not following the law as passed by Congress, saying that it failed to set fees that are “reasonable and proportional […]
Posted in, National
House Approves Farm Bill Without SNAP
Passed by a 216-208 vote Thursday, the Farm Bill contains many of the same farm-related programs as the previous bill that failed in June, but it omits the nutrition title. The nutrition title includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other food assistance programs. Assistance organizations, including Feeding America and Bread for the World, […]
Posted in, National
FMI Applauds Delay of Affordable Care Act’s Employer Mandate
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is applauding the administration’s decision this week to delay enforcement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer mandate after receiving information regarding implementation challenges and the need for additional clarity from FMI members and other stakeholders in the employer community seeking to comply with the law. “FMI has been working with […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, West
Alcohol Now Allowed On Casino Floor At Navajo Nation’s Twin Arrows
The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise (NNGE) says Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly signed legislation Tuesday allowing alcohol to be taken onto the casino floor of its Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort, located along I-40, exit 219, just east of Flagstaff, Ariz. The legislation was approved by the Navajo Nation Council Friday and forwarded to Shelly. […]
Posted in, National
NGA President Applauds Senate Passage Of Immigration Reform
National Grocers Association (NGA) President and CEO Peter J. Larkin released the following statement today on the bi-partisan passage in the U.S. Senate of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (SB 744). “I applaud the Senate for passing comprehensive bi-partisan legislation today to overhaul American’s immigration system for the first time since […]
Posted in, National
House Farm Bill Fails By Slim Margin
The House of Representatives voted Thursday on the Farm Bill and, by a 195-234 vote, the bill failed to pass. Debate over the bill’s 200-plus amendments began June 18. The five-year Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act sought to reform the nation’s dairy, nutrition assistance, crop insurance, sugar and conservation programs. The most […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Southeast
GFIA Hosts Independent Education Seminar At Sweetwater Brewing
The Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA) sponsored an Independent Education Seminar on Tuesday at Sweetwater Brewing Co. in Atlanta. Andrea Bailey Powers, employee benefits attorney from Baker Donelson Law Firm explained to guests how the Affordable Care Act impacts business. Guests also heard about WIC vouchers and the WIC moratorium. Sweetwater Brewing is a GFIA […]
Posted in, National
Feeding America: House Farm Bill Includes ‘Devastating’ SNAP Cuts
The current Farm Bill being debated in the House this week contains a proposed $21 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to Feeding America, a leading domestic hunger-relief charity. The organization is asking citizens to call their representatives today and ask them to oppose the cuts. The cuts would decrease […]