Recently in the Public Policy Category

More than 150 leading women business owners from Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) gathered at the WIPP Annual Leadership Conference to celebrate the recipients of this year's prestigious WIPP 2011 Awards. Laura W. Boyd, PhD, Owner and CEO of Policy and Performance Consultants, Inc. based in Norman was the recipient of this year's WIPP "Public Policy Award" for elevating the voice of women business owners in the national public policy arena.

"Laura Boyd has worked tirelessly to inspire and urge WIPP members to be part of the dialogue.   She is the voice and the vision of the membership and our Instant Impact Advocacy Team," said WIPP President Barbara Kasoff.

Boyd served as National Co-Chair of Women's Business Policy for Barack Obama's Presidential campaign. She is recognized nationwide as a vocal representative for women business executives. From 1992-1998, Boyd served as a Member of Oklahoma State House of Representatives.

Policy and Performance Consultants assists both for-profit and not-for-profit clients in government-relations, business management protocols, quality assurance and program development, as well as in acquisitions and mergers across the United States.

The WIPP Awards Ceremony was part of WIPP's three-day Annual Leadership Conference in Washington, DC, that ran from October 11th - 13th. The conference agenda included important economic briefings on current policy issues impacting women business owners growth, a very special high level briefing by The White House, a Congressional Luncheon and the exciting unveiling of WIPP's updated Economic Blueprint  used as the organization's call to action to the Administration, Congress and Federal Agencies.

WIPP is a national nonpartisan public policy organization, advocating on behalf of nearly 1 million women-owned businesses representing 59 business organizations. For more information, please visit www.wipp.org.

On Wednesday, March 2nd, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) hosted a luncheon to celebrate a new program launched by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to assist women owned businesses get their fair share of federal government contracts.  We were celebrating a program that was ten years in the making.  This new program identifies 83 industries in which women owned businesses are underrepresented in federal contracting and allows contracting officers to restrict competition in those industries to women owned businesses.

Interestingly, this celebratory luncheon occurred just one day after the White House report on Women in America found that a wage gap between men and women still exists.  Despite the fact that younger women are now more likely than younger men to have an undergraduate or graduate education, women continue to earn less.  

Promoting entrepreneurship through programs like the federal women's contract program is a perfect example of how to end the wage gap.  Giving women small business owners a level playing field and allowing them to succeed is an example of a solution that works.  To learn more about the new contracting program, go to: http://www.giveme5.com/ and http://www.sba.gov/

While everyone is finding things they don't like about healthcare reform, let's not forget that our current system is no bed of roses for small businesses. We fought for a decade to be able to form large pools so that we have increased market clout.

WIPP knows the current healthcare reform law is not perfect, but the Affordable Care Act made some significant changes that we believe will result in better choices and better prices for small businesses that currently do not have a workable market.  

The healthcare law puts into place important reforms. These reforms include:

•    Tax credits for small businesses that offer healthcare to their employees
•    Elimination of ratings on pre-existing conditions and health status
•    The creation of state exchanges and multi-state compacts to give small employers and individual purchasers more market clout  
•    Guaranteed issue and renewability
•    A simplified enrollment process

One of the cost containment issues that was not addressed in the reform law and would significantly drive down costs is limiting medical malpractice lawsuits. We urge the Congress to take action on this important component of reform.

The current marketplace is unworkable for small businesses. These elements of reform must remain in place for the market to make the necessary changes for small businesses and their employees.

Today, by request of the U.S. Department of State, WIPP President, Barbara Kasoff, joined by WIPP Board Member Dr. Ann Blackburn, met with the Honorable Katalin Csobor, a Member of Parliament for the Republic of Hungary.  Hon. Csobor, a former small business owner, was appointed to the Committee for Human Rights, Minority, Civil and Religious Affairs.

Kasoff, Dr. Blackburn and Hon. Csobor discussed women in politics and their impact on public policy. They focused on diversity issues, specifically concerning leadership and advocacy for minority and women business owners. Moving forward, Kasoff, Dr. Blackburn and Hon. Csobor will continue to collaborate for the wellbeing of women business owners.

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As the new Healthcare Law takes effect, it expands beyond Capitol Hill to enter our lives. Federal politics and budgets become personalized as the changes become our reality. In some instances, the modifications can generate confusion, which is why we need dependable resources to help us sort though them.
 
WIPP hosted a series of regional conferences: "Healthcare: Policy, Trends and Opportunities," in locales from San Francisco to Deerfield Beach, Florida, helping small business owners understand how the new Law affects them. The successful series will return next year, as WIPP continues to offer resources and information that will help you, as small business owners and individuals, navigate this policy.
 
Another great resource is Susan Shargel's blog, Insurance Insights, which tackles many of our pressing questions. Her latest entry, "Two Bills for Medicare?"  for instance, explains that starting January 1st, Medicare B and D premiums will be based on your income, resulting in two bills for prescriptions.  Shargel provides several charts and explanations to assist readers in understanding where they fit in.
 
Click here to read Susan Shargel's complete blog.