Archer & Greiner's Government Affairs e-Newsletter: Philly Eyes Vet Jobs Tax Credit; N.J. Minimum Wage Debate; Regulatory Rule Waiver Dustup; and More...

Government Affairs e-Newsletter May 2012

Philadelphia City Council Eyes Tax Credit for Hiring Veterans

Philadelphia City Council's Committee on Global Opportunities & Creative/Innovative Economy held a hearing this month in keeping with Council Resolution No. 120096, which authorizes the Committee "to investigate the establishment of a tax credit and veterans' assistance program that will allow employers to be eligible for a local tax credit upon hiring Veterans of the United States military..." The local initiative contemplates dovetailing with the federal Vow to Hire Heroes Act, which President Obama signed in November 2011. The federal law provides for employers who hire out of work veterans to receive a tax credit up to $9,600, and for veterans to receive additional benefits for education and training. The Resolution notes that Philadelphia is home to numerous colleges and universities that could provide training for veterans, and that a tax credit would benefit not only veterans, but businesses as well.

Read Resolution No. 120096

Resolution Information Page

Minimum Wage Increase Debated in New Jersey

The New Jersey Assembly last week approved legislation that would increase the minimum wage in the state from $7.25 an hour to $8.50. The bill, A-2162, and its identical companion bill in the Senate, S-3, also call for future automatic annual increases based on movements in the Consumer Price Index. The party-line vote saw Democrats support the legislation while Republicans opposed it. Major business and industry groups in the state, including the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, have come out against the increase, saying it will hurt employers, result in job cuts and make New Jersey less competitive and attractive to business. Proponents, such as the New Jersey Policy Perspective research and advocacy group, argue that the increase is the right thing to do for working families and will boost the economy through increased consumer spending. Gov. Chris Christie has not publicly stated whether he intends to sign the legislation should it get to his desk.

Bill Information Page

Business & Industry Group Opposition Statement

New Jersey Policy Perspective Support Statement

A&G's Public Sector Experience Runs the Gamut

Jeffrey Kolansky's Roots

Run Deep in Philadelphia

Jeff Kolansky's involvement in and connection to the legal, business and governmental communities in and around Philadelphia run deep and span more than 30 years. Co-Managing Partner of Archer & Greiner's Philadelphia office, Jeff served earlier in his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia for a decade, rising to the position of Senior Supervising District Attorney, with responsibility for the Major Felony Trials Unit. This high-level experience ingrained Jeff in the fabric of the City and led to interaction with high-ranking officials in government, law and industry. Since entering private practice more than 20 years ago, Jeff has handled a wide variety of matters, both litigation and client counseling, ranging from civil rights litigation to governmental relations.

Also among his myriad professional and civic involvement, Jeff has continued his commitment to law enforcement and security as a Commissioner on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, appointed in 2003 by then-Governor Edward G. Rendell and reappointed by Governor Tom Corbett. Jeff also works closely with the Philadelphia Police Commissioner as Vice President of the Board of the Philadelphia Police Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the men and women of the Philadelphia Police Department by funding projects that are beyond the scope of the City budget. The Foundation engages business, professional and civic communities in advancing the mission of the Philadelphia Police Department through collaborative initiatives, in-kind resources, training, and funding for the Department.

Read Jeffrey's Bio

Robert Fogg, Former Top

N.J. Health Official

Prior to joining Archer & Greiner, Bob Fogg served as Director of Licensing and Certification at the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. In that role, Bob was responsible for overseeing the enforcement, regulation and development of licensing requirements for nearly 1,100 health care facilities in New Jersey. Bob also directed the Office of Managed Care and previously served in the Office of the Commissioner and as Assistant Director of New Jersey's Certificate of Need and Health Planning programs. This experience gives Bob unique insight. He represents health care providers in regulatory, compliance and transactional matters including complex state and federal administrative appeals; licensing and certification matters; corporate compliance, fraud and abuse; nursing home survey and certification issues; and home health and hospice agency compliance matters. His clients include hospital systems, long-term care providers, home health agencies, ambulatory care centers and physician practices.

Read Robert's Bio

David Weinstein to Speak at NJAC Conference

Who: David Weinstein will speak at the New Jersey Association of Counties 2012 Conference. The workshop, "Is Alternative Ownership the Right Solution for Your County Nursing Home?", will examine various options that a county has for its county nursing

homes.

When: June 6, 2012, 10:15am

Where: Bally's Atlantic City, 1900 Pacific Avenue,
Atlantic City, NJ

NJAC Conference Workshop Information

NJ Democrats Launch Legislative Torpedo at Gov. Christie's Environmental Waivers

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora,
Resolution sponsor

Responding to a rule change championed by Republican

New Jersey Governor

Chris Christie

Gov. Chris Christie,which allows the New Jersey

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to waive rule requirements on a case-by-case basis, Democrats are advancing a Resolution that could negate the waiver initiative. The Democratic-controlled Assembly last week approved Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 37 in a largely party-line vote. The Resolution, also moving through the Senate as Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 59, gives the DEP Commissioner 30 days following to amend or withdraw the adopted waiver rule or the Legislature may, by passage of another concurrent resolution, exercise its authority under the Constitution to invalidate the rules and regulations in whole or in part.

Archer & Greiner Advisory on the Waiver Rule

Text of Resolution

Full Text of Adopted Rule

Pennsylvania Enacts Update of Risk-Based Capital Law

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett earlier this month signed legislation that amends Pennsylvania's Risk-Based Capital (RBC) statutes for life or health and property or casualty insurers and for health organizations, respectively, to require such organizations to more quickly formulate corrective action plans to address solvency problems before regulators need to take action. The changes are based upon the National Association of Insurance Commissioner's model initiatives for risk-based capital. These amendments to existing law enable the State Insurance Department to take earlier corrective, rehabilitation or liquidation action if an insurer or fraternal benefit society has less than the minimum capital amount as calculated by the risk-based capital formula.

Text of Law

Archer & Greiner Government Affairs: Experience, Know-How

The Archer & Greiner Government Affairs Group also includes:

(Click on name for additional information)

Vincent P. Sarubbi, former Camden County Prosecutor & Group Co-Chair

Carlton L. Johnson, former Chief Deputy Philadelphia City Solicitor & Group Co-Chair

Lynne M. Abraham, former longtime Philadelphia District Attorney
Albert Burstein, former New Jersey Assembly Majority Leader

Jack Fisher, former longtime Gloucester County Administrator

Steven B. Harz, former Mayor, Borough of Closter, N.J.
William P. Isele, former New Jersey Ombudsman for the Elderly

Richard S. Mroz, former Chief Counsel to New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman

Linda D. Perkins, former Chief Assistant Philadelphia District Attorney