The Preston Area Community Foundation announces Duane Benson as the featured speaker for their Annual Banquet. The Celebration has been set for Monday, March 25, 2013 at the Branding Iron Supper Club, Preston with the social hour from 5:30 – 6:30
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"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Thursday, June 20th, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 8:58:04, Jun 18th 2013 - cabraden1 - I salute you Colonel Overland. Your were my c.o. at Rockville Naval Air ... [Read More]
- 7:10:46, Jun 13th 2013 - chipperlee - Seems to be a well written article, except maybe Silica Sand is used in ... [Read More]
- 12:02:15, Jun 9th 2013 - getthefacts - The problem here lies in the fact that girls were repeatedly told "if y ... [Read More]
- 10:45:32, Jun 7th 2013 - Jo mom for 6yrs - Mr. Ehler hit the nail on the head. I agree with the religious con ... [Read More]
- 2:47:58, Jun 7th 2013 - hello - Hello, it's time you wake up. There isn't a community nearby that doesn't offe ... [Read More]
- 9:06:21, Jun 6th 2013 - hello - Hello, it's time you wake up. There isn't a community nearby that doesn't offe ... [Read More]
- 2:05:29, Jun 6th 2013 - Kim Wentworth - The number one rule in a debate: 1) if the person from the opposite si ... [Read More]
- 12:42:18, Jun 4th 2013 - EW - For someone that is always spouting religious rhetoric, you try to come off as a ... [Read More]
- 11:32:18, May 31st 2013 - JO PLAYER - This is unfair to us girls. Morrie Miller is not getting canceled but J ... [Read More]
- 8:25:34, May 29th 2013 - RP - Why is Mr. Ehler involving himself with non-school activities? Is he going after ... [Read More]
House Health Insurance Exchange Bill is not one that small business wants
Fri, Mar 8th, 2013
Posted in All Government
Posted in All Government
Comments
ST. PAUL, MN - Despite the fact that the advocates of House File 5 keep claiming that they are passing the bill to help small business, the state’s major small-business group, the National Federation of Independent Business Minnesota, with more than 13,000 members statewide, is opposed to several provisions in this bill and is concerned about the fact that it is going to increase cost on small employers and individuals.
“We hope House members will realize that the new 3.5 percent assessment on small employer and individual health premiums is a mistake,” said NFIB/Minnesota State Director Mike Hickey. “This 3.5 percent increase comes on top of a 2.8 percent increase and will bring total new assessments under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to 6.3 percent. This is coming on top of very large increases for some small groups and individuals due to the underwriting reforms imposed on the 50-state insurance markets by the federal act.”
Hickey noted that the only actuarial analysis done to date, by Gruber Gorman, is estimated average individual market increases of 29 percent with high increases of 42 percent, and in the small group market, increases ranging as high as 28.5 percent, but decreases for some groups (older, sicker) that will range to a 22 percent decrease. “The last thing small business needs is for the state to raise their health insurance premium 3.5 percent for an exchange that the vast majority of small businesses are not going to utilize,” said Hickey.
Hickey also noted that NFIB is opposed to the active purchaser provision in the bill despite its revision. For one year the exchange board will have to accept all insurers that meet stated criteria, but in the second year, they could arbitrarily reject insurers for any reason, and NFIB fears this could really limit choice for people who are in the exchange.
NFIB is also opposed to the conflict-of-interest provision, which bars any person who is currently employed in the insurance industry or related industries or recently retired from serving on the board. The restrictive language under the law states that you have to have been separated from employment in insurance or a related industry for one year. “We need people on the exchange board who understand insurance and are going to make the right decisions, not a lot of people who have no background at all in this complicated industry.” Hickey also noted that small business supp .....
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“We hope House members will realize that the new 3.5 percent assessment on small employer and individual health premiums is a mistake,” said NFIB/Minnesota State Director Mike Hickey. “This 3.5 percent increase comes on top of a 2.8 percent increase and will bring total new assessments under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to 6.3 percent. This is coming on top of very large increases for some small groups and individuals due to the underwriting reforms imposed on the 50-state insurance markets by the federal act.”
Hickey noted that the only actuarial analysis done to date, by Gruber Gorman, is estimated average individual market increases of 29 percent with high increases of 42 percent, and in the small group market, increases ranging as high as 28.5 percent, but decreases for some groups (older, sicker) that will range to a 22 percent decrease. “The last thing small business needs is for the state to raise their health insurance premium 3.5 percent for an exchange that the vast majority of small businesses are not going to utilize,” said Hickey.
Hickey also noted that NFIB is opposed to the active purchaser provision in the bill despite its revision. For one year the exchange board will have to accept all insurers that meet stated criteria, but in the second year, they could arbitrarily reject insurers for any reason, and NFIB fears this could really limit choice for people who are in the exchange.
NFIB is also opposed to the conflict-of-interest provision, which bars any person who is currently employed in the insurance industry or related industries or recently retired from serving on the board. The restrictive language under the law states that you have to have been separated from employment in insurance or a related industry for one year. “We need people on the exchange board who understand insurance and are going to make the right decisions, not a lot of people who have no background at all in this complicated industry.” Hickey also noted that small business supp .....
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Duane Benson to keynote the Preston Area Community Foundation Banquet
Fri, Mar 8th, 2013
Posted in Preston Government
Posted in Preston Government
Comments
Commerce Commissioner reminds consumers to protect themselves from identity theft
Fri, Mar 8th, 2013
Posted in All Government
Posted in All Government
SAINT PAUL, MN – As part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Minnesota Department of Commerce warns consumers to protect themselves against identity theft. Minnesotans who suspect they might be victims of identity theft should act quickly to
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Root River Citizen Conversations at six local events
Fri, Mar 8th, 2013
Posted in All Government
Posted in All Government
Join Root River watershed neighbors at six local events scheduled in March and April throughout the watershed to engage in respectful, citizen-led conversations about this place we all value. Information about the watershed and the river will be shar
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Government this week
Fri, Mar 8th, 2013
Posted in All Government
Posted in All Government
• Monday, March 11, Whalan City Council, 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, March 11, Wykoff Council, Wykoff City Hall, 7:00 p.m.
• Monday, March 11, Houston City Council, Houston City Hall, 7:30 p.m.
• Monday, March 11, Rushford City Council, Rushford C
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County revises cost share policy for county/city road projects
Fri, Mar 8th, 2013
Posted in All Government
Posted in All Government
The Fillmore County Board at their March 5 meeting approved a new cost share policy for county/city highway projects within incorporated city limits. City Administrators Joe Hoffman of Preston and Jerome Illg of Harmony attended the meeting and wer
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Options for financing Preston’s 2014 street project
Fri, Mar 8th, 2013
Posted in Preston Government
Posted in Preston Government
City Administrator Joe Hoffman at the council’s March 4 meeting detailed the pros and cons of combining the estimated $4 million worth of street improvements into one project. In early February councilman Robert Maust had suggested it may be cost
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Rushford puts halt to contract mowing for 2013
Fri, Mar 1st, 2013
Posted in Rushford Government
Posted in Rushford Government
After a lengthy process to determine potential cost savings of contracted versus public works mowing of the city’s 135 acres of land, the city will sit on the idea of contract mowing for this season. The idea, led by Councilor Roger Colbenson, cou
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Industrial mining update- Call for statewide moratorium
Fri, Mar 1st, 2013
Posted in All Government
Posted in All Government
The silica sand mining controversy continues as concerned residents from southeast Minnesota traveled via two buses February 19 to the state capitol to a joint committee hearing, Senate Environment and Energy Policy Committee and the House Committee
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