Overview / Major Events
Iowa Senate delays action on significant workers compensation reform As predicted in this newsletter last Thursday, the House did pass a comprehensive package of reforms to Iowa’s century-old workers compensation system. After a long and “spirited” debate, House Republicans provided all 55 YES votes and sent HF 518 to the Senate. However, last week’s prediction that the Senate would act on the bill THIS week looks likely to be proved false, as I do not expect full consideration by the Iowa Senate until some time NEXT week. Senate Republican leaders remain confident the bill will be adopted in its present form and sent to the Governor, soon, but are focusing on some internal caucus issues to ensure further weakening of the bill does not occur during Senate consideration of a number of amendments. |
January 2017 Survey Results at a Glance:
OMAHA, Neb. (Jan. 19, 2017) – The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index remained weak with a reading below growth neutral for the 17th straight month, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy. Overall: The index, which ranges between 0 and 100 slipped to 42.8 from 42.9 in December. This was the 17th straight month the economic gauge dipped below growth neutral 50.0. “The overall index was virtually flat from last month. Over the past 12 months, livestock commodity prices have tumbled by 7.3 percent and grain commodity prices have slumped by 11.7 percent. The economic fallout from this price weakness continues to push growth into negative territory for five of the 10 states in the region,” said Ernie Goss, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University's Heider College of Business. When asked to identify the greatest economic threat to their local economy 87.8 percent of the bankers, indicated that continuing low agriculture commodity prices was the greatest challenge or threat for 2017. States with January Rural Mainstreet expansions: Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota; States with January Rural Mainstreet contractions: Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wyoming. Rural Mainstreet Index Highest in Six Months: Bankers Expect Weak Holiday Sales Growth on Mainstreet1/25/2017 December 2016 Survey Results at a Glance:
OMAHA, Neb. (Dec. 15, 2016) – The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index remained weak with a reading below growth neutral for the 16th straight month, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy. Overall: The index, which ranges between 0 and 100 rose to 42.9, its highest level since June of this year, and up from November’s 36.6. “Weak farm commodity prices continue to slam Rural Mainstreet economies. Over the past 12 months, livestock commodity prices have tumbled by 19.0 percent and grain commodity prices have slumped by 11.5 percent. The economic fallout from this price weakness continues to push growth into negative territory for seven of the 10 states in the region,” said Ernie Goss, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University's Heider College of Business. States trending higher: Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota; States trending lower: Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and Wyoming. |
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