Masonry Magazine September 2005 Page. 54
News
News continued from page 50
Director of Marketing. Jonila will lead the company's strategic marketing and brand direction, reporting to Mike Donahue, President and CEO.
Overseeing a team of regional marketing managers, Jonila will be responsible for all advertising, promotions and communications for Hanson's brick and roof tile businesses, and will play a key role in monitoring the ongoing needs of Hanson's customers.
Jonila has more than 20 years of marketing experience. Her most recent position was Director of Marketing with a leading Charlotte-based provider of doors and door hardware, where she led strategic marketing and communications targeting the commercial building market.
Robinson Brick Company Celebrates 125 Years of Excellence
Robinson Brick Company, the leader in providing unique and innovative masonry products, is celebrating 125 prosperous years.
In 1880, George W. Robinson turned his vision into reality and began manufacturing quality bricks that soon graced Denver's growing neighborhoods. Many of the same buildings exist today and remain part of the Mile High City's rich and historic landscape. Robinson Brick Company attributes its success over the last 125 years to dedicated employees, superior manufacturing processes and dedication to achieving the highest quality products possible. Today, the company employs more than 500 people across the United States.
The company's Denver headquarters, along with its 13 additional retail News continued on page 54
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Phone: (703) 257-9280
5555 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite K109
Austin, Texas 78751
Phone: (512) 467-8830
Internet: www.wdpa.com
House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Provide Affordable Health Care Options
Marian J. Marshall, MCAA, Director of Government Affairs
On July 26, by a vote of 263 to 165, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525), a bill that will significantly expand access to health coverage for many of the 45 million Americans who are currently uninsured. The bill creates Association Health Plans (AHPs), which will allow small businesses to band together through organizations such as the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) to purchase quality health insurance for workers and their families at a lower cost.
As many of our members are all too well aware, small business owners and their employees are clamoring for relief from the high costs of health insurance. Health insurance premiums have been steadily increasing for the last several years and, in more and more instances, employers are being forced to drop coverage altogether or pass along more of those costs to their workers. Approximately 45 million Americans lack health insurance and more than 60% work for a small business or are dependent upon someone who does.
Small businesses in many states are stuck with disproportionately high costs because they have fewer providers from which to choose. AHPs would offer businesses more options to choose from. By giving small businesses the opportunity to pool their resources and increase their bargaining power, AHPs will help employers reduce their health insurance costs. It is estimated that through this increased bargaining power, AHPs would give small businesses freedom from costly state-mandated benefit packages and lower their overhead by as much as 30%-benefits that large corporations and unions already enjoy because of their larger economies of scale.
This legislation is a top priority for the MCAA. We have been working very hard to get a bill to the president's desk. While the House of Representatives has passed a bill for the last several years, the Senate has yet to act. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has been working on a draft bill that we expect to be introduced after the August recess. The legislation may not be everything that we want in a bill aimed at reducing the health insurance costs of small businesses, but if we could push the Senate to pass a bill and get to conference with the House, the leadership we would have from proponents of AHPs would, in my judgment, do everything they could to report out a reasonable proposal.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions by e-mailing mjmarshall@masoncontractors.com.
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