Early-Bird Registration for Hardscape North America Registration Now Open – Attend Hardscape North America 2008, The Hardscape Show for Contractors, to: Talk to the experts and make the smart buying decisions that will increase your sales; See and try the latest products, tools and equipment; Watch live indoor and outdoor installation demonstrations of concrete pavers, raised patios, steps, low voltage lighting and an outdoor kitchen; and, Set yourself apart from the competition with an ICPI Level I Concrete Paver Installer Certification or NCMA SRW Installer Education and Certification. Go here to register and for additional information.

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Member-Only Access

Act Now to Schedule Your 2008 Advertising Program – Don’t miss out on all the prime locations! If you are looking for the most economical way to reach a targeted audience, look no further than NCMA. Our publications are the perfect vehicle to reach the buyers, influencers and specifiers of the concrete masonry industry. By placing a banner ad in e-News Brief or an ad in our publications—CM News, Concrete Masonry Designs, Membership Directory—you will hone in on the greatest number of industry-specific prospects. Click here (Please note: view in web browser and right-click to save and download) for a Media Planner or contact Ron Churchill today to develop a program that will provide a well-rounded annual program to fit your budget.
 

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Earned Income Tax Credit for Low Wage Employees – At a recent Small Business Legislative Council forum in Washington attended by NCMA staff, Debra Holland, Director, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), IRS, encouraged employers make sure that low income employees are aware that this tax credit is available to them. The EITC is a refundable credit for certain qualified workers intended to offset the effect of Social Security taxes on lower income workers. The credit can reduce the federal taxes owed, if any, and could result in refunds to employees. This is IRS’s largest social benefit program, paying out $40 billion annually in tax credits to 23 million filers. Only 80% of qualified wage earners file for it, however. Employers interested in making lower income employees (about $40,000 in annual income) aware of this means to increase their take-home pay at no cost to employers can find more information at the IRS web site.
 
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House Passes Transportation-Housing and Urban Development Bill – The House of Representatives passed the conference report on the Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development on November 14 by a vote of 270-147 but the margin falls short of the level needed to override a threatened veto. The $150 billion conference report contains $40.2 billion for highway programs, $195 million for replacing an interstate highway bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed in August and would increase the overall amount to be drawn from the highway trust fund by $1 billion above previous levels for additional bridge inspection and maintenance activities. The Senate did not consider the conference report prior to departing for the two week long Thanksgiving recess. President Bush issued his veto threat for the bill on the same day criticizing the bill for “an irresponsible and excessive level of spending” and for the number of earmarks it contains. Watchdog groups note that the Transportation spending bill contains 2,007 earmarks for transportation-related projects worth $1.6 billion and House critics of the bill noted these during debate.

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