SUPERVALU Government Affairs Home Page
Welcome
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Welcome to the SUPERVALU Government Affairs website! The Government Affairs Department is working to promote the adoption of legislation and regulatory rules that are favorable to SUPERVALU, its banners, associates, and constituents. To learn more about issues that are important to SUPERVALU as well as find out more about your legislators and government in general, clik on the links to the left. Click on the Get Active link to have your voice heard on issues important to SUPERVALU. Click on the ValuPAC link to learn about SUPERVALU's Political Action Committee.
Vote August 10 in Minnesota Primary Election
Traditionally held in September, the Minnesota state primary date has been moved to August 10th to allow more time for military service members and overseas voters to cast their ballot. The primary election determines who will be on the general election ballot on Nov. 2.
This year, races for the office of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general will be on the ballot, and in some districts congressional seats and state or local offices will be included. One of the most watched races this year will be for governor as our current Governor, Tim Pawlenty, is leaving office. With the state facing a projected $5.8 billion dollar budget deficit, a struggling economy and a range of perspectives on issues such as education and health care, Minnesota voters face an important decision. The Independence, Democratic and Republican Party candidates for Governor all have primary elections.
If you will be out of town or cannot physically go to your polling place on August 10th, you may vote absentee. For information on absentee voting, please visit the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
For information on how to find your polling place or how to register to vote on August 10, click here. Your vote on August 10th makes a difference!
[top]Major victory for SUPERVALU and grocery industry as Wall Street reform passes Congress
Last week on a 60-39 vote, the U.S. Senate passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law on July 21. The soon-to-be law, which is designed to be a broad overhaul of the nation’s financial regulatory system, includes a provision that makes great strides toward addressing excessive interchange fees on debit card transactions, a major victory for SUPERVALU, the retail industry and the customers we serve.
The legislation includes Senator Dick Durbin’s (D-IL) amendment on interchange fees which authorizes the Federal Reserve to establish that debit interchange fees shall be reasonable and proportional to their actual cost. According to some calculations, 80-90 percent of all debit transactions will be subject to the new rules. Addressing these fees will benefit our customers by driving down the cost of business.
SUPERVALU associates helped make this law a reality by responding to two calls to action and sending over 10,000 messages to Members of Congress in support of the Durbin amendment on interchange fees. Thank you for your participation, you made a difference!
To find out more information about the Wall Street Reform law or the interchange provision, click here
What does the Durbin amendment do for retailers and consumers?
Food Marketing Institute
On June 24th the U.S. House and Senate Conferees voted 27-16 to adopt a Conference Committee Report on the financial reform legislation that included the Durbin Interchange Fee language intact. This is a huge victory for SUPERVALU and the retail industry, but we still have steps to go. Next week the House of Representatives will take up the Conference Report on the floor. The report cannot be amended on the floor, but it could be defeated or sent back to committee. Government Affairs is working with our many industry partners to support final passage of the bill.
To read what the Durbin amendment on Interchange Fees does, click here.
[top]SUPERVALU associates support Interchange Fee win in the U.S. Senate
SUPERVALU associates overwhelmingly responded to a call to action by sending over 4,100 messages to members of the U.S. Senate in support of an amendment to address excessive interchange fees.
Our voice was heard as the Senate voted 64 to 33 in favor of Senator Dick Durbin’s (D-IL) amendment to the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 which authorizes the Federal Reserve to undertake a process to establish that debit interchange fees shall be reasonable and proportional to their actual cost. The amendment will help reform excessive debit card interchange fees and restrictive practices by the credit card networks and their largest banks. Addressing these fees will benefit our customers by driving down the cost of doing business.
Congress must now complete work on the financial regulatory reform legislation as amended and send it to the President for signature into law.
SUPERVALU’s Government Affairs Department thanks every associate who participated in this grassroots effort.
To read Senator Dick Durbin’s statement on the amendment click here.
To read the Food Marketing Institute’s Statement on passage of the amendment click here.
To view a story on Minnesota Public Radio about interchange and this amendment click here.
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The 2010 Election Season is on the Horizon
Many elections for public office will take place in November of 2010. This includes:
•38 US Senate seats
•37 Governor races
•The entire US House of Representatives
To learn more about the upcoming 2010 elections and view a map of their locations, visit our Election Information Page.
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Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) Discusses Food Safety Issues at a Jewel-Osco Store.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin was at a Jewel-Osco store in Chicago on April 11 to discuss his efforts to improve the nation's food safety laws. Senator Durbin’s FDA Food Safety Modernization Act focuses on making the FDA into an agency that can better prevent food borne illnesses by increasing funding to ensure proper food inspections at the nations 150,000 processing facilities. The legislation also calls for tighter regulations on foods imported into the United States. As Senator Durbin said at the event, imported foods should be inspected in their native country before being exported into the United States.
The current FDA system in place is underfunded, overwhelmed and outdated. It is estimated that there are over 76 million new cases of food borne illness in the United States every year costing $152 billion.
The legislation currently has bipartisan support and is scheduled to be debated on the Senate floor the third week in April, 2010. SUPERVALU is hoping for the Food Safety Modernization Act to pass the Senate soon to ensure that safety standards will be kept high for both domestic and imported foods.
For more information on food safety, click here.
To read a Fox News article on Senator Durbin’s visit, click here.
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(Left to right) Mike Erlandson, Staffer for Senator Crapo, and Chris Dimos
The NACDS Holds Second Annual RxIMPACT Event on Capitol Hill
On March 10 and 11, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores held the second annual RxIMPACT, where pharmacists, pharmacy students and faculty, and pharmacy board representatives assembled to advocate and advance pharmacy issues and increase the industries voice on Capitol Hill. The event works to send a message about the link between pharmacy services and the cost of health care when patients take prescribed medications. Since the passage of the health care reform act, pharmacies are facing new issues, and it is important that they have a voice.
SUPERVALU Government Affairs and SUPERVALU Pharmacies joined the 255 advocates in Washington and attended meetings with members of Congress. SUPERVALU also participated “virtually” in RxIMPACT through our Get Active program by sending more than 575 messages to members of Congress on key legislative issues. Pharmacy associates across the country encouraged federal legislators to advance key pro-patient, pro-pharmacy provisions such as correcting the flawed Medicaid average manufacturer’s price reimbursement formula, eliminating burdensome durable medical equipment accreditation requirements, and supporting reimbursement for medication therapy management services.
“Thank you to everyone who participated in RxIMPACT and helped us advance our priority issues in Washington DC. Your actions make a difference,” said Mike Erlandson, Vice President of Government Affairs, SUPERVALU.
To learn more about RxIMPACT day, click here.
To learn more about pharmacy issues, click here.
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SUPERVALU is a proud corporate sponsor of the 2010 Census
SUPERVALU is a corporate sponsor of the 2010 Census and we encourage associates to fill out and return their forms as soon as possible.
To view a copy of the 2010 Census Form, click here.
To learn more about the 2010 Census, click here.
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Census 2010 Kickoff Held in St. Paul Cub Foods
(Left to Right) Chuck Lynch, Mayor Chris Coleman, Jim A. Nelson, and Tom Meaden
On Tuesday, January 26 Midway Cub Foods in St. Paul, MN hosted City of St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and community leaders in a 2010 Census Kickoff to raise awareness and underscore the importance of the Census to Minnesota communities. At the event, Mayor Coleman stressed the importance of making sure everyone in the St. Paul community is counted to ensure accurate apportionment of representation. Mayor Coleman also clarified a common misconception about the Census, explaining that the count information is strictly confidential and is not shared with any other state or federal agency.
To continue reading the article, click here.
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U.S. Supreme Court Lifts Ban on Campaign Advertising for Corporations
In a 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court in January overturned decades-old limits on corporate political spending by permitting businesses and unions to directly fund campaign commercials for or against candidates. The direct advocacy ads or issue ads are permitted as long as the expenditures are not coordinated with a candidate and are made independently. The decision also struck down part of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that prevented independent political groups from running advertisements close to election dates.
To read more about the ruling, click here.
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SUPERVALU continues to pursue fast action on Pension Relief
SUPERVALU Government Affairs and our industry partners continue to meet with Members of Congress to urge fast action on relief for single and multi-employer pension plans. SUPERVALU supports HR 3936, the Preserve Benefits and Jobs Act of 2009, co-sponsored by Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) and Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-OH), which would allow time for plans to recover from significant losses due to the unprecendented economic downturn last year. Without relief, contribution obligations could be more than double what was paid in 2008.
To learn more, click on this link to a Food Marketing Industry update on pension relief. SUPERVALU is a member of FMI.
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Want to Learn More About Public Policy Issues and Get Involved in the Work of Government Affairs at SUPERVALU?
Click on the Signup Form, and you will be added to our Government Affairs Updates list to learn more about the issues Government Affairs engages in at the federal and state levels and how you can become involved in our Get Active process!
All we really need to keep you informed is your email address. Confidentiality of your information is important to us, and the information that you provide us will be not be shared or distributed.
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ValuPAC
You can make a difference and engage with our Government Affairs program by joining ValuPAC. Click here to learn more.
'All eligible associates have an opportunity to make payroll or check contributions to ValuPAC to support candidates for elected office who will promote public policies that create a prosperous environment for SUPERVALU.'
- Craig Herkert, CEO and President, SUPERVALU
Government Affairs Mission
Our mission in the Government Affairs Department is to:
• Promote the adoption of legislation and regulatory rules that are favorable to SUPERVALU, its banners, associates, and constituents.
• Maintain relationships with federal, state and local elected officials as well as agency representatives and community leaders.
• Provide counsel on external communications as they relate to government affairs role in public affairs for SUPERVALU.
• Engage actively in the larger community.
Staff:
Mike Erlandson, Vice President of Government Affairs
Elise Diedrich, Manager of Government Affairs
Nicole Hyatt, Legal Administrative Assistant
