Legislative Priorities
The Daunting Power of Business Influence
LEVEL #1 PRIORITIES
Advocate for the Defeat of the Employee Free Choice Act
The biggest threat to business in the past half-century is the controversial
“Employee Free Choice Act.” This legislation, if enacted, would make it possible
for organized labor to gain a strangle-hold on business by using coercion and
intimidation to force employees to sign union cards without providing them a
secret ballot to render an unbiased decision. The Chamber has petitioned members
to contact elected officials, asking that they oppose this bill and has worked
with the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry and the United States
Chamber of Commerce in lobbying efforts against “card-check.”
Accelerate Programs that Boost Inter-Municipal Cooperation
While educational programming aimed at creating a better understanding of the
value of municipal cooperation got luke-warm responses in 2008, efforts to bring
together elected officials to talk about issues of mutual interest showed some
degree of promise and will be continued during 2009. The Chamber will also give
consideration to the possibility of forming a Council of Governments – a
positive move in bringing significant attention to municipal interaction that
may ultimately lead to a greater spirit of cooperation.
Explore the Impact of Property Tax Reassessment on Business
Would property tax reassessment be a good thing or a bad thing for Blair County
Business? Since the reassessment issue may be bubbling-up due to the threat of
possible lawsuits against the county, The Chamber has an obligation to its
members to weigh-in on the side that best suits the business agenda.
LEVEL #2 PRIORITIES
Make Healthcare Accessible and Affordable
Balancing cost, quality and accessibility within the healthcare system has been
an ongoing challenge for providers, insurers, purchasers and consumers. And
especially for the businesses that choose to make coverage available to their
employees. The Chamber advocates for a private health system to provide all
Pennsylvanians with appropriate access to quality care. With real competition
among providers, that health system should create lower premiums and greater
accountability. The Chamber continues to oppose any government-sponsored plans
that shift a disproportionate share of the funding of healthcare to the business
community.
Encourage Greater Awareness of Energy Challenges
Energy costs have become a significant portion of the cost of doing business.
The Chamber will continue to sponsor programs that assist businesses with
becoming more energy savvy and efficient. The Chamber will also work to ensure
that energy policies are competitive with other states, that Pennsylvania’s
natural resources are used more effectively and that alternative sources of
energy are pursued and developed.
Evaluate and Upgrade Pennsylvania’s Business Tax Structure
The Chamber supports a thorough review of the Commonwealth’s current tax
structure that will ideally result in a system based on competitiveness,
predictability, fairness and simplicity. In the interim, The Chamber advocates
for the elimination of the capital stock and franchise tax and the net operating
loss cap; a reduction in the corporate net income (CNI) tax rate and the
establishment of a full single sales factor for CNI apportionment purposes. The
Chamber opposes tax policy options that hinder a company’s ability to compete in
an open market.
Other Priorities . . .
While the Legislative Action Committee of The Chamber has committed itself to
addressing the top six priorities identified by the Chamber Membership, the
committee will also be looking closely at the other issues that members have
deemed important and will be working with the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business &
Industry and the United States Chamber of Commerce to keep those issues close at
hand. Those issues are:
- Lawsuit Abuse / Tort Reform
- Employment Laws and Regulations
- Local Taxes & School Funding
- Workers Compensation
- Unemployment Compensation