Chambers begin lobbying season

The two not-for-profit employer representatives have outlined their lobbying agendas for the Missouri General Assembly, which convened Jan. 4 for a session that runs through May.

“The Missouri Chamber of Commerce is designed to be a lobbying organization,” said Michael Grote, Missouri Chamber vice president of governmental affairs. “That is a very large part of the activities that (the chamber) participates in.”

Sandy Howard, public affairs manager at Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, said both chambers, along with 47 other community chambers throughout the state, seek legislative action through the combined efforts of the Missouri Chamber Federation.

Howard said the Springfield chamber sides with the state chamber on many of its issues but differs in specifics at some times and targets different issues at other times.

“Our chamber has our own agenda,” she said. “(We shouldn't be) lumped in with some of the Missouri chamber's positions.”

Springfield's chamber has selected 17 initiatives for 2006. Key issues are:

• Education. Gain state dollars for Springfield Public Schools, Missouri State University's renovation of six facilities and Ozarks Technical Community College's $10 million capital improvement plan.

• Environment. Establish environmental standards dealing with confined animal feeding operations and watershed management that support economic development.

• Taxes. Reform the state's tax code to accomplish revenue and economic neutrality and administrative simplicity.

• Transportation. Gain funding for three interchange renovations - Interstate 44 and Highway 65, Highway 65 and Highway 60, and Glenstone Avenue and Highway 60 - and enact a feasibility study for toll roads.

• Employment. Support work-force development with increased appropriations for the Missouri Community College New Jobs Training Program and change the Missouri Quality Jobs Program to prevent “job shifting” from urban areas to rural areas to gain incentives.

Meanwhile, Grote said the Missouri Chamber will lobby legislators on these key topics:

• Health insurance. Cut health insurance costs for employers by implementing health education programs and a tax credit for employers offering health insurance savings accounts or health reimbursement accounts for the first time.

• Workers' compensation. Keep restrictions to workers' compensation that came from 2005's Senate Bill 1. Labor unions and attorneys who represent workers have filed lawsuits to repeal the bill, which limits injuries and illnesses for which businesses are liable.

• Unemployment insurance. Scratch some of an employer's liability under the unemployment insurance system. The chamber wants workers ineligible for unemployment compensation if they were fired because of drug or alcohol use on the job or a pattern of absenteeism.

• Tort reform. Further reform tort laws to protect employers from being sued over asbestos exposure when no disease has been documented.

• Eminent domain. Protect the government's eminent domain powers, which the chamber considers a vital tool for economic expansion and redevelopment. Eminent domain is the government's right to seize private land with monetary compensation if it deems the act is for public good. Projects such as roads, utilities, schools and even shopping centers have been built on land acquired through eminent domain. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-to-4 in June that local governments should retain eminent domain powers, even when they're used to aid private projects.

“You would see this path … of job growth, of economic development (and) of new prosperity (in Missouri) intensify,” said Grote, if the Missouri Chamber is successful in the General Assembly.

Joe Metzger, Kraft Foods plant manager and Springfield chamber board of directors chairman-elect, said the lobbying efforts of state and local chambers are a valuable asset to area businesses.

“I've reviewed the top line of both organizations, and their focus on and support of the business community … (is) right on the money,” Metzger said. “I'm looking forward to good progress in 2006.”

Grote said chamber representatives lobby the Capitol every day during session. He also said chamber members regularly contribute time and money to elect pro-business politicians, an effort that culminated with the election of a pro-business governor, Matt Blunt, in 2004.

“Those political activities led to an incredible legislative success that benefited business (in 2005),” Grote said, citing reform of tort law, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and the passage of economic development incentives.