Federal Priorities * Seek federal corporate tax relief and governmental policies
that contribute to the competitive growth and success of American
business while protecting capital markets from overregulation and unfair
enforcement.
* Continue to support funding for important local projects that
promote the region's competitiveness and economic development including
advancement of the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening project and
improvements to Philadelphia International Airport.
* Continue to support initiatives that strengthen our regional
transportation infrastructure including Amtrak funding and allocations
to improve Pennsylvania's system of roads, bridges, ports, and mass
transit.
* Promote legislation that provides businesses with affordable
healthcare coverage for their employees and urge passage of measures to
cap non-economic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits.
* Support procurement reform initiatives that simplify the
contracting process and maximize the opportunities available to the
private sector in the federal market.
* Advance comprehensive legal reform activities that protect the
business community from excessive litigation attempts to expand its
liability.
* Urge congressional support for trade measures which promote US
competitiveness in foreign markets.
* Promote environmental laws and regulations that afford
American businesses a fair and competitive position in the global
marketplace.
Pennsylvania Priorities * Improve our region's business climate through corporate tax
relief and legislative policies that promote our business
competitiveness.
* Sustain efforts to continue the phase-out of the Capital Stock
and Franchise Tax and address the state's uncompetitive Corporate Net
Income Tax through steps to increase the cap on net operating loss
carryforwards and to shift to a single sales factor. Monitor state tax
revenues in the coming fiscal year and continue to discourage
consideration of Mandatory Unitary Combined Reporting and other tax
policy changes that target specific industry segments or threaten
business expansion and attraction efforts.
* Advocate reform of the public education system to promote
workforce development. Support investment in early childhood education,
programs that improve the work readiness of high school graduates, and
efforts to retain the young people educated in the region's colleges and
universities.
* Work to ensure the implementation of Pennsylvania's new
transportation investment strategy to provide adequate funding for
roads, bridges and transit systems. Promote consideration of new funding
alternatives such as Public-Private Partnerships to advance capital
projects and address changing regional needs.
* Advance the business community's efforts to curb violence in
Philadelphia through Working Solutions, the Chamber's youth internship
initiative and continued support of measures that would: 1) provide a
youth employment incentive tax credit; and 2) offer cities like
Philadelphia the flexibility to deal with unique problems and such grave
issues as escalating gun violence.
* Monitor the implementation of legalized gaming in Pennsylvania
with particular attention to promised property and wage tax relief.
* Work to stabilize health care costs so that quality medical
care will remain affordable and available to Pennsylvania employers and
their workers. Seek legislative support for "small group reform" to
enable employers to continue to offer health care benefits to their
employees. Monitor action on health care reform proposals to assess the
impact on providers, employers and business owners.
* Promote energy and environmental policies that do not exceed
federal requirements and do not hinder the competitiveness of businesses
in the region.
* Urge perseverance in efforts to end lawsuit abuse and create a
uniform legal standard to bring fairness and balance to Pennsylvania's
entire civil justice system.
* Work to advance legislative proposals that address needed
unemployment and workers' compensation reforms.
* Urge continued state investment in agencies and projects
critical to the economic growth of our region.
Philadelphia Priorities * Support the Nutter administration's long term plan to reduce
the Business Privilege Tax (BPT).
* Work with Nutter administration, City Council members and
suburban elected officials to address efficiencies in government with a
focus on regional cooperation.
* Continue to work with Nutter administration to address major
cost drivers, i.e. pensions, prisons and healthcare.
* Continue to support the Philadelphia Re-entry Employment Plan
to obtain jobs for ex-offenders and grant businesses a BPT tax credit.
* Continue to play an active role in advancing key economic
development initiatives such as expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention
Center.
* Participate in the newly created Zoning Code Commission to
enhance development in the city while preserving our neighborhoods.
* Support efforts for capacity enhancements and improved service
at Philadelphia International Airport.
* Continue to support gaming in Philadelphia as it has a direct
impact on wage and property tax, convention center expansion and jobs in
Philadelphia.
* Monitor infrastructure mobility and port operations to enhance
viability of the region.
* Continue to participate in regional emergency preparedness
initiatives.
* Monitor waterfront development.
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contact your elected officials. When there is a legislative alert,
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