From The President's Desk

PRESS RELEASE
July 9, 2012

For Immediate Release
Contact:
Lisa Ormsby
704-735-3096
Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

BY
KEN KINDLEY

CHAMBER PRESIDENT

Recently, the Chamber's Governmental Affairs Committee proposed a list of Legislative Agenda items that they wanted to see our State Legislators address this year and next year in the General Assembly. This list, first, went to the Chamber's Executive Board and then on to the full Board of Directors for approval before being presented to Senator Chris Carney and House of Representatives Jason Saine.

Below is the above mentioned list of Legislative items approved by the Chamber's Board of Directors:

I. Educational Needs

A) Support efforts for adequate funding for public schools from the General Assembly

1. Increase teacher pay in public schools

a. Re-implementation of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program

2. Maintain proper funding for North Carolina's Community Colleges

3. Funding to provide technical education programs based on current workforce needs

for our emerging workforce

II. Transportation Needs

A) Support adequate funding for infrastructure in City and County

1. Speed up implementation of highway projects (Highways 16, 150 & 73)

B) Improve communication between DOT and Counties.

1. Re-implementation of Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

C) Seek alternative funding for transportation

III. Economic Development Needs

A) Support the restructuring of the State's Economic Development Tier System

1. Eliminate Tier 3 altogether.

B) Support restructuring the State's Unemployment Insurance Program

1. Limitations on the number of weeks unemployment checks can be received

2. Implement random drug testing

C) Support reforming Worker's Compensation

D) Support reform to reduce health care costs

1. Provide tax breaks for companies offering health insurance

E) Support Downtown Development

# # #