Legislative Agenda 2010

ISSUES FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION

The next public election will be a Special Election on May 18, 2010 to decide on Proposition 100 or the Proposed Arizona State Sales Tax Increase. The deadline to register for May 18th election is April 19th. Early voting begins April 22nd. 

The Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce conducted a brief survey among its members on whether or not they agreed with the proposal and if the Chamber should take a position on the proposal. Unfortunately, due to the close results, the Chamber does not have enough information to take an official position. A snapshot of member voting results is available by clicking the "Sales Tax Proposition" link to the right.

We will continue to informally poll our members and provide any relevant information regarding this and other important legislative issues as it becomes available.

For the pros and cons and ballot language link to: http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections .

COMMITTEE MISSION STATEMENT

The Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce promotes business and provides leadership for the improvement of the community.

TO CHAMBER MEMBERS

It is a priority of the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce to pro actively represent its members in the legislative arena. As a body, we take positions on public policy issues and strive to provide quality information to our members. The positions we take are developed to support the interests of more than 700 businesses that make up our membership.

The Legislative Affairs Committee works diligently every year as a part of the Chamber of Commerce. This committee identifies important issues and prepares positions based on extensive analysis and consideration. These positions are then presented to the Chamber's Board of Directors for approval. Once approved, these issues are then offered to the membership, the legislative community and the general public.

Since its formation, the Legislative Affairs Committee has become an effective voice in policy issues at the local, state and federal levels. We pledge to continue these efforts.

Sincerely,

Susan Tegmeyer

President/CEO

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE GOALS

The goal of the Legislative Affairs Committee is to provide leadership for the business community on issues that directly impact the ability to do business in Sierra Vista including:

• Increase member participation and voter information on the process for local and state elective offices through article writing and information distribution.
• Provide information about candidates for local, state and federal elective office.
• Support candidates who have an attractive business agenda.
• Report successes of candidates supported.
• Track the record of candidates and their support of business issues.
• Provide information on local, state and federal office holders and record of support on issues important to the business community.
• Form issue task forces as needed.
• Provide Chamber representation at City Council meetings, in addition to other meetings with agendas affecting the business community.
• Keep a general focus on matters concerning the continued viability of Fort Huachuca.
• Become informed and subsequently inform the membership on the business implications of matters related to, but not limited to: BRAC and Fort Huachuca, west end development, water, education, taxes, medical infrastructure and elections.

HOW CHAMBER POSITIONS ARE DEVELOPED

The Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven organization of more than 700 businesses operating in the Greater Sierra Vista Area. The Board of Directors develops the Chamber's business plan and adopts the policies necessary to carry it forward. Business issues receive top priority.

As the principal advocate of the business community, the Chamber's mission is to build a strong economic environment conducive to business success in the Sierra Vista area. To assist the Chamber in furthering its mission, the Legislative Affairs Committee tracks, reports and analyzes the impact of various legislative matters that come to its attention.

The committee's role is to determine what impact proposed legislation would have on the business community and offer suggestions on what the Chamber's position should be. The committee prepares a written position statement that is submitted to the Board of Directors for adoption. In order to determine members' opinions on certain issues, on-line surveys are conducted and reported and also used to help solidify the Chamber's official positions.

This coming election year the Sierra Vista Chamber is encouraging its members to participate in our "Get Out the Vote" campaign, and to take an active role in the legislative process, including membership on the Legislative Affairs Committee. Testimony from the business community is an important part of the process.

CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT POLICY

The Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce will, from time to time, publicly endorse individual candidates for public office when it finds there are significant differences among the candidates as to their attitudes and views with respect to issues of importance to the business community.

The criteria to be considered by the Chamber are as follows:

• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce and interest in creating and maintaining a strong, diverse economy. Examples might include, but not be limited to, participation in Chamber programs and membership in the Chamber.
• Commitment to the quality of life for Sierra Vista area residents. This requires a demonstrated ability to balance the need for environmental protection, public education, basic city/county services, amenities for residents and a healthy business community.
• Demonstrated ability to forge alliances and partnerships and including citizens from different factions of the community and to solve problems and get things done.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the economic needs of the community, as well as specific economic needs of the business sector. Locally, this includes, but is not limited to, a grasp of the relationship between a healthy, tax-paying business community and the ability to fund parks, youth programs, and police protection, as well as providing good local jobs.

Prior to any endorsement, the Chamber should conclude that there is a clear and profound difference between the candidates' willingness and ability to support the Chamber's mission and that the endorsement can make a significant difference in the election

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The long-term viability of the state and this community is dependent upon the successful development of new and existing business and industry. The most beneficial and sustainable economic development results from a competitive business climate. Government should encourage and foster a climate of growth and development for local business.

• The Chamber fully supports Fort Huachuca, its functions and economic impact, as well as present and future missions, and opposes any effort to close or reduce its operations.
• Support efforts to expand economic growth, while promoting good stewardship of our land and resources.
• Support the revamping of the Arizona Department of Commerce to move us into the global arena, as well as keeping state economic development advancing for all parts of the state.
• The Chamber urges financial support from governmental entities for job training and workforce development with priority funding for training and development of the local workforce.
• Arizona's workers compensation system is one of the most efficient programs in the United States. The Chamber will support workers compensation policies that continue effective management of the State Compensation Fund of Arizona.
• Support a thorough review of Arizona's workers compensation laws, including the impact on workers compensation employer premiums. The Chamber will also support comprehensive reforms that ensure fairness for employers and employees.
• The Chamber opposes any legislation that drives away business and industry, including, but not limited to, proposals to balance the budget and deal with immigration issues..

EDUCATION, LABOR, WORKFORCE

The Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce supports world-class standards of excellence in Arizona's education system. Arizona's education system needs to cultivate a workforce with the skills and knowledge that emerging and expanding businesses need.

• Support legislation that would make higher education more accessible.
• Support policy that places emphasis and investment in undergraduate education.
• We urge examination of the education funding mechanisms in Arizona, in order to make the changes necessary to stabilize the system.
• Oppose any efforts to lower or eliminate AIMS testing standards.
• Increase emphasis on health education programs.
• Support investment from governmental entities for job training and workforce development with priority funding for training and development of the local workforce.

ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

The Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce supports the concept that a governmental entity should prepare economic impact assessments prior to enacting environmental regulations and ordinances imposed on the private sector.

• Water is a precious resource that must not be wasted or lost and the Chamber will continue to stress the need for water conservation as well as the need to participate in and encourage discussion of water use policies that use our existing water resources wisely and efficiently.
• The Chamber also encourages state, county and city governments to seek new water resources and supports legislation that would enable counties to enact ordinances against water waste, and urges assistance wherever possible to enable communities to balance their growth and water needs.
• The lengthy environmental permitting process hinders business operations and suppresses business growth. The Chamber believes efforts should be made by governmental entities to streamline the environmental permitting process with a faster application review.

GOVERNMENT

The Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce believes that government mandates should be accompanied by adequate appropriations. The Chamber recommends that a fiscal analysis accompany mandate legislation that affects local governments and that provisions for funding are included as part of the legislation.

• Locally, the long-term viability of this community is dependent upon the development of new and existing business and industry and creation of a better business climate.
• The Chamber encourages more local purchasing by governmental entities and would support legislation at the state level that would allow for local preference in the bidding procedures.

TAXATION/BUDGET

The Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce supports fair tax and fiscal policies that will attract job growth and bring economic success to Southern Arizona. The Chamber advocates for fair and cost-effective tax policies that reduce the cost of doing business and make the area more competitive for private investment.

• Support restoring the state's budget stabilization fund (“rainy day fund”) to the maximum amount allowed by law, and restrict its use only to fund existing critical services and provide economic development incentives.
• Support elimination of the business personal property tax or raising the threshold rate to exempt more small businesses.
• Support state investments that benefit the economic future of all employers and employees, such as transportation infrastructure, education (at all levels), economic development and tourism promotion.
• Recognize that bold, responsible and immediate action is required to resolve Arizona's budget deficit and to prevent continuation of serious economic harm.
• Oppose efforts to reduce state-shared revenues.
• Oppose efforts to balance the state's general fund by sweeping dedicated funds that were collected from specific taxpayers for targeted purposes.
• Oppose budget proposals that would shift costs to the private sector through reduction in funding for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).

BORDER ISSUES & IMMIGRATION

The Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce seeks a resolution of the border issues and problems affecting Sierra Vista, Cochise County and our neighbors to the south via federal, state, and local avenues in order to assure the safety and well-being of all residents and to protect the economic base of the community.

• The Chamber opposes any legislation that punishes good-faith efforts by employers who hire undocumented workers.
• The Chamber will continue to work to ensure tat residents of Mexico are not denied the opportunity to conduct business and visit family members in Arizona, legally.
• The Chamber supports federal efforts to track foreign visitors in our country in order to determine that laws of our country regarding foreign travel are being met.
• The Chamber, because of the federal government's failed immigration policies, also seeks reimbursement of federally mandated costs that have had an economic impact on law enforcement, education and the medical infrastructure.
• The Chamber urges implementation of a workable guest worker program because it is necessary to match our immigration system to our economic needs. It is imperative that Congress steps up to the plate and takes the necessary action to deal with immigration reform without further delay.

HEALTH CARE

Health care insurance is one of the most valued employee benefits and the most costly to provide for any employer, large or small. The state should encourage, rather than mandate, the expansion of affordable health care benefits.

• The Chamber opposes legislation that would require mandatory employer- provided health insurance benefits.
• The Chamber supports proposals for tort reform that would place a cap on punitive damages and supports legislation that would reduce the likelihood of frivolous lawsuits by requiring specific proof of injury. The impact of these lawsuits has had a devastating effect on health care providers as well as hospitals.
• The Chamber support efforts to train and recruit physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals in both rural and urban areas of the state. Create and expand education training programs and hospitable residencies.

TRANSPORTATION

The Chamber opposes the raiding of HURF funds and seeks to ensure that dedicated transportation funds are used only for transportation projects, all the while protecting the rural areas' fair share of these funds.

HIGH TECHNOLOGY

As our economy moves progressively toward an information-driven basis, it is imperative that we work to upgrade and enhance our high technology foundation and that we become more involved in this “new economy.” Our telecommunications providers must allocate sufficient resources and expertise to provide the infrastructure that is needed by our businesses so that they can compete in the information technology areas.

• The Chamber supports increasing the public awareness of the value and needs of high technology industries, including the importance of a highly skilled workforce.
• We endorse education policies that promote academic achievement and meet the needs of the high tech industry.
• We encourage the Arizona Department of Commerce and other entities to expand their job training programs in the high technology field.

OTHER ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED

Fair wages and salaries should be a matter of negotiation between employers and employees.

Government should not mandate what citizens must do with their private property unless it relates directly to the health, safety and well-being of others.

• Pay Day Loans
• State Government Reform
• Term Limits
• Clean Elections

ELECTED OFFICIALS – UNITED STATES CONGRESS

Senator: John McCain (R)

407 W. Congress Street. #103, Tucson, AZ 85701

Senator: John Kyl (R)

7315 N. Oracle Rd., #220, Tucson, AZ 85704

Representative Cong. Dist. 8: Gabrielle Giffords

77 Calle Portal, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635

ELECTED OFFICIALS – STATE OF ARIZONA

GOV. JAN BREWER (R)

1700 W. Washington

Phoenix, AZ 85007

DISTRICT 25                               DISTRICT 30

SEN. MANNY ALVAREZ(D)                     SEN. FRANK ANTENORI (R)

1700 W. Washington St.                          1700 W. Washington St.

Phoenix, AZ 85007                                    Phoenix, AZ 85007

REP. PAT FLEMING (D)                            REP. TED VOGT                         

1700 W. Washington St.                           1700 W. Washington St.

Phoenix, AZ 85007                                     Phoenix, AZ 85007

REP. DAVID STEVENS (R)                       REP. DAVID GOWAN (R)

1700 W. Washington St.                           1700 W. Washington St.

Phoenix, AZ 85007                                     Phoenix, AZ 85007

ELECTED OFFICIALS – COCHISE COUNTY

COCHISE COUNTY COURTHOUSE

1415 Melody Lane Bldg. B

Bisbee, AZ 85603

(520) 432-9200

SUPERVISOR PAT CALL (R)  DISTRICT 1

SUPERVISOR ANN ENGLISH (D) DISTRICT 2

SUPERVISOR RICHARD SEARLE (R) DISTRICT 3

ELECTED OFFICIALS CITY OF SIERRA VISTA

CITY HALL

1011 N. Coronado Drive

Sierra Vista, AZ 85635

(520) 458-3315

MAYOR BOB STRAIN

MAYOR PRO TEM RICK MUELLER

CAROL DOCKTER, CITY COUNCIL

LARRY HAMPTON, CITY COUNCIL

TOM REARDON, CITY COUNCIL

HENRIETTA “HANK” HUISKING, CITY COUNCIL

BOB BLANCHARD, CITY COUNCIL

THE CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• WALLACE RICKS, MANTECH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION (w) 538-5134
• TIM CERVANTES, COX COMMUNICATIONS (w) 452-4423
• FRANK GONZALEZ, LAWLEY AUTOMOTIVE (w) 452-6906
• DEE DEE HOEFT, WELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGE (w) 458-5888
• PAMELA ANDERSON, LANDMARK CAFE, 459-4624
• MICHAEL BENSON, TDY HOUSING, 439-8839
• JEAN GIUFFRIDA, LONG REALTY CO., (w) 266-0198
• SCOTT LOVELADY, SOUTHWEST GAS CORP., 458-6852
• PAUL ORLANDO, CHERRY CREEK RADIO (w) 458-4313
• BRADLEY SNYDER, SIERRA VISTA REALTY, 458-4388
• SUSAN TAWNEY, PIONEER TITLE AGENCY (w) 458-3500
• STEPHANIE HERNANDEZ, BEST BUY 417-1002
• RICK SHELLEY, HORIZON MOVING SYSTEMS 458-4625

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Rick Coffman, Castle & Cooke Arizona, Inc., CHAIRMAN

Paul Orlando, Cherry Creek Radio, CO-CHAIRMAN

Susan Tawney, Pioneer Title Agency

Kathleen Bullock, Above Board

Pat Call, Cochise County Supervisor

John Falzone, Budget Blinds of Sierra Vista

Gene Fenstermacher, Air Force Association

Mary Jacobs, City of Sierra Vista

Tom Reardon, City of Sierra Vista

LeAnn Richards, McDonalds

Carl Robie, Cochise County

Bob Strain, City of Sierra Vista

Hal Thomas, Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse

Linzee Parrotta, Garden Terrace Assisted Living Home

Ruben Ortega, NAMI

Marie Wurth, Sierra Vista Regional Health Center

Claire Stafford – CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Susan Tegmeyer– CHAMBER OF COMMERCE