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Next Chamber in Session Set for May 26
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Mark your calendars now for the next Chamber in Session, sponsored by Tanner & Guin, on Wed, May 26 at Hotel Capstone for a special program featuring Gov Bob Riley. Watch for more details coming soon, but schedule now to be involved.
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General Budget Passes
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The Alabama House of Representatives agreed last week to the Senate’s version of the $1.57 billion general fund budget for fiscal year 2011. It fully funds the Alabama Medicaid Agency and the Children’s Health Insurance plan. The final adopted budget also includes a cut of $5.1 million to the already under-funded corrections department, but adds millions more in funding to legislative special projects under the Department of Economic & Community Affairs (ADECA), Tourism & Travel, and the line item for community service grants. The bill awaits the Governor’s signature.
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$1 Billion Road & Bridge Program Pending
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SB 211 is pending in a conference committee of the House and Senate trying to come up with a compromise version of a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow use and distribution of funds from the Alabama Trust Fund for road and bridge projects in the state. If passed, the bill would distribute over $100 million to road and bridge projects, including: $25 million to cities and counties based on the state’s gasoline tax distribution formula, $74 million to the Alabama Department of Transportation, and $1 million to the Alabama Shortline Railroad Infrastructure Fund. Of the $74 million to ALDOT, $5 million would be used in each Congressional district and $39 million expended in the counties. Also pending in the compromise effort are the issues of mass transit, high speed rail and the Alabama Port Authority.
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Congressional Issues
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At the federal level, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has outlined his agenda for the weeks leading up to the Memorial Day recess. His ambitious agenda includes financial regulatory reform, food safety, a long-term extension of jobless benefits and confirmation of nominees. He also indicated that campaign finance reform ranks high on his priority list, which includes an effort to legislatively reverse a recent Supreme Court decision related to corporate political action funding of candidates.
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Be Aware of Climate Change Legislation - SJ Resolution 26 & HJ Resolution 76
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These resolutions would reject an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health and welfare and therefore should be regulated by the EPA. EPA regulation of greenhouse gases could impose federal permitting requirements on millions of businesses, restrict fuel choices and energy use, and require expensive installation of new equipment for businesses of all sizes.
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Tax Extenders Act of 2009 Could Encourage Job Growth, But Beware of Potential Tax Increases
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House Bill 4213 would extend expired pro-growth tax provisions including the research and experimentation (R&E) tax credit. It would also allow companies to accelerate the use of alternative minimum tax credits to create and maintain US jobs and stimulate new investment in American plants and equipment. However, the bill would eliminate the tax credit for alternative fuel use and require a transaction to have an economic purpose other than reducing tax liability. |
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About "The Agenda"
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The Agenda is a service of the Governmental Affairs Division of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. The objective is to keep you, our members, informed about public policy and legislative issues at local, state and national levels; and to encourage our members to get involved in issues that impact business and our overall community. We trust this will be helpful to you and request that you let us know the issues and concerns that you have concerning public policy.
The Chamber’s Public Affairs Council is the key volunteer-driven committee that assists and coordinates our efforts to influence public and legislative agendas and provides the leadership to stay informed and in-touch with elected officials at all levels of government. The Public Affairs Council meets each month on the 2nd Mon at 4pm at The Chamber. You are invited to join us.
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