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Special Invitation
FUTURE PAC Reception
Monday, May 8th
5:30 PM until 7:00 PM
Harrison Galleries
Candidates for area legislative offices, probate judge and county commission chairman, governor and lt. governor have been invited to attend. Chamber members are invited to attend, support and participate.
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 One of the essential elements of our system of government is participation of citizens at all levels of public and governmental activities. When citizens cease to be involved in the affairs and issues of our governmental and economic system, then one of the important privileges that has distinguished our nation from all others can diminish freedoms and opportunities, leading to public policy, or lack of, that does not contribute to future economic prosperity, a progressive business climate and a higher quality of life. At a time when encroachment of government at all levels on the lives and activities of individuals and businesses is of serious concern, it is vital that organizations, such as The Chamber, work together and speak out in concert on issues that affect economic development, a thriving private enterprise system, a quality environment, and other public policies that impact future development and improvement of our community and region. Representing employers of all sizes and shapes in Tuscaloosa County and West Alabama, including in the business, industry, education, professional, and institutional sectors, The Chamber offers an essential vehicle for development of sound policies, a unified voice for the private sector, and an effective means to influence and implement public policies that preserve and enhance the ability to prosper and raise the standard of living.
Business and industry - the area's employers - must be involved and recognize that a passive approach doesn't work. Simply mailing in a campaign donation during an election cycle, leaving the decision up to a narrow, special interest group, or depending only on the work of a professional lobbyist does not get the job done anymore. Business must be actively engaged at every level of government, working together and speaking with one voice. The Chamber provides an effective vehicle to meet that goal.
With these objectives in mind, The Chamber does concern itself with the affairs and actions of government at all levels as they affect our members and the prosperity and economic opportunities of the region. To that end, our members come together annually to review and develop policy positions on issues and initiatives. And it is an important process.
Through our Public Affairs & Legislative Council and our Board of Directors, all of which are made up of volunteers, The Chamber has developed a strong governmental affairs program over the years that has been recognized statewide for its effectiveness and aggressive leadership. Through organized, volunteer-led functions, The Chamber can and does identify key issues; establishes a plan of action and official positions on a diverse menu of issues; and communicates these positions to policy-makers and elected officials in order to influence the public agenda.
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For many years, The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama has supported tax and fiscal reform in Alabama, including maintaining consistent advocacy for business license reform at the local and state levels.
During the 2006 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature, there has been an active effort by The Chamber in support of business license reform, with some degree of success. However, with the Regular Session coming to conclusion April 17th, the Municipal Business License Reform Act of 2006 (HB 754 and SB 559) may or may not become reality The legislation, along with various amendments and substitutions, would create a more uniform framework by which Alabama municipalities would license entities doing business within their jurisdictions.
The legislation includes the following provisions:
- Establishes a uniform set of business classifications based on the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS).
- Provides for a maximum $100 "delivery license" for businesses that merely deliver and install products and have no fixed location in the city.
- Provides for a "small vendor license", for a business that derives less than $10,000 of its gross receipts annually from within a municipality, so that the business license tax is capped at 1% of those gross receipts.
- Codifies "branch office rule" to ensure that when a business has physical locations in two (or more) municipalities, the municipality in which the business is headquartered does not tax the gross receipts generated by a "branch" location, on which another municipality also imposes its business license tax.
- Provides for uniformity of the following: tax appeals process; license application form; penalties for delinquency and grounds for waiver; statute of limitations, with local options allowed for a full phase-in; interest rate due on tax assessments/refunds and annual due date - January 31, with grandfather provision.
- Provides a uniform definition for "gross receipts", on which most license taxes will be based, and specifies the elements that are to be included and excluded (consumer taxes) from the computations.
The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama has actively supported the proposed legislation, asking and encouraging area legislators for their support and vote for business license reform legislation. At the end of the Regular Session, we will see what happens.
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 The Health Care Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act (S.1955) is pending in Congress currently, which is the first time in over ten years that the U. S. Senate has taken any action on this type of legislation. (The U. S. House of Representatives actually passed similar legislation (H.R. 525) in July, 2005 for the 7 th time.) This legislation would help small business in several ways, including: provide the opportunity to pool small employers into larger groups through a small business health plan (SBHP). By joining together, small employers would enjoy greater bargaining power, economies of scale, and administrative efficiencies. The proposed legislation would also provide rate and benefit consistency across state lines and allow for states to continue overseeing fully insured programs. SBHP's empower small businesses with tools similar to those used by larger employers and labor unions to make health insurance more affordable. In addition, SBHP's would give small businesses a level playing field with their larger competitors, allowing these smaller firms to provide more affordable health insurance for their employees and their families. Small businesses could bargain with provides, which they can't do now. Small businesses comprise the foundation and character of our nation's communities, and at the very least, they deserve a level playing field with the "big guys". SBHP's would not give 'mom and pop' businesses an advantage - they would simply make them equal.
For more information, go to The Chamber's website at www.tuscaloosachamber.com and click on the U. S. Chamber of Commerce logo, and then follow the menu of issues. As a small business under 100 employees, if you are a member of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, you enjoy the benefit of membership in the U. S. Chamber of Commerce and gain access to a wide array of legislative information and services. Your Chamber is a Federation Partner of the U. S. Chamber, providing yet another valuable benefit and service. |
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Congressman Artur Davis will hold a "Town Hall" meeting, Monday night, April 17th at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Join 7th District Congressman Davis for his annual visit to Tuscaloosa County to hear your views and issues. |
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The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama is and has been pursuing its 2006 governmental and public policy objectives, according to Chamber President, Johnnie Aycock, which were adopted by the Board of Directors and Public Affairs Council earlier in the year.
"The Chamber has a broad, diverse public policy framework that has been developed over the years, with an active team of volunteers engaged in public and governmental affairs, legislative issues and regulatory concerns at all levels of government," stated Aycock. "Our Chamber has earned statewide respect for effective advocacy on behalf of our members and business interests, and our 2006 plan reflects a continued emphasis on influencing the public agenda."
Included in The Chamber's adopted public policy plan for 2006 are eight identified priorities. These include:
- Active support and advocacy for highway projects, including the completion of four-laning of Highways 43 North, 69 South, and U.S. 82 West, and six-laning of I-59/20 in Tuscaloosa County; and funding and timely expansion of Buttermilk Road and the North-South corridor via West Alabama.
- Active leadership and encouragement of productive partnerships with and among local governing bodies and the Alabama Department of Transportation to achieve highway priorities.
- Aggressive support and advocacy for local authority to use and apply automated enforcement of traffic safety and regulations, including running of red lights, speeding and other offenses that impact public safety.
- Active support and pursuit of implementation of authorization and funding for redevelopment and relocation of U. S. Army Corps of Engineers facilities along Black Warrior River, and advocacy for authorizing legislation that would provide for the establishment of a first-class visitor center.
- Support and advocacy of constitution reform legislation that fosters opportunities for citizens of Alabama to be involved in adoption of a new, effective constitution for Alabama, including limited home rule.
- Continued support and advocacy for workforce development initiatives, and funding and implementation of the Alabama Reading Initiative and the Alabama Math, Science & Technology Initiative.
- Support of environmental initiatives and legislation that emphasizes and promotes the use of "brownfields", vehicle emissions inspections and maintenance; and appropriate protection measures at local and state levels for Lake Tuscaloosa.
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