Elected Officials Envision Coastal Alabama Policy and Positions Legislative Agenda Legislative Survey Results Additional Resources
Policy and Positions - Federal Issues
By: Win Hallett and Bill Seifert
Press-Register
November 16, 2008
As the battle between presidential candidates came to a close, one thing remained clear. Americans, after a long election season are ready to move forward. And the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce could not agree more.
In 2008, Mobile was dragged into the middle of the election process as news about the aerial refueling tanker contact – more commonly known here as Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 – was won, only to have it lost several months later due to political pressures.
Now as we move forward, the Chamber, representing more than 2,500 businesses in the Mobile area and with it some 90,000-plus employees, has developed its legislative agenda for working with our local, state and federal elected officials on several pro-business pieces of legislation that will benefit all business owners here.
Some of those issues include:
Healthcare: A healthy workforce is the backbone of a strong economy but rising healthcare costs hurt business competitiveness and constrain tight family budgets. The Mobile Area Chamber believes that we must increase access to affordable healthcare coverage, realign the system to focus on keeping people healthy and seek innovative solutions.
Taxes: Higher taxes for small business could be devastating to our economy. The Chamber is committed to pro-growth tax policies that preserve global competitiveness, and opposes tax increases that take money away from consumers and businesses, preventing them from investing in new products, equipment and employees. For businesses, especially small and medium-sized, a tax increase during a soft economy is unacceptable.
Energy: The Mobile area’s economic prosperity is closely tied to the availability of affordable, abundant and clean energy supplies. Experts report that energy demand in the U.S. could grow my more than 33% between now and 2030. In 2006, the Chamber adopted a comprehensive energy policy calling for increasing the supply of energy in a manner that is safe and protective of the environment and streamlining the permit and appeals process.
Labor: In 2009, our national will see a bold labor movement, pushing an agenda that would impose new and costly regulations on business. The Chamber opposes measures such as the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as “card check,” which would do away with the fundamental democratic protection of private ballots in union organizing elections.
Workforce and Education: If companies are to compete and win in a worldwide economy, they need well-educated and well-trained employees. The chamber believes that the best foundation for a competitive economy starts with an education and training system that gives workers the skills they need for the jobs of the 21st century and discourages students from dropping out.
Immigration Reform: The Chamber supports passage of a federal immigration policy that is comprehensive, rational, balanced, and secures borders, while welcoming legal immigrants who want to work. It’s imperative that the federal government work with business to create an employment verification system that is fast, accurate, reliable and fair.
Transportation and Infrastructure: Investments in transportation easy energy consumption by reducing congestion, directly supporting jobs, and facilitating the improved movement of people and goods to spur economic growth.
Trade: A longtime supporter of fair trade initiatives and agreements, the Chamber believes that elimination of foreign tariffs and other barriers to U.S. exports will create a level playing field and sustain the 12 million American jobs that depend on trade. The Chamber encourages Congress to pass trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama in 2009.
In a letter from U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donahue to President-Elect Barrack Obama, just one day after the election, Donahue made it clear that both the business community and our newly-elected leaders share a strong mutual interest – restoring the economic health of our country as soon as possible. To do that, Donahue said that any successful and sustainable recovery must involved the business sector, which creates the jobs, the growth and the revenues on which all Americans and our government depend.
The Mobile Area Chamber too wants to work with the U.S. Chamber on measures to reignite growth by restoring credit and confidence throughout the economy, produce more American energy, rebuild our infrastructure and reform our school. To accomplish this on a local level and have an impact on the national economy, the Mobile Area Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee, and its local, state and federal subcommittees will be working with the U.S. Chamber on the above-mentioned areas of focus.
The presidential election’s outcome does not change how this Chamber sets its legislative agenda for the coming year. Are there some areas that will be more of a challenge than in the past? Most definitely. But by no means does it keep the Mobile Area Chamber from advancing its issues on behalf of its members, and the entire business community in the Mobile area. We have too much at stake.
Win Hallett is president of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at 431-8610 or whallett@mobilechamber.com. Bill Seifert is 2008 board chairman for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, and area president for Regions Bank. He can be reached at 694-XXXX or bill.seifert@regions.com.
Press-Register
November 16, 2008
As the battle between presidential candidates came to a close, one thing remained clear. Americans, after a long election season are ready to move forward. And the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce could not agree more.
In 2008, Mobile was dragged into the middle of the election process as news about the aerial refueling tanker contact – more commonly known here as Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 – was won, only to have it lost several months later due to political pressures.
Now as we move forward, the Chamber, representing more than 2,500 businesses in the Mobile area and with it some 90,000-plus employees, has developed its legislative agenda for working with our local, state and federal elected officials on several pro-business pieces of legislation that will benefit all business owners here.
Some of those issues include:
Healthcare: A healthy workforce is the backbone of a strong economy but rising healthcare costs hurt business competitiveness and constrain tight family budgets. The Mobile Area Chamber believes that we must increase access to affordable healthcare coverage, realign the system to focus on keeping people healthy and seek innovative solutions.
Taxes: Higher taxes for small business could be devastating to our economy. The Chamber is committed to pro-growth tax policies that preserve global competitiveness, and opposes tax increases that take money away from consumers and businesses, preventing them from investing in new products, equipment and employees. For businesses, especially small and medium-sized, a tax increase during a soft economy is unacceptable.
Energy: The Mobile area’s economic prosperity is closely tied to the availability of affordable, abundant and clean energy supplies. Experts report that energy demand in the U.S. could grow my more than 33% between now and 2030. In 2006, the Chamber adopted a comprehensive energy policy calling for increasing the supply of energy in a manner that is safe and protective of the environment and streamlining the permit and appeals process.
Labor: In 2009, our national will see a bold labor movement, pushing an agenda that would impose new and costly regulations on business. The Chamber opposes measures such as the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as “card check,” which would do away with the fundamental democratic protection of private ballots in union organizing elections.
Workforce and Education: If companies are to compete and win in a worldwide economy, they need well-educated and well-trained employees. The chamber believes that the best foundation for a competitive economy starts with an education and training system that gives workers the skills they need for the jobs of the 21st century and discourages students from dropping out.
Immigration Reform: The Chamber supports passage of a federal immigration policy that is comprehensive, rational, balanced, and secures borders, while welcoming legal immigrants who want to work. It’s imperative that the federal government work with business to create an employment verification system that is fast, accurate, reliable and fair.
Transportation and Infrastructure: Investments in transportation easy energy consumption by reducing congestion, directly supporting jobs, and facilitating the improved movement of people and goods to spur economic growth.
Trade: A longtime supporter of fair trade initiatives and agreements, the Chamber believes that elimination of foreign tariffs and other barriers to U.S. exports will create a level playing field and sustain the 12 million American jobs that depend on trade. The Chamber encourages Congress to pass trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama in 2009.
In a letter from U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donahue to President-Elect Barrack Obama, just one day after the election, Donahue made it clear that both the business community and our newly-elected leaders share a strong mutual interest – restoring the economic health of our country as soon as possible. To do that, Donahue said that any successful and sustainable recovery must involved the business sector, which creates the jobs, the growth and the revenues on which all Americans and our government depend.
The Mobile Area Chamber too wants to work with the U.S. Chamber on measures to reignite growth by restoring credit and confidence throughout the economy, produce more American energy, rebuild our infrastructure and reform our school. To accomplish this on a local level and have an impact on the national economy, the Mobile Area Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee, and its local, state and federal subcommittees will be working with the U.S. Chamber on the above-mentioned areas of focus.
The presidential election’s outcome does not change how this Chamber sets its legislative agenda for the coming year. Are there some areas that will be more of a challenge than in the past? Most definitely. But by no means does it keep the Mobile Area Chamber from advancing its issues on behalf of its members, and the entire business community in the Mobile area. We have too much at stake.
Win Hallett is president of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at 431-8610 or whallett@mobilechamber.com. Bill Seifert is 2008 board chairman for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, and area president for Regions Bank. He can be reached at 694-XXXX or bill.seifert@regions.com.
Policy and Positions - Federal Issues
ENERGY POLICY 2006
Adopted by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
February 22, 2006.
Increasingly, Mobile-area businesses are concerned about energy availability and price. Specifically, wholesale natural gas prices are at record high levels. The extremely tight supply/demand situation and emotional trading volatility have produced record high gas prices. These high energy costs are having a harsh affect on the bottom line of existing area industry and business. Heavy users of natural gas are more carefully weighing expansion decisions, as are those companies considering an investment in our community.
Natural gas production from mature areas is declining and barely able to keep up with demand. New areas must be explored to produce more natural gas in an environmentally responsible manner. Conservation and energy efficiency are important and can help, but conservation will not be enough to reduce prices. Increased gas supplies are needed.
While America has abundant deposits of natural gas, access to them is restricted or denied altogether. The vast potential of new gas offshore cannot be realized when 85 percent of the Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) is under leasing moratoria and is off limits. Producers in the Intermountain West (between the Pacific and Rocky Mountain ranges), even when able to obtain leases, face long permitting delays, red tape and lawsuits from activists that effectively keep new supplies from the market.
To address this situation, the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce supports a comprehensive, federal energy policy to:
1. Increase the supply of energy in a manner that is safe and protective of the environment.
a. Give coastal states the option to allow natural gas production off their coasts by
providing access to the Outer Continental Shelf for exploration and development. b. Increase onshore access to oil and gas by allowing exploration and development of the North Slope of Alaska (ANWR).
c. Expedite permitting process for new energy source infrastructure, such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants.
2. Improve the regulatory climate.
a. Encourage use of diverse fuels for generating electricity, including nuclear power, clean coal and renewable sources (i.e., solar and wind).
b. Regulations should recognize and respect regional differences in the generation and delivery of energy, (i.e., don’t raise rates in one region to subsidize another).
c. Congress should require the Commodity Futures Trading Commissions (CFTC) to strengthen its oversight of the New York Mercantile Exchanges (NYMEX) and its impact on natural gas pricing volatility.
d. Expedite the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process to allow for environmentally sound natural gas production, while retaining NEPA’s environmental benefits.
3. Promote comprehensive energy conservation and encourage research and development of alternative energy sources.
RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING CONGRESSMAN SONNY CALLAHAN
Board Approved November 22, 2002
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan served the Mobile community tirelessly as our representative in the United States House of Representatives for nine terms after serving in the Alabama Legislature; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan became chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Energy and Water Development in the 107th Congress and worked closely with the George W. Bush Administration to finance a new national energy policy; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan has worked to secure funding for local environmental initiatives such as Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and Weeks Bay Estuary and worked for the inclusion of Mobile Bay in the National Estuary Program (NEP); and
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan created a mitigation plan for the Tenn-Tom Waterway, supported Mobile waterfront development, the proposed Mobile River bridge and deepening of the Bayou La Batre channel; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan has supported area healthcare efforts by securing funding for the University of South Alabama Cancer Research Institute, Thomas Hospital and Monroeville Hospital and continued Medicaid funding for Mercy Medical nursing facility; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan has supported transportation by securing modernization funding for Mobile airport ILS system, securing AmTrak service for Mobile, and intervening to save jobs for the Mobile Customs Service; and
WHEREAS Congressman Sonny Callahan served as chairman of foreign operations appropriations subcommittee and was responsible for funding the foreign military financing program that supports our allies military capabilities; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Advisors and Directors of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce do hereby congratulate Congressman Sonny Callahan on his retirement from the United States House of Representatives and recognize his tireless efforts and highly successful accomplishments in his nine terms of office.
POSITION STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF
CHANGES TO THE NATIONAL POLICY CONCERNING CUBA
Board Approved January 31, 2001
Last year, the United States Congress took a limited step toward having a more enlightened national understanding and humanitarian posture with Cuba. By allowing pharmaceutical and agricultural products to enter the Cuban market without tariff or embargo, the U.S. has taken the first small step toward the realization that we have a long history of cultural and commercial ties to Cuba.
While many other countries have been making significant financial investments in economic infrastructure and tourism-related opportunities, we must sit by and question the moral and practical validity of the forty-year-old polity that has done nothing more than harm the Cuban people and close markets that have been traditionally vibrant for the U.S.
We, the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, because of our traditional ties with Cuba, not the least of which is our Sister City relationship with Havana, support the following changes to the now existing national policy:
1) Reduce travel restrictions from the U.S. and Cuba and the reciprocation of the citizens on U.S. soil. Reason: Access and exposure to democratic ideals, a free market, economy, and the products, services and philosophies associated therein can and do bring social change.
2) Place forest products and building materials under the agricultural exemptions passed in last year’s legislation. Reason: For the most part, Cuba has been stuck in a 1950's time warp because of lack of capital and the failed U.S. embargo. The people of Cuba deserve better house, shelter and facilities - this we can facilitate.
3) At the very least, repeal the portion of the Helms-Burton Act that requires any flag vessel that calls on a Cuban port to stay our of the U.S. for six months. Reason: This restriction cripples any meaningful delivery or exchange of needed products.
4) Remove the restriction from U.S. banks to finance purchases of agricultural or pharmaceutical products by Cuba from the U.S. Reason: Unless financing for these transactions is permitted, the “gesture” of allowing humanitarian aid will have minimal positive impact.
5) Allow for the free flow of student exchange between the U.S. and Cuba. Reason: When cultural and intellectual ideas flow, there is a greater tie between the parties engaged. And, from these contacts, understandings and friendships, the likelihood of non-violent change for the better of our hemisphere emerges.
In the spirit of furthering the international interests of our country and our region, both cultural, humanitarian and commercial, we record this position.
Adopted by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
February 22, 2006.
Increasingly, Mobile-area businesses are concerned about energy availability and price. Specifically, wholesale natural gas prices are at record high levels. The extremely tight supply/demand situation and emotional trading volatility have produced record high gas prices. These high energy costs are having a harsh affect on the bottom line of existing area industry and business. Heavy users of natural gas are more carefully weighing expansion decisions, as are those companies considering an investment in our community.
Natural gas production from mature areas is declining and barely able to keep up with demand. New areas must be explored to produce more natural gas in an environmentally responsible manner. Conservation and energy efficiency are important and can help, but conservation will not be enough to reduce prices. Increased gas supplies are needed.
While America has abundant deposits of natural gas, access to them is restricted or denied altogether. The vast potential of new gas offshore cannot be realized when 85 percent of the Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) is under leasing moratoria and is off limits. Producers in the Intermountain West (between the Pacific and Rocky Mountain ranges), even when able to obtain leases, face long permitting delays, red tape and lawsuits from activists that effectively keep new supplies from the market.
To address this situation, the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce supports a comprehensive, federal energy policy to:
1. Increase the supply of energy in a manner that is safe and protective of the environment.
a. Give coastal states the option to allow natural gas production off their coasts by
providing access to the Outer Continental Shelf for exploration and development. b. Increase onshore access to oil and gas by allowing exploration and development of the North Slope of Alaska (ANWR).
c. Expedite permitting process for new energy source infrastructure, such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants.
2. Improve the regulatory climate.
a. Encourage use of diverse fuels for generating electricity, including nuclear power, clean coal and renewable sources (i.e., solar and wind).
b. Regulations should recognize and respect regional differences in the generation and delivery of energy, (i.e., don’t raise rates in one region to subsidize another).
c. Congress should require the Commodity Futures Trading Commissions (CFTC) to strengthen its oversight of the New York Mercantile Exchanges (NYMEX) and its impact on natural gas pricing volatility.
d. Expedite the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process to allow for environmentally sound natural gas production, while retaining NEPA’s environmental benefits.
3. Promote comprehensive energy conservation and encourage research and development of alternative energy sources.
RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING CONGRESSMAN SONNY CALLAHAN
Board Approved November 22, 2002
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan served the Mobile community tirelessly as our representative in the United States House of Representatives for nine terms after serving in the Alabama Legislature; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan became chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Energy and Water Development in the 107th Congress and worked closely with the George W. Bush Administration to finance a new national energy policy; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan has worked to secure funding for local environmental initiatives such as Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and Weeks Bay Estuary and worked for the inclusion of Mobile Bay in the National Estuary Program (NEP); and
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan created a mitigation plan for the Tenn-Tom Waterway, supported Mobile waterfront development, the proposed Mobile River bridge and deepening of the Bayou La Batre channel; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan has supported area healthcare efforts by securing funding for the University of South Alabama Cancer Research Institute, Thomas Hospital and Monroeville Hospital and continued Medicaid funding for Mercy Medical nursing facility; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Sonny Callahan has supported transportation by securing modernization funding for Mobile airport ILS system, securing AmTrak service for Mobile, and intervening to save jobs for the Mobile Customs Service; and
WHEREAS Congressman Sonny Callahan served as chairman of foreign operations appropriations subcommittee and was responsible for funding the foreign military financing program that supports our allies military capabilities; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Advisors and Directors of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce do hereby congratulate Congressman Sonny Callahan on his retirement from the United States House of Representatives and recognize his tireless efforts and highly successful accomplishments in his nine terms of office.
POSITION STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF
CHANGES TO THE NATIONAL POLICY CONCERNING CUBA
Board Approved January 31, 2001
Last year, the United States Congress took a limited step toward having a more enlightened national understanding and humanitarian posture with Cuba. By allowing pharmaceutical and agricultural products to enter the Cuban market without tariff or embargo, the U.S. has taken the first small step toward the realization that we have a long history of cultural and commercial ties to Cuba.
While many other countries have been making significant financial investments in economic infrastructure and tourism-related opportunities, we must sit by and question the moral and practical validity of the forty-year-old polity that has done nothing more than harm the Cuban people and close markets that have been traditionally vibrant for the U.S.
We, the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, because of our traditional ties with Cuba, not the least of which is our Sister City relationship with Havana, support the following changes to the now existing national policy:
1) Reduce travel restrictions from the U.S. and Cuba and the reciprocation of the citizens on U.S. soil. Reason: Access and exposure to democratic ideals, a free market, economy, and the products, services and philosophies associated therein can and do bring social change.
2) Place forest products and building materials under the agricultural exemptions passed in last year’s legislation. Reason: For the most part, Cuba has been stuck in a 1950's time warp because of lack of capital and the failed U.S. embargo. The people of Cuba deserve better house, shelter and facilities - this we can facilitate.
3) At the very least, repeal the portion of the Helms-Burton Act that requires any flag vessel that calls on a Cuban port to stay our of the U.S. for six months. Reason: This restriction cripples any meaningful delivery or exchange of needed products.
4) Remove the restriction from U.S. banks to finance purchases of agricultural or pharmaceutical products by Cuba from the U.S. Reason: Unless financing for these transactions is permitted, the “gesture” of allowing humanitarian aid will have minimal positive impact.
5) Allow for the free flow of student exchange between the U.S. and Cuba. Reason: When cultural and intellectual ideas flow, there is a greater tie between the parties engaged. And, from these contacts, understandings and friendships, the likelihood of non-violent change for the better of our hemisphere emerges.
In the spirit of furthering the international interests of our country and our region, both cultural, humanitarian and commercial, we record this position.
