2010 Legislative Survey Results
Chamber’s Annual Legislative Survey Solicits Input from Members

Each year the Mobile Area Chamber’s community and governmental affairs department releases a survey to its membership seeking input of key local, state and federal legislative issues that impact local business. From responses, Chamber members serving on the local, state and federal Governmental Affairs Committees begin to build the annual legislative agenda. This document is used by Chamber staff and lobbyist, as well as volunteers in meeting with elected officials.

Below are the survey’s results. Nearly 20 percent of the Chamber membership responded to the annual survey. For more information on the results, contact Ginny Russell, vice president of community and governmental affairs for the Chamber at 431-8618 or grussell@mobilechamber.com.
 
1. In 2011, Mobile County voters will go to the polls and vote on three local millage tax renewals for the Mobile County Public School System and Saraland City Schools.  These will be renewals of existing millage taxes.  If the vote were help today, would you?
  Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Support the Renewal 66.7%   96
Not Support the Renewal 13.9%   20
Need More Information 19.4%   28
  Total Respondents 144
2. How important is it for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce to support market-driven insurance coverage to help individuals and business find fair and reasonable protection for their homes and business investments?
  Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Important  78.6%  110
Not Important   5.0%     7
Not Sure  16.4%    23
  Total Respondents  140
3.  Regarding the number of commissioners on the Mobile County Commission, do you support?
  Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Increasing the number from 3 to 5   46.8%   65
Increasing the number from 3 to 7    8.6%   12
No Change Needed in the number   44.6%   62
  Total Respondents  139
4.  Do you support allowing legal foreign workers to work in Alabama to help meet business and industry employment needs?
  Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Yes  65.2%   92
No  17.7%   25
Need more information  44.6%   24
  Total Respondents  141
5.  How important is it for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce to protect workers' rights to secret ballot in unionization votes?
  Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Very Important  53.6%    75
Important  17.1%    24  
Not important  15.0%    21
Need More Information  14.3%    20
  Total Respondents  140
6.  How important is it for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce to be support oil and gas exploration and production offshore?
  Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Very Important  51.8%   72
Important  30.9%   43  
Not important   6.5%     9
Need More Information   10.8%   15
  Total Respondents  139
7. Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill disaster, how important is it for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce to partner with government and academia to accelerate the rebuilding of business and the reestablishment of environmental assets?
  Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Very Important  62.1%   87
Important  31.4%   44  
Not important    2.9%     4
Need More Information    3.6%     5
  Total Respondents  140
8.  How important is it for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce to bring together corporate, civic and governmental entities to enhance long-term planning and to encourage the redevelopment of blighted properties in the
City of Mobile?
  Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Very Important  53.6%   75
Important  40.0%   56  
Not important    4.3%     6
Need More Information    2.1%     3
  Total Respondents  140
9.  The following are issues the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Committee members have recently discussed.  Please rank each issue on its importance to your business.
Decreasing Healthcare Cost for Business
Very Important  52.6%   72
Important  32.8%   45
Neutral  13.1%   18
Not important   1.5%    2
  Total Respondents  137
 
Supporting Tort Reform
Very Important  43.1%   59
Important  31.4%   43
Neutral  21.2%   29
Not important   4.4%    6
  Total Respondents  137
 
Prohibiting Employees from Bringing Firearms to Work
Very Important  43.8%   60
Important  28.5%   30
Neutral  15.3%   21
Not important  12.4%   17
  Total Respondents  137
 
Increasing Access to Global Markets via Trade Agreements
Very Important  32.8%   45
Important  50.4%   69
Neutral  12.4%   17
Not important   4.4%    6
  Total Respondents  137
 
Increasing Reform, Efficiency & Accountability in State & Federal Government
Very Important  64.7%   93
Important  28.3%   39
Neutral   4.3%    6
Not important   0.0%    0
  Total Respondents  138
 
Creating a Board of Directors for Al Dept. of Transportation
Very Important  17.5%   24
Important  40.1%   55
Neutral  35.8%   49
Not important   6.6%    9
  Total Respondents  137
 
Creating Charter Schools in Alabama
Very Important  28.7%   39
Important  29.4%   40
Neutral  28.7%   39
Not important  13.2%   18
  Total Respondents  136
     
Removing Federal Financial & Record Keeping Burdens on Small Businesses
Very Important  48.9%   67
Important  29.9%   41
Neutral  16.1%   22
Not Important   5.1%     7
  Total Respondents  137