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Blount Chamber Tells Congress to Oppose "Card Check"
2010 Regional Legislative Agenda Presented to State Legislators
See video 2010 Regional Legislative Agenda Presented to State Legislators
On January 8, 2010 the Blount, Knoxville and Oak Ridge chambers of commerce presented the Regional Legislative to our state legislators. In attendance at the Regional Breakfast presentation was Governor Phil Bredesen.
The Blount County Chamber, Knoxville Chamber and Oak Ridge Chamber have collectively identified key state issues of importance. after careful consideration, we recommend the following slate of issues.
Education: Strong Education for Personal and Economic Success.
* Encourage the Legislature to reject any proposal to allow for the election of the directors of schools.
* Support continued implementation of State educational standards described in the Tennessee Diploma Project.
*Oppose the mandatory merger of schools.
* Reject mandatory school start dates.
* Restore base funding for public community colleges and universities.
Transportation: Three key highway projects that impact multiple counties
* TDOT should develop an implementation plan with major milestones identified to enable the Knoxville Parkway to open to traffic in the year 2020.
* Request TDOT to complete the EIS and an implementation plan as expeditiously as possible that will allow for the completion of Pellissippi Parkway
* Widen SR 170 from SR 62 (Pellissippi Parkway) to I-75.
Economic Development: High Tech Incentives for new-economy, research development, and technology companies
* Allow for additional and enhanced support of small or start-up high tech businesses.
Workers' Compensation:Maintaining business friendly conditions for TN employer's by correcting "bad case law" and making needed administrative changes
* Implement a more complete correction of the problems caused by the Overstreet v. TRW decision.
* Revisit issues that arose from the Wait v. Traveler's case dealing with telecommuting.
*Changes to SEC. 50-6-102 including the defenitions of injury by accident and arising out of and in the course of employment.
2009 Regional Legislative Agenda Presented to State Legislators
On January 9, 2009 the Blount,
2009 Regional Legislative Agenda
Blount County Chamber, Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and Oak Ridge Chamber 2009 Regional Agenda
Priorities
Education - Strong Education and Economic Success
A Skilled, well prepared workforce is the key to our success in the global economy. Tennessee's K-12 education system is not adequately prparing students for college or the workplace, and the state consistently ranks near the bottom of national comparisons of academic attainment and college graduates. Education in the state must be improved and should be both equitable and adequate. The regional chambers:
- Encourage the legislature to reject any proposal to allow for the election of directors of schools. Professional school superintendents are tremendously important because they need to have academic improvement and execution of strategies to increase the skills of graduates as their singular focus. These professionals cannot be distracted by periodic elections.
- Oppose the mandatory merger of schools systems within Tennessee counties.
Transportation - Three key highway projects that impact multiple counties
Efficient and convenient transportation infrastructure directly impacts our region's ability to attract and retain employers, enhance tourism opportunites, and provide access to commercial and industrial development. We support:
- Reporting on plans to meet infrastructure needs and complete the Knoxville Parkway. TDOT should develop and implementation plan with major milestones identified to enable the Parkway to open to traffic in the year 2020. TDOT should also report its plans for addressing the state's current and future infrastructure needs.
- Prompt completion of Pellissippi Parkway to US Hwy 321. Request TDOT to complete the EIS as expeditiously as possible and also develop and implementation plan that will allow the final link of the Parkway to open to traffic by 2012.
- Completion of the widening of SR58/95 in Anderson and Roane counties. TDOT should adhere to the construction and funding schedule of Phase II and develop a funding and construction schedule for Phase III.
Economic Development - High Tech Incentives for new-economy, research and development, and technology companies
Tennessee's current economic development incentives are aimed at manufacturing and distribution categories or other large-scale employers. This structure overlooks the fact that new-economy, research and development, and technology companies are important to the future of Tennessee and the Innovation Valley. Therefore, we:
- Recommend adjusting current state economic development incentives to allow for support of small or start-up high tech(agriculture science, materials science, media technology, nanotechnology, renewable energy, and research and development) businesses. Reasonable thresholds on business investment, number of jobs, and salaries should be requirements of qualification for the incentives.
Workers' Compensation - Maintaining business-friendly conditions for Tennessee employers by correcting "bad case law" and making needed administrative changes
A fair and manageable workers' compensation system is necessary for business growth and can help attract new employers and new investment to Tennessee. therefore, we:
- Recommend legislative changes to correct problems caused by "bad case law" in:
- Overstreet v. TRW, which restricts communication with treating physicians. This type of communication has been conducted routinely in the past and is a necessary component of successfully managing a workers' compensation case;
- Gooden v. Coors, which increases employers' liability if they support physical fitness on their premises. This decision pushes employer's away from supporting onsite fitness and wellness facilities, which is contrary to the public good;
- Wait v. Traveler's, which may increase liability for employers who use telecommuting. Telecommuting, and its many advantages, may be lost due to the dampening effects of this decision.
- Recommend further legislative changes to Sec. 50-6-102 to address definitions of "injury by accident" and "arising out of and in the course of employment." These areas require attention and correction due to the growing number of non-work related cases that are finding their way into the workers' compensation system.
Status: HB 1500 passed the full Senate earlier in the session and passed in the House with a 97-0-0 voye. The Bill exempts recreational injuries from Workers' Comp claims. This has been an important issue for the Business community following the state Supreme Court ruling in the Gooden v. Coors ruling eighteen months ago making recreational injuries compensable under Tennessee's workers' compensation laws.
Status: Several bills have been considered to undo the restrictions in communication with treating physicians this session. Will continue to monitor progress.
2008-2009 Regional Federal Agenda
Blount County Chamber of Commere, Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership, Oak Ridge Chamber, and East Tn Economic Council
The four organizations have jointly identified the following issues as their top federal legislative priorities.
Education & Workforce Development We support: Accountability in Education-We believe that accountability in education is essential and that significant changes to current legislation are needed to include funding. Full Funding of America Competes Act of 2007 - this comprehensive strategy to keep America the most innovative nation in the worlkd needs to be fully funded. Because of it's science and technology assests, the Innovation Valley has a significant role to play in this effor.
Transportation Enacted in August 2005, SAFETEA-LU authorized the Federal transportation programs for highways, highway safety and transit and is scheduled for reauthorization in 2009. We urge Congress to carry out its business on this matter as quickly as possible.
IFDP and Modernization of the Oak Ridge Reservation The work related to the modernization of the Department of Energy facilities in Oak Ridge has a significant impact on the regional economy and the important national security and science research missions of the Y-12 National Security Complex and ORNL. We support the continued funding for the modernization of Y-12 and the provision of $500 million per year (plus escalation) for the DOE environmental management program on the Oak Ridge Reservation known as the Integrated Facilities Disposition Plan.
Supporting the Future - Energy, Science, and Technology Innovation Valley has much to offer to the nation. Because of the contributions of the University of Tennesee, the Oak ridge National Laboratory, the National Neutron Source, and many others, it is a center of research and development and scientific excellence. The Y-12 National Security Complex and other facilities make significant and unparalleled contributions to national defense, nuclear nonproliferation, and the war on terrorism. In addition, researchers, engineers, and scientists are contributing to energy production programs that include nuclear, biomass, biofuels, and other alternative energy sources. We urge Congress to support the efforts to; make Y-12 a Center of Excellence of uranium technology and the building of a new Uranium Production Facility; fund biofuels and other energy research being conducted by UT and ORNL; encourage the development of more private sector businesses that can commercialize the technolgies being developed in Innovation Valley.
Business Issues
Chamber opposes Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009 HR 413. (Federal & Local Issue)
Summary: If approved, this legislation woudl mandate collective bargaining rights for police, fire and emergency personnel in states where such activity is now prohibited under state law and would supersede the existing collective bargaining laws that are currently in place in other states.
Status: A formal resolution was adopted by the Board of Directors on March 2, 2009 and sent to our federal delegation. Currently, HR 413 is under consideration by the House Committee on Education and Labor. Senator Alexander offered an amendment to the bill in May that would provide that no collective bargaining mandate would be imposed on local communities that certify that this law would lead to higher taxes and cuts in services.
Chamber opposes Employee Free Choice Act/Card Check . Card Check (Federal Issue)
Summary: The legislation will strip employees of a private ballot in union organizing drives, intefere with a worker's ability to deal directly with their employer, and force unfair mandates on businesses.
Status:The Board of Directors sent letters to our federal delegation opposing the legislation. The bill was introduced in March and referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. Because of strong constituant opposition to the bill, it has stalled in Congress. There do not appear to be votes in the Senate to pass the Bill. Although no further action is expected this session, the Chamber will continue to voice our opinion to lawmakers.
The Chamber has been informed that a large and potentially influential group of investment companies are supporting passage of unionization re-write based on International Labor Organization protocols. this is an exceptionally sophisticated form of what traditionally has been known as a "corporate compaign." The unions are pulling out all the stops to pass a bill to make inionization easier. The legislation could be the most significan change in the laws regulating union management-relations since 1935. It is important that our members of Congress continue to hear from our members.
Chamber adopts resolution to request Obama Administration to expedite the release of funds for the Small Business Stabilization program. (Federal Issue)
Summary: The US Congress provided for assistance to small businesses through the Small Business Stabilization program included in the federal stimulus package passed in February which provides banks to lend $35,000 to companies experiencing financial hardship but the program has not been fully released.
Status: The Board of Directors adopted a resolution in May to direct the Administration to release the funds. Letters and the Resolution were sent to our federal delegation in May.
Chamber supports the approval of the application for antitrust immunity filed by American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair and Royal Jordanian. (Federal and Local Issue)
Summary: Approval would enhance the services currently provided by McGhee Tyson and enable these five one world alliance airlines that operate transatlantic service to work closely together to deliver highly competitive flight schedules, fares and service to our customers.
Status: Application submitted. No current action taken.
Support for Governor's new budget package creating funding for a contingency fund for economic development (State Issue)
Summary: This $100 million fund is being created from agency reserves, extra monies and other areas that don't involve taking money from the general budget. The Chamber supports the Governor's Economic Incentive Proposal. The best Returns on Investment you can get is investing in economic growth. We see a return on increased jobs, increased taxes, increased wealth and increased quality of life.
Status: No activity taken this legislative session due to budget shortfalls.
Workers Compensation (State Issue)
Summary: The Chamber supports meaningful workers' compensation reform. The state passed a landmark reform bill in 2004 and the chamber continues to monitorworkers comp legislation. Activity around workers comp legislation remains slow this session as many bills have been referred to the Workers Comp Advisory Council for recommendation.
Status: For complete details - see 2009 Regional Legislative Agenda - Workers' Compensation. For more information click here.
Air Quality Non-Attainment Status (Federal & State Issue)
Summary: The Blount County Chamber opposes any changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs) for ozone. Blount County is currently disignated as non-attainment for EPA ozone standards along with six other counties in East Tennessee. Many changes have already been made to reduce emissions. The Chamber does not feel it is in the best interests of our nation for the federal government to lower current ozone standards. Doing so could provide a major blow to our national economy and further encourage businesses to depart for other nations with less burdensome regulations.
Status: The EPA announced in March 2008 that the standards are changed from .84 parts per million for ozone to .75 parts per million. More than 30 counties in Tennessee fail to meet the new standards. In the Knox region, made up of seven counties, many changes have already been made to address emmission reductions They include: Emmission reductions by TVA, lower speed limits on federal highways, free bus rides in Knox County on air-alert days, idling reduction, biodiesel innitiatives and pollution reduction at truck stops through electric comfort stations. Additional measures will be considered to address the new standards. The new standards require a new State Implementation Plan by 2011. The Regional Clean Air Coalition continues to monitor and provide input into the plan along with the local county goverments impacted by the change in standards. Mandatory inspections and maintenance of vehicles in the non-attainment area may be required in the near future.
Small Business Investment Act HR 3567 (Federal Issue)
Summary: The Chamber opposes the Senate's companion bill to H.R. 3567, The Small Business Investment Act. We oppose changes to the definition of a small business for the purposes of venture capital investment. The redefinition strips the elements of independent ownership and control that identify small business ownership under the current law. The change would be inequitable for actual small businesses and would not help address the misidentification of large firms as small businessees for Federal procurement purposes.
Status: There has not been much current activity on the bill according to Adam Melenkivitz with the American Small Business League. The Chamber Board issued a letter to Senator Corker and Senator Alexander requesting them to oppose the Senate's campanion bill to H.R. 3567. Currently referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. For more information: Contact Adam with the American Small Business League adam@asbl.com or www.asbl.com
Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act – HR 1873 (Federal Issue)
Summary: Reauthorizes the programs and activities of the Small Business Administration relating to procurement and other purposes. The Blount Chamber lobbied to include a provision in the Senate version to include removing all Fortune 1000 companies from the federal database of small businesses and recommended an annual recertification provision that would require all firms with existing federal contracts to recertify their status.
Status: No current activity on the bill this year. Contacted Senator Alexander and Corker with our request. Bill has been referred to Senate Committee: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. For more information, visit www.asbl.com.
Fair Share Bills (State and Federal Issue)
Summary: Fair Share bills would mandate employers to spend a set amount on health care benefits. Instead of encouraging employers to manage health care costs, the bills actually encourage maintaining above average health care costs. Additionally, the bills do not address provider access to affordable health care insurance.
Status: The Chamber is monitoring Fair Share Bills during this legislative session and will update information as bills are introduced that may come to the floor for a vote. The Blount Chamber successfully lobbied to avoid the passage of any Fair Share bills during the 105th General Assembly. The Chamber will continue to lobby against bills that are unfair to businesses and that require unfunded mandates by the government. For more information on specific bills introduced during the 105th General Assembly, Click Here Visit www.uschamber.com on federal issues involving unfunded mandates by the federal government.
Right-to-Work Laws/”Employment at Will” (State Issue)
Summary: Tennessee is known as an “Employment-At-Will” state. Generally, this means that an employer may legally hire, suspend or discipline any employee at any time and for any reason. However, employer may not discriminate against any employee on basis of race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, or disability.
Status: The Chamber will monitor bills that threaten the "Employment at Will" status for Tennessee. We will update information as bills are introduced this session and alert chamber members when a bill comes out of committee for a vote on the floor. The chamber successfully lobbied against any changes in Tennessee’s current Right to Work/Employment at Will laws during the 105th General Assembly, for more information on specific bills introduced during the 105th General Assembly, visit www.legislature.state.tn.us. The Tennessee Chamber plans to continue to support no changes in the next legislative session.
Education Issues
Resolution opposing elected school superintendents (State Issue)
Summary: The resolution opposes any change in current law to allow for the election of school superintendents.
Status: No activity this legislative session.
Oppose mandatory merger of schools systems within Tennessee Counties (State Issue)
Summary: Blount County has three seperate school systems and chooses to maintain the current systems. It is not in the best intersest of the students in the systems to force the merger of the three systems.
Status: No activity this legislative session.
BEP 2.0 (State Issue)
Summary: Governor Bredesen unveiled a new way for calculating how the 136 different school systems receive funding through the Basic Education Plan (BEP). The Governor reworked the formula and called it BEP 2.0. The new formula reimburses the 136 school districts in the state based on physical capacity models and was calculated using each local government’s property tax rate and sales tax rate. The Blount Chamber is not in favor of the new formula.
Status: The Chamber will monitor the proposed implementation plan for BEP 2.0 and report any new developments. We will continue to oppose BEP 2.0 as currently written. Public Chapter 367 took effect 7/1/2007. The law will change the formula. Blount County, Maryville and Alcoa will receive reduced amounts from the state with the implementation of the new formula. For more information, visit www.legislature.state.tn.us/ or www.state.tn.us/education
Make Education the State’s Top Priority. (State and Federal Issue)
For more information see www.tnchamber.org, www.state.tn.us/education or www.legislature.state.tn.us.
Infrastructure Issues
Alcoa Highway (State Issue)
Summary: The Alcoa Highway project consists of four different projects. The Blount Chamber supports the completion of the entire project which serves as the most direct route from Knoxville to McGee Tyson Airport in Blount County. All projects will widen the existing road to three lanes in each direction. Specifically, the Chamber supports the redesigned Alcoa Parkway section of the highway located in Blount County. The portions of SR-115 and SR-335 to the proposed interchange at McGee Tyson Airport would be widened to eight lanes. The proposed section is 5.5 miles in length.
Status: An environmental impact study had to be redone and is currently underway. Alcoa Highway Right of Way is programmed for 2010 for $28-30 million dollars. From Blount County line to Maloney-the proposed construction start date is 2010. For more information, visit www.tdot.state.tn.us/, www.knoxtrans.org/ or www.cityofalcoa-tn.gov/business .
Completion of Pellissippi Parkway to Highway 321. (State Issue)
Summary:TDOT proposes to extend and construct Pellissippi Parkway from SR 33 to SR 73 (US 321). The completion of Pellissippi Parkway is approximately 4.4 miles. The project was included in TEA-21 as a high priority project.
Status: Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act. TDOT projects the EIS to be completed in 2009. More public imput meetings will be held during the process.
For more information contact: www.tdot.state.tn.us or
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Suite 700, James K. Polk Building
505 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243-0332
Pellissippi Parkway Extension EIS Project Vicinity Map
475/Knoxville Parkway.(State Issue)
Summary: The proposed Knoxville Parkway would connect I-40/-I-75 southwest of Knoxville to I-75 north of Knoxville. The Parkway is proposed as a divided highway that could only be accessed by interchanges.
Status: Supplemental Draft Impact Study is currently under development by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. For more information, visit www.tdot.state.tn.us/ or www.knoxtrans.org/ .
Widening of SR 58/95 in Anderson and Roane Counties (State Issue)
Summary: The widening is needed for business development. Phase III, the 4.2 mile section and Phase II, the 2.82 mile section must be funded and a construction schedule approved to complete the project.
Status: Right of Way and Utility Process currently underway. Construction anticipated in upcoming year. For more information, visit www.tdot.state.tn.us/ or www.knoxtrans.org/ .
Additional Links:
Federal:
www.uschamber.com/ – US Chamber of Commerce and Federal Issues
www.senate.gov/ Federal Senate Bills and Members
www.house.gov/ – Federal House Bills and Members
www.alexander.senate.gov/ Senator Alexander Newsletter
www.corker.senate.gov/ Senator Corker
State:
www.tdot.state.tn.us/ – Tennessee Department of Transportation – State Road Projects
www.state.tn.us/ – Tennessee State Government
www.legislature.state.tn.us/ Tennessee State Bills/Public Chapters and Members
www.state.tn.us/education Tennessee Department of Education
www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills -Tennessee State Bill Research
www.state.tn.us/tourdev/ Tennessee Department of Tourism
Local:
www.cityofalcoa-tn.gov/business - City of Alcoa
www.maryvillegov.com/ – City of Maryville
www.blounttn.org/ - Blount County Government
www.knoxtrans.org/ – Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization – State Road Project
