The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, Inc. unveiled its legislative agenda today for the year 2007, as part of its annual Outlook program. The Board of Directors of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, Inc. has voted to adopt the following legislative issues as the focus of the Chamber’s legislative efforts for the 2007–2008 state legislative sessions. These issues are all in keeping with the Board’s continuing efforts to ensure that the cost of doing business in Massachusetts is reasonable and to ensure that Chamber member businesses are "economically competitive" in today’s marketplace.

It is the legislative policy of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield not only to be reactive but proactive in the federal, state and local political arenas. The ACCGS and its affiliates support policies and legislation that advance economic development, strengthen business competitiveness, lower business costs, stimulate job growth and strengthen the overall economic health of the region.

Massachusetts State Budget

The State budget for the 2008 fiscal year will be submitted by the Governor in February, later than usual as this is the first year of Governor Deval Patrick’s administration. The Chamber’s Budget Subcommittee monitors the current budget, especially the revenue picture, on a monthly basis, and will use these analyses to recommend positions regarding the FY ’08 budget. The Chamber believes that an immediate drop in the income tax rate is not warranted at this time. The fact that revenue growth seems to be moderating somewhat indicates that increased spending is still needed in key areas such as local aid, higher education/job training, and health care to encourage economic growth and to enable employers to compete in today’s market place. The best way to increase revenues is to increase the number of Massachusetts taxpayers by attracting more businesses which add jobs. Higher education is essential to those efforts in order to provide the skills needed for today’s workers. Regarding local aid, it is essential that efforts to increase local aid address the over reliance on the property tax, a burden that in many of our communities is shifted onto the business community to the degree of 160 – 180 % increase over what they would pay if everyone were taxed at one rate. Finally, health care is a sector of our economy that must be protected for the jobs and services it provides. Fiscal Year 2008 will be a challenge. Massachusetts must have a balanced budget that does not rely upon expenditures from the “rainy day” or free cash accounts.

Unemployment Insurance Reform

UI once again heads the Workplace Issues Sub Committee’s issues list. For several years, the Chamber has asked the legislature to have Massachusetts join the other 49 states in allowing 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, not 30, and requiring 20 weeks of employment, not the current 15 weeks, to be eligible for benefits. Those efforts will continue. New this year will be an effort to change regulations and formulas used in computing the Solvency Assessment charged to each employer. The Chamber feels that funds drawn from this account are often charged to low-use employers that subsidize high-use employers, and for benefits that should not be awarded at all. Massachusetts is among the top three states in terms of cost for this benefit making employers here noncompetitive. Another increase in tax tables is scheduled for 2008. Reforms must be made.

Truth in Hiring Legislation

The Chamber believes passage of this bill would make for a safer workplace and protect employers and employees alike. This bill would codify an employer’s ability to answer questions about former employees more fully without fear of lawsuits. It would facilitate inquiries regarding potential employees and pinpoint areas of concerns before they arise as issues in the workplace.

Paid Family Leave

This is an issue that was proposed late in the 2006 session and one that is expected to surface again in this new session. The Chamber will be looking carefully at the language of any such measure to ensure that providing this benefit does not severely affect an employer’s ability to pay and, as importantly, an employer’s ability to properly staff the business.

Health Care

The Chamber will continue to be in the forefront of the implementation of the 2006 Health Care Reform Law, which it supported. The regulations have proven difficult to write and implementation dates for various aspects of this law will occur in the first six months of the year. The Chamber continues to support the thrust of the legislation, to offer health care for all residents, to provide affordable health care products to employees and employers, and to greatly decrease the high cost of cross-subsidization of benefits that had been in the system and was penalizing many employers providing this benefit. It is expected that some fine tuning of this law will need to be made during and after implementation and the Chamber’s Health Care Sub Committee will be involved in those efforts.

Nurse-To-Patient Ratio Legislation

Another health care issue that the Chamber has opposed and will continue to oppose is the Nurse-to- Patient Ratio Bill. This bill proposes to set very rigid and unrealistic levels of hospital staffing, adding unreasonable costs to an already costly system and doing nothing at all to address one of the root problems all hospitals face, the shortage of trained nurses. The Sub Committee will look at realistic solutions to address the nursing shortage and oppose efforts to mandate ratios.

Other issues

The Chamber is aware that there are other issues currently pending or that may come up during the year that will need to be addressed. Some issues currently known are:

Springfield’s Financial Situation. All of the Affiliated Chambers acknowledge Springfield’s importance to the region and, as such, issues specific to Springfield, from the Control Board’s makeup to specific economic development projects, are constantly being monitored.

Energy Costs and Supply. The supply of energy and alternative sources of energy, its distribution and cost, are concerns of all sectors, especially the manufacturing sector and is monitored by the Chamber.

Workers’ Compensation. This is another perennial legislative issue that is vigilantly monitored by the Chamber to maintain the very successful reforms enacted in the 1990’s that moved Massachusetts workers’ compensation costs from the most expensive in the nation to one in the middle of all states.