| Business
Advocacy
Denham
to Greater Chamber: "Your
role is critical in health care fight."
Senator addresses Government Review Council
State Senator Jeff Denham believes the effort
to provide better health care coverage for all
Californians will emerge as one of two major legislative
priorities during this session. The Senator spoke
to an invited group of the Government Review Council
of the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce on February
20.
The Government Review Council regularly reviews
public policy questions and makes legislative
advocacy recommendations to the Chamber board
of directors. The Senator was invited to speak
candidly before the invitation-only group.
“Clearly,
the Governor’s health care proposals have
generated considerable interest with both sides
of the aisle offering their versions of what should
be done,” the Senator told the Chamber group.
“My own bill on this issue would provide
a tax credit to companies who provide coverage
for their workers.”
Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed a wide-ranging
bill that includes taxes on businesses, doctors
and hospitals. The Senator opposes this proposal.
“The Greater Chamber, through the mobilization
of its membership, can make a real difference
on this issue,” the Senator told the group.
The second major issue before the legislature
this session will be the prison bill. The Senator
says the need for more prisons is critical because
if more space isn’t found, inmates will
be sent to county jails to ease state prison overcrowding.
Other issues discussed included workers compensation,
the state budget, and prevailing wage reform for
Merced area projects.
“Our
Government Review Council benefited from this
frank discussion with the Senator,” says
Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce President and
CEO Steve Newvine. “We have always enjoyed
a strong partnership with him and we expect this
to continue.”
Chamber Members become business advocates
Greater Merced Chamber takes van load of business
representatives to Sacramento
The Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce was well
represented in the State Capitol on January 31
as part of the Merced County Council of Government’s
One Voice lobbying day. The Chamber brought a
passenger van filled with business representatives
from the Chamber membership.
The van, sponsored by Courtesy Automotive Center,
carried representatives from several chamber member
businesses, plus the Merced County Office of Commerce,
Aviation, and Economic Development. Throughout
the day, the group participated in meetings with
key state agencies. In addition, the group met
with Assembly Member Cathleen Galgiani at her
Sacramento office.
“We
felt it was important that Chamber members have
the opportunity to be part of the legislative
process, “ says Greater Merced Chamber of
Commerce President and CEO Steve Newvine. “By
presenting this opportunity for members to travel
to the Capitol and back in one-day, we helped
open the process up to many more business owners.
Chamber member companies represented by the One-Day,
One Voice trip included: Whitehill Accounting
Service, Merced’s Rent-A- Writer, and San
Joaquin Glass. Particpants on the Chamber trip
included Mary Ann McKissick, Mary Cervantes, and
Marlene Paladini. They were joined on the Chamber
bus by Board Members Carole Whitehill (Whitehill
Accounting)and Lupe Dawson (San Joaquin Glass).
Among those attending in Sacramento were Chamber
board members Bob Pinney (Werner Ladder), Scott
Galbraith (MCEDCO) and Jim Marshall(City of Merced)
The trip began with an organization session at
the Chamber office at 6:00 am. Once the group
arrived in Sacramento, they participated in a
breakfast meeting with keynote speaker Dan Walters
from the Maclachy Newspaper group.
Chamber
concerned over Governor's health care ideas
Schwarzenegger's plan called visionary by some,
potentially devastating by business leaders
The Governor's goals of increasing access to and
affordability of health care coverage are aimed
at improving the ability of employers and employees
to purchase coverage. The Chamber, along with
our strategic partners in Sacramento, the California
Chamber of Commerce, has asked for help in such
forms as reducing mandates in benefit coverage,
increasing available plans, favorable tax treatment
for health savings accounts, and streamlining
government regulation.
The California Chamber is doing an analysis of
the reform proposals. Cal Chamber President Allan
Zaramberg is concerned that the new costs mandated
by this plan will outstrip anticipated resources.
Of particular concern is the employer tax and
mandated employee contribution. As this is tied
to payroll, business leaders are concerned about
the increasing cost of doing business in the state.
"At this stage, it doesn't sound good for
employers," says Greater Merced Chamber of
Commerce President and CEO Steve Newvine. "While
it's not fair to anyone to throw out the proposals
before getting a good analysis of them, anytime
government mandates an added cost to employers
we have to look into the full impact."
Business Advocacy. The Chamber’s
Government Review Council meets twice monthly
to review Federal, State and local business issues.
Discussion leads to policy positions recommended
to the Chamber board for approval. When necessary,
the Chamber will appoint a spokesperson to speak
before local government on an issue that has an
impact on a number of our member businesses.
In
addition, the Chamber's Business and Economic
Development Committee is making a outreach to
business owners to learn what concerns them and
how the Chamber can help. If you're interested
in participating in this effort, contact Sally@Merced-Chamber.com
Links
Merced
County Council of Governments
Merced County
Economic Development Corporation
California
Chamber of Commerce
City of
Merced
County
of Merced
Western
Alliance of Chamber Executives
US Chamber
of Commerce
Representative
Dennis Cardoza
State
Senator Jeff Denham
Assembly
Member Cathleen Galgiani
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