Friday, October 23, 2009

Concerns about the US Chamber of Commerce

Recent news reports have expressed concerns about the US Chamber of Commerce’s legislative agenda, and those concerns have been demonstrated locally. As we enter the planning process for our next legislative session in Hartford, it is critically important for the eastern Connecticut business community to recognize that we are promoting no agenda other than the one appropriate for our region and state. Our Chamber is not consulted on the development of the US Chamber’s legislative agenda, nor do we participate in promoting it in any way. Our agenda is related to the business interests of Connecticut and the eastern region.

We recognize the complexity of some of these national issues facing our country, such as health care and cap and trade legislation. Of particular concern to some of our members is the US Chamber’s tendency to take the most negative components of complex issues and simplify them to sound bites, with the end results being intense rhetoric and obstructionist attitudes. The Chamber of Commerce’s most recent poll on health care reform indicates that 82 percent of our membership, which consists mostly of small businesses, believes that our health care system is broken. National polls indicate likewise.

What is needed now is a sincere commitment by all parties involved to constructively engage in the effort to overhaul the system. This will ensure that the escalating cost of health care is checked and that all Americans have access to health insurance. Failure to do so will only further erode the ability of the business community to compete in an ever expanding global economy.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut employs a democratic process driven by our member companies to develop our legislative agenda. To this end, we are presently in the early stage of developing our 2010 legislative agenda for the upcoming session. We began by conducting a survey in partnership with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) and the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC) to solicit opinions on the region’s economy. This in-depth survey, as well as discussions with our Legislative Committee and our Board of Directors, will assist the Chamber in formulating a pro-business agenda that will keep the best interests of our community front and center in Hartford.

Once this agenda is finalized, we will review it with our regional delegation and our lobbying firm, who, along with the president and CEO will follow related bills and lobby for or against legislation as necessary, always with the economic well being of eastern Connecticut in mind.

Because of the state of the state’s economy it is almost certain that, over the next several years, we will devote much of our time and energy to ensuring the business community is not overburdened with increasing taxes or business-unfriendly legislation. As in the past, we will work closely with the other seven metro chambers and their lobbyists, among other groups, to increase our collective leverage in Hartford.

The Chamber’s interests lie with our business community, and our collective efforts to grow the economy and create jobs in the region. Anyone interested in having input in the chamber’s legislative process may do so by calling 464-7373.


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