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Greater
North County Chamber of Commerce
2009 Legislative Agenda
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Economic Development
Tax Credits
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We support the
expansion of proven tax credits that leverage
private investment and stimulate employment and
growth.
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We support the
elimination of sunsets and caps on proven tax
credit programs, including the Missouri Quality
Jobs Program.
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We support the
exploration of an incentive to encourage MO businesses
to attract their supplier(s) to locate in MO.
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We oppose efforts
to cap or reduce the MO Historic Preservation
Tax Credit, and maintain its transferability.
Business Retention
and Expansion
Small Business and
Entrepreneurial Growth
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We encourage policies
that stimulate an entrepreneurial culture and
enhance the growth of small businesses.
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Provide direct
assistance to small businesses with high-growth
potential.
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Encourage greater
access to markets for minority and women business
enterprises in the public and private sectors.
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Support pooled-purchasing
associations to offer self-insured coverage under
ERISA to small businesses, individuals and the
self-employed.
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Support above-the-line
deductions for individuals who pay their own health
insurance premiums.
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We support initiatives
to spur redevelopment efforts in economically
distressed areas, such as increasing direct funding
and tax credits for Brownfield cleanup.
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We support meaningful
liability reform for Brownfield sites to encourage
their turnover to a productive use.
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We support legislation
that creates regional solutions and partnerships
and will reduce neighborhoods in downward transition.
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We support legislation
that provides for a rebuilding and conservation
of assets, while guarding against policies that
cannibalize St. Louis County, and imprudently
use taxes to unnecessarily develop large areas
that will conflict with the sustainability of
already established communities.
Condemnation for
Economic Development
EDUCATION
Primary
& Secondary
Funding
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We support appropriations
for public schools sufficient to fully fund the
Foundation Formula and categorical programs and
support reducing the number of years to phase
in the full funding of the new formula.
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We support equitable
funding of educational facilities.
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We oppose further
mandating of programs until all current programs
are fully funded.
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We support legislation
mandating fair and accurate property assessments.
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We support legislation
to offer greater financial assistance to local
education agencies to improve the quality of and
access to pre-kindergarten education programs
for all students.
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We endorse the
consolidation of responsibility for early childhood
education programs to the Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education.
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We support continuing
and expanding the "Parents as Teachers" program.
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We oppose programs
that would divert public funding into private
institutions and be detrimental to our public
school systems.
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We support local
school districts having a voice on governing commissions
that grant tax abatements.
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We support the
new CBHE unified budget request that includes
a 4.4% increase for core operating budgets of
MO colleges and universities.
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We support a plan
to provide consistent funding for capital funding
for maintenance and repair of buildings and equipment.
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We support funding
for workforce training and skills development.
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We support St.
Louis Community College's efforts to expand Plant
and Life Sciences programs as part of the BRDG
Park initiative.
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We support the
University of Missouri's effort to provide increased
funding ($1.9 million) for UM-St. Louis to help
correct lingering equity issues, as well as the
continuing state commitment to fund the $28.5
million renovation of Benton and Stadler halls,
and capital for new facilities at the Colleges
of Nursing and Optometry
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We support the
"Caring for Missourians" initiative.
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We support maintaining
the safety net for those who cannot afford health
insurance.
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Legislation should
restore MoHealthNet funding for medical equipment
and supplies.
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We support adequate
state funding for MoHealthNet to enhance the capture
of available federal matching funds.
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We support pooled-purchasing
associations to offer self-insured coverage under
ERISA to small businesses, individuals, the self-employed
and municipalities.
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Support tax deductions
for individuals who pay their own health insurance
premiums.
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We support adequate
transportation funding and a formula that reflects
the economic strength and development needs of
the St. Louis region.
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We oppose efforts
to redistribute money away from the St. Louis
region.
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We support fair
and equitable distribution of transportation funding
and encourage the consideration of economic development
and job creation impact when funding future projects.
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We urge legislators
and State agencies to continue the emphasis on
maintenance of existing infrastructure.
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We support maintaining
St. Louis representation on the Missouri Highways
and Transportation Commission.
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We support a dedicated,
reasonable, and equitable source of State funding
for multi-modal forms of transportation.
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We support various
forms of user fees be considered as one source
of new transportation funding.
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We oppose a statewide
sales tax as a source of funding for MoDOT.
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We support the
efforts designed to educate citizens on the importance
of multi-modal infrastructure and identify the
most critical transportation needs.
GENERAL
ISSUES
Electronic Publication
of Legal Notices
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We support legislation
establishing that the Missouri Attorney General
should have increased responsibility to take legal
action against predatory lenders.
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Legislation should
allow cities to impose limits on the number of
payday loan companies or, if desired by the community,
to ban these operations.
Extension of Term
Limits for State Legislators
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