2010 Ends with Flurry of Congressional Activity and Prep Work for 2011 Legislative Session

First of all, we wish you a happy holiday season with your families!  This will serve as the final Business Advocate for 2010, as we reflect on the past year.

2010 was no doubt an historic year for North Carolina and our nation – watch the Chamber Minute for a wrap-up of 2010. Also, check out our NC Wins piece to see how the Chamber helped advance our pro-jobs agenda in the state legislature over the past session.  We look forward to 2011 with new opportunities to inform and engage our members and successfully advance a proactive, pro-jobs agenda in Washington and at home. 

Chamber Secures Wins in “Lame-Duck” Session

The 2010 “lame-duck” session in Congress has been vigorous and fast-paced with several issues that affect our members’ ability to keep and create jobs.  The North Carolina Chamber has been working to keep members aware of top federal issues affecting our business community, and we are proud to report that because of your efforts we have been victorious on several issues!

• Defeated Liability Expansion Bill
  The Paycheck Fairness Act, pushed by plaintiffs’ lawyers that would have opened the flood gates to unwarranted litigation against employers failed the necessary cloture vote in the U.S. Senate. This was a major victory for the business community as the measure would have exposed employers to increased threats of litigation, invited more frivolous class-action lawsuits and served as additional deterrents for economic recovery and job creation. Your response to our call to action and letters of opposition made a significant difference in the defeat.
  
• Blocked Union-Backed Collective Bargaining Mandate
  A revised collective bargaining mandate bill that would have forced ALL states and local government to allow certain government employees to collectively bargain, superseding North Carolina’s current law failed the cloture motion in the U.S. Senate. The North Carolina Chamber and its Federation members have consistently fought off this measure over the past year and we were successful in the last effort with both of our U.S. Senators voting “NO”.  It was your active participation by signing onto a coalition letter and expressing opposition to your Senators that helped prevent this unfunded mandate on our state that was being pushed by public-sector unions.
  
• Stalled Massive Changes to OSHA Regulations
  A miner safety bill that contained provisions amending the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH) failed in the U.S. House and those OSH provisions were removed. Before removal, the bill contained provisions that would have created ambiguity and uncertainty for employers by significantly raising the fines for alleged violations and implementing vague, new criminal penalties on companies without defining the responsibility for violations. Recognizing that the threat of unpredictable enforcement would do nothing to help employers prevent accidents from occurring, the NC Chamber called you to action to urge lawmakers to oppose and with your efforts we were successful.
  
• Delayed Stringent & Costly EPA Regulations
  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently reported that they will be delaying the implementation of their proposed new regulations on Boiler MACT and ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The North Carolina Chamber opposed these new regulations as they would mandate unnecessary, costly and ambiguous regulations on employers and because of your help in grassroots efforts we were successful in having the EPA delay these proposals. 
  
•  Advocated Bi-Partisan Tax Package
  A tax package proposal, containing many important provisions for the business community, including tax relief for small business and extensions of vital economic development incentives passed the U.S. Senate and is being considered by the U.S. House this week. Following our solicitation for your feedback as the tax package evolved the NC Chamber weighed in with delegates supporting the package. Thanks to your support and efforts it looks like we will have a final bill passing soon.

Chamber Outlines Pro-Jobs Agenda as State Lawmakers Receive 2011 Budget Outlook

North Carolina’s budget gap keeps creeping up, now projected at $3.7 billion, and the state leads the US in jobless numbers for Nov. The General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division held briefings this week for incoming legislators on the most current data critical for crafting the upcoming budget. Review the Revenue & Budget Outlook for 2011.

The Chamber outlined our pro-jobs agenda in letters to members of the General Assembly this week.  We believe we’ll have a more receptive General Assembly, one that is open to our pro-jobs priorities that will spur economic growth. 

Finally, join us on Feb. 1, 2011, at our Government Affairs Conference for a critical opportunity to meet with the state's leaders.

Chamber to Roll Out New Political Tool

As our state legislature faces major leadership changes and real economic challenges, we need the best tools available for advocacy that will help us inform and engage our elected officials.  Historically during long sessions, our state legislature considers 2,000+ bills, many that will affect your ability to keep and create jobs.  Check your inboxes in January – we hope you’ll participate in an online survey that will help us gauge the Chamber’s strengths, evaluate vital relationships and enable us to effectively plan for future public policy discussions.

Last Chance to Register for Economic Forecast Forum
Herb Crenshaw of AT&T invites you to register for this important event on Jan. 3!