Public Policy

Welcome to the Chamber's "Public Policy" page! 
Our aim is to provide quick links to pertinent issues so you can access information & stay informed. 

Of special value while the NC General Assembly is in session is the Charlotte Chamber "Legislative Update" posts from their lobbyist, Allison Waller.  Stay connected to what is happening!  The short session is expected to be just that - SHORT!

*Use additional  links below to stay informed about "hot topics"!

Purpose of Public Policy: The Chamber works to develop and maintain an active relationship with county, state, and national officials along with Chamber members to insure that business concerns are voiced and addressed.

Two Chamber committees address public policy issues - Governmental Affairs and Transportation & Land Use. Both committees have participation from public and elected officials, which enables open discussions about issues that affect the business community. Issues in economic development, education and workforce development, energy and the environment, healthcare, and transportation are discussed.  Policy positions are formulated and included in the process of creating an annual Legislative Agenda that is distributed to elected and public officials.  Subcommittees convene as needed to address specific issues that are impacting the community. The committees make recommendations on public policy issues to the Chamber's Board of Directors who, in turn, adopt resolutions in support of the recommendations.

Participation: The committees are open to all Chamber members. Consistent attendance is requested, however, in order to foster continuity in discussions.

Chamber's 2010 Legislative Agenda.

 Legislators' contact information:
Federal -
Senator Richard Burr (R)
Senator Kay Hagan (D)
8th District Congressman Larry Kissell (D)
12th District Congressman Mel Watt (D)

State -
District 36 Senator Fletcher Hartsell (R)
District 82 Representative Jeff Barnhart (R)
District 83 Representative Linda J. Johnson (R)
District 76 Representative Fred Steen, II (R)

Election 2010 Schedule

Hot topics and sources of information:

Federal Budget
President Obama's 2011 budget
Congressional Budget Office

Health reform
1) HR 3590,  Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
2) Kaiser Family Foundation
3) PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute
-Health IT- Rock and a Hard Place*An analysis of the $36 billion impact from stimulus funding
-Medical cost trends for 2010*Behind the numbers*
-Healthcare spending, The price of excess*Identifying waste 
4) The Lewin Group

*Helpful information to increase understanding of issues - FactCheck.org and Politifact.com

*Public opinion research - The Pew Research Center for People and the Press

*State Budgets research and information - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government

Consumer Protection
1) H.R. 4173, Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009

Employee Free Choice Act
1) H.R. 1409 and S.560
2) Human Resources perspective

Transportation and Infrastructure
1) U. S. Department of Transportation
2) NC Metropolitan Mayors Coalition
       Transportation Funding White Paper
3) NC Statewide Logistics Plan 
3) North Carolina American Society of Civil Engineers
4) Broadband for America
5) Reuters
6) "Let's Rebuild America" Initiative, U. S. Chamber

US Chamber issues and news.

Events:
-Raleigh Rally for regional chambers
            (during General Assembly sessions; 2010 session convened May 12)
-State of the Region Summit (after November elections)
-Legislative Breakfast (prior to General Assembly sessions)
-Transportation Summit (varies)
-Washington DC Fly-Ins
-County and Municipal Meetings:
        Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners
                1st Monday, 3:30 p.m. - Work Session, Governmental Center, 65 Church Street SE
                3rd Monday, 6:30 p.m. - Regular Business meeting, same location
        City of Concord 
               2nd Thursday, 6:00 p.m. - Council Chambers, 26 Union Street South
        City of Kannapolis
               2nd and 4th Mondays, 6:00 p.m. - Kannapolis Train Station, 201 South Main Street
        Town of Harrisburg
               2nd Monday, 7:00 p.m. - Town Hall, 4100 Main Street, Suite 101
        Town of Mount Pleasant
               1st Monday, 7:00 p.m. - Town Hall, 8590 Park Drive
        Town of Midland
                2nd Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. - Town Hall, 4293-B Hwy 24/27 E

Steve Morris, Chair, Governmental Affairs Committee
General Manager, The Gem Theatre

Richard Flowe, Chair, Transportation & Land Use Committee
Principal, N-Focus Design, Inc