Cobb Chamber of Commerce 2009 Legislative Agenda
KEY ISSUES
Transportation Funding
Our region is facing an enormous shortfall in available transportation dollars. The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) estimates 2 million more people will move to this region by 2030. The state gas tax, which does not grow with inflation, is not keeping pace with the number of vehicles on the roads and Georgia has a funding shortfall in the billions of dollars. Our region is the fastest growing in the country yet we are ranked as having the second worst traffic and next to last in per capita spending.
A new funding source is a high necessity. The Cobb Chamber stands with the Get Georgia Moving Coalition, the Regional Business Coalition and several other metro chambers in support of legislation that provides for new funding sources, including regional solutions.
Expansion and Construction of New Water Reservoirs
Water storage is a critical component of mitigating the effects of future droughts. The Cobb Chamber supports construction of new reservoirs and access to loans at the local level that will increase the availability of more drinking water.
Trauma Care Funding
The Cobb Chamber supports the funding of a statewide trauma care hospital network.
Energy Planning – Expansion of Nuclear Power
The Board of Directors of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce support the development of new nuclear generation to provide for a cost effective, carbon free generation source to serve the electricity needs of Cobb County residents. According to the 2006 State Energy Strategy report, Georgia’s demand for electricity grew 61% from 1990 to 2004 and will sustain an annual growth rate of 3% over the next several years. Electricity produced through Georgia’s two nuclear plants represents close to
20% of the current base load generation.
Recognizing use of nuclear energy diversifies our energy mix while lowering carbon emissions from fossil fuels, the Georgia House and the Georgia Senate passed separate resolutions in the 2006 legislative session supporting its expansion. For these reasons, Marietta Power and Light (through MEAG Power - 22% ownership), Cobb EMC (through Oglethorpe Power Corporation - 30% ownership) and Georgia Power Company (45% ownership) have agreed to jointly develop two new nuclear electric generating units at
the current Vogtle Generating Plant in Burke County.
The Cobb Chamber supports the passage of legislation that would provide an accounting mechanism (known as “Construction Work in Progress” or “CWIP”) that would lower overall cost over time for Cobb ratepayers. CWIP allows for the recovery of legitimate finance costs of construction prior to nuclear units going into service. By phasing in these charges during construction, ratepayers are not crippled by rate shock, and both the utility and their customers pay hundreds of millions less in accrued interest
by avoiding compounding charges. CWIP also insulates the utility from adverse changes in bond ratings, which can increase interest rates. Passage of CWIP would not affect the responsibility of the Georgia Public Service Commission to ensure construction costs are prudently incurred.
Adequate Funding of Cobb Technical Colleges
The Cobb Chamber supports two funding initiatives that would affect the two technical colleges serving Cobb County – Chattahoochee Technical College and North Metro Technical College. The General Assembly should support the Governor’s FY 2010 proposed budget for major repairs and renovation and replacement (MRR) of obsolete equipment within the Department of Technical & Adult Education budget. Lawmakers should also support the full formula funding to accommodate enrollment growth
in technical colleges.
FEDERAL LEGISLATION: Employee Free Choice Act Harmful to Business
The Cobb Chamber of Commerce stands with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations in strong opposition to the misnamed “Employee Free Choice Act” soon to be considered in Congress. This legislation would be catastrophic to businesses large and small. The proposed law would take away the secret ballot, which would allow union organizers to intimidate, coerce, and retaliate against employees. Union bosses want to abolish elections in favor of a “card check” process that deprives
workers of a fundamental democracy right. The union organizers would only have to obtain 50% plus one in signatures and the employer is then forced to unionize. The employer then has a matter of days to start negotiating and a few weeks to decide terms. During this time the employer cannot approach the employee. If the two sides cannot agree, the government appoints an arbitrator to decide wages, benefits, work rules, hours, etc. Under this legislation employee terms could be decided for employers by a government
arbitrator. Economic development and business expansion in the 22 states that are right-to-work states, including Georgia, will be extremely harmed. For more information, visit www.unionfacts.com, the website of a coalition fighting this legislation.
STANDING ISSUES
Inventory Tax Exemption
The Cobb Chamber of Commerce supports giving local governments discretion on whether to lift the ad valorem tax on business inventory of goods remaining at the end of the year. Georgia’s neighboring states do not charge this tax.
Tourism Development
The Cobb Chamber of Commerce supports legislation providing for sales tax rebates for the construction of tourism developments that retain and grow tourism in Georgia.
Economic Development Incentives
Cobb County competes for projects and jobs with similarly situated regions across the country. Several business organizations are supporting expansions to Georgia’s BEST Act (Business and Expansion Support Act), such as tax credits for businesses that headquarter here, incentives for creating certain industry clusters and providing funding for the region’s “deal closing fund.”
Small Business Health Care Insurance Incentives
The General Assembly often considers legislation that will provide incentives for small business to offer healthcare insurance to its employees. The Cobb Chamber supports efforts to bring such incentives to the marketplace.
Click here to view the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Legislative Agenda.