www.bocaratonchamber.com

B O C A C H A M B E R

G O V E R N M E N T & P U B L I C P O L I C Y

IN THIS ISSUE:A Welcome Note from Gov't Affairs Chair Jim Nau

Federal, State, & Local Highlights A Moment with Mayor WhelchelLegislator Look-Up - Bill Hager

Jim Nau is responsible for the administration of the workers compensation residual market reinsurance pools and assigned risk plans approved in NCCI states. Previously, he served as division executive for National Policy Development, and as senior vice president, Government, Consumer & Industry Affairs. A graduate of Butler University, Indianapolis, IN, Nau is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, an Associate in Risk Management, and a frequent author and speaker on workers compensation issues. Jim Nau is an active member and past president of the CPCU Society.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The GBRCC Government Affairs Committee has three primary goals. First, to monitor, discuss and assess public policy issues that affect the Boca

Raton business community. Second, make recommendations on public policy matters to the GBRCC Board of Directors so that they can make informed decisions on such matters. Third, to be an active advocate for the Boca Raton business community, by communicating with Boca Raton government officials and representatives, describing the Chamber’s positions to various government and community stakeholders, and actively participating in the public policy process. Our efforts toward these goals have been demonstrated by our work to defeat Amendment 4 to the Florida Constitution in 2010, our visit with the Boca Raton Congressional and Senate delegation in Washington DC in 2011 and our 2012 trip to Tallahassee to meet with our State Representatives in January 2012.

JIM NAU

ChairmanBoca Chamber Government Affairs Committee

Unemployment Compensation 2012The state of Florida pays Unemployment Compensation benefits to qualified claimants using monies from the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, which is funded by the unemployment compensation tax paid by employers. Florida employees do not pay into the fund. Without reform, Florida employers will take a significant increase. Click link for more: www.UCTF.com

Workers’ Compensation Drug RepackingThe Florida Legislature needs to address the fact the Drug Repacking as an effect on the cost of Workers’ Compensation rates in the State of Florida. Click link for more. www.WorkersCompDrugRepack.com Internet Sales Tax IssueAccording to an estimate by the National Conference of State Legislatures, Florida is projected to lose more than $1.4 billion in revenue in 2012 due to the online sales tax loophole. Click here for more. www.InternetSales.com Redistricting Update Redistricting is the redrawing of Florida’s political boundary lines, every 10 years, to reflect changes in population. Click link for more: www.redistricting.comEducation Funding in the 2012 State BudgetAn additional one billion dollars has been proposed to support public schools in the 2012 budget. Click link for more: www.FLsupportschools.com

A MESSAGE FROM:

For Business ~ For Jobs ~ For Prosperity ... For Boca Raton

STATE NEWS

Boca Raton City Officials considering a Business Improvement District. Click link for more: www.bizimprovedistrict.com Interested in serving on a city board? Click link for more: www.bocacityboards.comBoard of County Commissioners approve a job growth incentive grant for Boca Raton Company. Click link for more: www.growthincentives.com

CITY & COUNTY NEWS

FEDERAL NEWSInterested in an opinion on the US Economic Outlook for 2012? Click link for more: www.econoutlook.comWith high levels of unemployment, better designed regulations spur job creation. Click link for more: www.betterregs.com

City of Boca Raton Mayor & City Council

ci.boca-raton.fl.us/city/citycouncil.shtm

Palm Beach County Commissioners

www.pbcgov.com/countycommissioners

Palm Beach County School Board

www.palmbeachschools.org/Community/Board.asp

Florida SenatePalm Beach County

Legislative Delegation Click on the shortened link below:

www.flsenatepbc.com

Florida House of Representatives Palm Beach County

Legislative Delegation Click on the shortened link below:

www.flhousepbc.com

United States Government Click on the shortened link below:

www.federalgovtfl.com

Contact Your Legislators About the Issues that Affect Your BusinessLOCAL LEADERSHIP

A Moment With ... Mayor Susan Whelchel, City of Boca Raton

WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY OF BOCA RATON? A. To balance the budget without a tax increase while retaining existing services.B. To dedicate a funding source for our economic development incentive program.C. To develop the wildflower property to compete with neighboring coastal communities while providing a positive revenue source for the city. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS BEING THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THE CITY?Retaining our quality of service without raising taxes.

WHAT STEPS IS THE CITY TAKING TO ENSURE WE ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT ECONOMIC DIRECTION? A. The city, within the past several years, has developed a strong partnership with the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce and the Palm Beach County Business Development Board as well as being a supporter of the newly formed MEDUTECH program. The City has developed an economic incentive program that provides for business retention, expansion, and relocation. Over the last three years we have outperformed other cities in Palm Beach County. We ended 2011 with over 3,175 jobs created and/or retained. The State of Florida has supported our programs with over $2.2 million in funding. Together, the county and city of Boca Raton have provided over a million dollars of financial support to the program. B. The city has completed the Downtown Promenade/Palmetto Park road project to enhance new economic development in that area. Four new high-end residential rental apartments are forthcoming and when completed, will enhance our commercial, retail, and pedestrian friendly downtown.

C. The city is coordinating with Lynn University in the planning for the upcoming October 2012 presidential debate. This is a great economic opportunity for the city. D. The city of Boca Raton is currently developing a mobility strategy for designated areas in the city. The city only has 3% vacant land. Therefore we must consider necessary changes to allow for new business plans, greater mobility and sustainability, specifically in our northwest corridor to include the Arvida Park of commerce and Boca Tech Center.I predict that, if asked, all the governmental entities we work with would say the same.

PERSONALLY, WHAT DO YOU APPRECIATE THE MOST ABOUT THE CITY.The people: I do not know another city that supports the needs of our community as much as the forward-thinking people of Boca Raton, Florida.

BLU-PAC Business Leaders United Political Action Committee

Supporting candidates who support a pro-business environment in

Boca Raton

LEGISLATOR LOOK-UP

Florida State Representative Bill Hager, District 87Bill Hager is a 20-year resident of Boca Raton. Before he was elected to the House in 2010, he served three terms on the Boca Raton City Council. He serves on the Civil Justice Subcommittee, Insurance & Banking Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, and the Transportation & Highway Safety Subcommittee.

Bill has two daughters attending Florida universities and is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Delray Beach, where he taught Sunday School and serves as a Church Elder.

More information about Representative Hager can be found at www.rephagerinfo.com.

This Issue Features:

District 87 includes eastern Lantana south to Boca Raton and parts of central Boca Raton, along with other ares shown in the map above.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:The Boca Chamber's Government Affairs Committee meets the 2nd Thursday of every month

at the Boca Chamber from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. US Chamber Info: www.uschamber.com

Florida Chamber of Commerce Info: www.flchamber.com City of Boca Raton: ci.boca-raton.fl.us

Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce: www.bocaratonchamber.com • (561) 395-4433