improve the quality of life, aid in economic growth and … · 2017-08-28 · es sensible...
TRANSCRIPT
OMMERCE
GARDEN CITY AREA
20152015LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA
contact us
Steve Dyer, [email protected]
Myca Bunch, Vice [email protected]
Mary Wilson, [email protected]
Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce1511 E. Fulton TerraceGarden City, KS 67846Office: 620.276.3264Fax: 620.276.3290www.gardencitychamber.net
chamber missionImprove the quality of life, aid in economic growth and development, represent the business community on legislative issues and promote cooperation between the public and private sectors.
local government
Finney County CommissionDuane Drees - District 3Roman Halbur - District 1Dave Jones - District 2Larry Jones - District 5Clifford Mayo - District 4Randy Partington - Administrator
Holcomb City CouncilGreg CoxScott HomerRob McCallisterGary Newman - MayorMark RichmeierBrian RuppRobin Pena - Administrator
Garden City CommissionRoy CessnaMelvin DaleJanet DollDan FankhauserChris LawMatt Allen - Administrator
chamber board of directors
Maxine AtkinsonARC Real Estate
Della BrandenburgerWKBC
Lara Blake BorsBors Law, P.A.
Ryan CornettG. C. Wholesale Supply
Susan EscarenoFi. Co. United Way
Mark Hinde - ChairSDSI
Mark NelsonAmerican State Bank
Don ReuleWestern Motor
Sway SandovalGarnand Funeral Home
Erich SchaeferGolden Plains Credit Union
Lora SchneiderEdward Jones
Charlie SmockBlack Hills Energy
Bob SperlingR&M Enterprises
Brian WeberWeber Refrigeration
Kenne WhitsonSt. Catherine Hospital
Keith CollinsPyramid POS
government affairs committee
Matt AllenCity of Garden City
Maxine AtkinsonARC Real Estate
Lara Blake BorsBors Law, P.A.
Della BrandenburgerWestern Kansas Broadcasting Center
Lona DuVallFinney County Economic Development
Mark Hinde SW Developmental Services, Inc.
Kimberlea InderliedFinney County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Steve KarlinGarden City Public Schools
Nicole LucasGarden City Downtown Vision
Robert McDowellFarm Buearu Financial Services
Judy NusserColdwell Banker, The Real Estate Shoppe
Randy PartingtonFinney County
Lon PishnyPishny Financial Services, L.C.
Brian WeberWeber Refrigeration & Heating, Inc.
Based on feedback from the membership, the Gar-den City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors approved the following legislative areas of focus for the year 2015.
The Government Affairs Committee will use this agenda as a guide throughout the year to represent the business community on issues affecting the business climate of Finney County and the state of Kansas.
Workforce Development & Job Creation
The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports programs that encourage people to relocate, or remain in, western Kansas through the following methods:
• Connecting employers with an available and ready workforce to include stronger marketing and increased opportunities for students.
• Codify the “Investment in Kansas Employment” (IKE) Economic Development Program.
• Shifting from a “tax-credit” economic development strategy to a “cash-equivalent” strategy.
transportationThe Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports the following transportation initiatives that address travel, freight delivery, safety needs and/or economic growth for southwest Kansas:
• Widening of US Highway 156 from Garden City to Larned, including passing lanes.
• Continued support and funding to transform all of US Highway 50/400 from Mullinville to Garden City into a four-lane highway.
• Widen US Highway 83 north from the southern border of Kansas to I-70, including passing lanes.
• Continued support of Garden City Regional Airport as the regional airport within southwest Kansas.
• Continued support and funding from the state of Kansas and local partnership projects for public transit and road improvements.
• Continued support of the rail infrastructure for both freight and passenger service.
housingThe Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports a consistent local, state and federal regulatory environment which promotes safe and affordable housing construction.
The Chamber of Commerce supports the Moderate Income Housing (MIH) Program, an initiative funded by the State of Kansas and administered by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), which works to help cities and counties develop multi-family rental units, single-family for-purchase homes, as well as water, sewer and street extensions in communities with populations of fewer than 60,000 people.
MIH funding can also be used to finance construction costs, rehabilitate unsafe or dilapidated housing, and of-fer down-payment and closing-cost assistance to home buyers. The Chamber encourages the State to continue providing MIH funding and expand its financial commit-ment to this very important housing program.
immigration reform
The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports a sensible approach built on four essential foundations:
• All immigration legislation is tempered with an un-derstanding of its economic impact for companies em-ploying immigrants.
• A recognition that immigrants require a reduction in time and distance barriers between the individual and his or her pursuit of legal residency.
• A recognition that our community requires additional resources to integrate immigrants.
• The business community should be consulted and in-cluded in major immigration policy discussion and leg-islation.
Garden City and the surrounding communities are strength-ened by the economic impact and cultural influences of im-migrant and refugee labor. Furthermore, the Garden City area is growing and in constant need of an expanding work-force.
healthcareThe Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports meaningful health care reform aimed at lowering the over-all cost of healthcare for employers and employees.
• On the state level, the Chamber advocates against cuts to Medicaid provider reimbursement rates as such cuts to this program will reduce the number of provid-ers who accept Medicaid.
• On the Federal level, the Chamber advocates against cuts to the Medicare program reimbursement rates.
• The Chamber advocates increasing the number of individuals covered with health insurance. Increasing costs continue to be a major concern to businesses. Significantly reducing current reimbursement, with-out increasing the number of patients with insurance, may force health care providers to cut key services and decrease access.
The Chamber continues to support and encourage policies which:
• Improve the efficiency of Medicaid payment systems in Kansas.
• Oppose government competition with the private market.
• Oppose mandated employer-based coverage.
• Support employer efforts to modify delivery systems.
• Support efforts to improve employee wellness.
• Defend the right of employers to choose the plans they offer.
• Reduce cost-increasing mandates insurers are required to include in policies so that more affordable plans are available for employers.
• Increase participation in health care purchasing and the promotion of health savings programs.
• Preserve incentives available for employers and indi-viduals.
• Support the allowance of interstate health insurance policy sales.
taxationThe Chamber understands when businesses are heav-ily taxed and regulated, a community can suffer. The Chamber encourages the following actions where taxation is involved:
• Paramount to create a tax environment that enables economic growth.
• Legislation that allows us to be competitive with other communities and other states.
• Allow our local elected officials to appropriately fund and enable local government.
education fundingThe Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce realiz-es that a quality education of pre-kindergarten through post- secondary for every student in Kansas is critical for the success of business and for a strong economy. The Chamber supports the following principles:
• The Legislature should accept its constitutional duty to adequately fund education for all students and not shift this burden to the local property taxpayer.
• State government should provide adequate funding for suitable education no matter where the student lives.
• All students are entitled to high-quality education regardless of their grade or learning ability.
• Students should have access to quality technical education programs in all secondary and post-second-ary schools.
• Post-secondary education should be accessible and affordable for all Kansans.
energy & natural resrouces
The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce encourag-es sensible stewardship and conservation of the region’s natural resources. The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports:
• Conducive standards in practical energy sources including, but not limited to, coal, nuclear, oil, gas and renewable energy.
• Regional water preservation and research.
• Diverse, safe and affordable energy sources.
• Protecting communities from government regulations that are harmful to farming, agriculture and energy in-dustries.
Furthermore, the Chamber of Commerce opposes man-dates and policies that increase business costs and business costs of sourcing energy. The Chamber of Commerce en-courages legislators to conduct business in a manner that results in maximum public benefit while ensuring fiscal integrity and accountability for the expenditure of public funds without partisan bias.
kansas senate
Senator Larry PowellDistrict 392209 Grandview Drive EastGarden City, KS [email protected]
Senator Garrett LoveDistrict 38PO Box 1Montezuma, KS [email protected]
kansas house
Representative Stephen AlfordDistrict 1244179 E. Road 19Ulysses, KS [email protected]
Representative John DollDistrict 1232921 Cliff PlaceGarden City, KS [email protected]
Representative Bud EstesDistrict 1191405 Elbow BendDodge City, KS [email protected]
Representative John EwyDistrict 117727 RoughtonJetmore, KS [email protected]
Representative Shannon FrancisDistrict 1251501 Tucker CourtLiberal, KS [email protected]
District Representative Don HinemanDistrict 118 116 S. Longhord RoadDighton, KS [email protected]
Representative Russ JenningsDistrict 122PO Box 295Lakin, KS [email protected]
Representative Ron Ryckman, Sr.District 115PO Box 192Meade, KS [email protected]