Education, health care and TPT reform priority items
PHOENIX – The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry today released its 2013 Business Agenda at the organization’s annual Legislative Forecast Luncheon at the Phoenix Convention Center in downtown Phoenix before a crowd of over 1,000 attendees.
The Business Agenda outlines the top legislative priorities for Arizona’s business community. The Agenda, in addition to highlighting the Chamber’s priorities at the Legislature and in Washington, outlines the short and long-term goals for the Arizona Manufacturers Council and the Chamber’s policy issue committees.
The Chamber’s 2013 state legislative priorities are to:
- Support a world class education system, including the successful adoption of the Arizona Common Core Standards.
- Reduce health care costs for business and restore Proposition 204 in the most fiscally responsible way.
- Expedite business permitting and licensing requirements.
- Support sales and use tax uniformity and simplification.
- Reduce the insurance premium tax.
- Allow relevant military experience to count towards training requirements for professions that require a state license or certification.
- The Chamber has also developed an in-depth federal issues agenda.
The Chamber’s 2013 federal legislative priorities are to:
- Support commonsense immigration reforms, including improving employer access to advanced degree holders by allowing foreign graduates of American universities to work in the U.S. legally.
- Support federal tax policy that improves America’s global competitiveness while responsibly balancing the federal budget and reducing the national debt.
- Support a fair transportation bill, which includes the development of Interstate11.
- Make Arizona a leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
“There seems to be two big emerging themes in 2013: At a state level, I believe there is now broad support that we must devote the necessary resources to proven education reforms, while at a federal level, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get our immigration system fixed,” Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry president and CEO Glenn Hamer said. “In 2013 we look forward to working with the governor, the incoming state Legislature, and the entire federal delegation to continue to tackle these issues head-on and cultivate the best environment for investment and growth.”
Today’s luncheon featured comments by Gov. Brewer, and a panel discussion moderated by Arizona Horizon host Ted Simons with Speaker of the House Andy Tobin, Senate President-elect Andy Biggs, Senate Minority Leader-elect Leah Landrum Taylor, and House Minority Leader Chad Campbell.
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