Chamber issue: Fuel Tax Changes Recommended To Help Indiana Department of Transportation Funding Needs
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce says the state faces a $750 million funding gap to maintain its roads. Changes to the state's fuel taxes could help. The Indiana Department of Transportation is in the middle of a comprehensive two-year study to determine its future infrastructure funding needs.
But Chamber of Commerce CEO Kevin Brinegar says there are some changes the legislature can make right away that will help move the state in the right direction.He says that includes some sort of assessment on alternative-fuel vehicles, whose drivers don’t pay as much in fuel taxes as most people.
“Like North Carolina does – North Carolina imposes a $50 fee on hybrid vehicles and a $100 fee on electric vehicles for the privilege of using the roads and to pay their fair share for the damage done,” Brinegar said. Read more: Indiana Public Media
Arkansas Chamber issue: No More Stalling on Marketplace Fairness (Randy Zook Commentary)
It has been widely reported that U.S. House Speaker John Boehner has promised that the Marketplace Fairness Act will not surface in 2014. Congress’ failure to act on this important measure is a huge setback for Arkansas’ businesses, for our retail and commercial industries, and is another blow by Washington to Arkansas’ economy.
The effort to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act has been led by our very own Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., a former mayor of Rogers who knows full well the negative impact on local communities caused by uncollected taxes on Internet sales.
Due in large part to Rep. Womack’s efforts, the measure has long received wide bipartisan support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, a fact evidenced by the Senate’s approval of the measure by a 69-27 margin last year. The measure empowers states to collect sales taxes — currently owed, but widely unpaid — by residents who make purchases from out-of-state companies through online transactions. Read more: Arkansas Business
Chamber Tweet of the Day: @Detroit Chamber
Detroit Chamber
Want to help build the @M1RAIL? The project is looking for subcontractors to help construct the Penske Tech Center: http://ow.ly/Fi8RQ
News-Press opinion: Kansas City plan for growth should lift region
More than a generation ago, builders and civic leaders in Johnson County, Kan., found well-timed development could pay big dividends for years into the future.
The story of the growth of Overland Park, Lenexa and points south is more complicated than that, but readiness to grow — on the part of both public and private entities — was a big part of that remarkable success story.
This is the mindset of our neighbors in the Kansas City Northland who are at work on planning the heavily residential development of 15,000 acres of land directly east of Kansas City International Airport. Over a period of perhaps 20 to 30 years, some involved think the Twin Creeks project in Platte and Clay counties could result in 20,000 new housing units and become home to 75,000 people.
Even though this vision is still in its infancy, the possible impact on the region immediately to the north should not be underestimated. How much our community and the rest of the Midland Empire might benefit should not be left solely to chance.
As Patt Lilly, president and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, has noted, there already is a great deal of business activity between the Kansas City metropolitan area and St. Joseph. The rush-hour traffic on Interstate 29 speaks to the comingling of interests, with people choosing to live in one urban area and commute to the other. Read more: News-PressNow
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership)
“The secret of leadership is simple: Do what you
believe in. Paint a picture of the future. Go there. People will follow.” ~
Seth Godin
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.