Proposed $900 Million Business Tax Increase Would Take A Wrecking Ball To State's Economic Competitiveness, Says Michigan Chamber Of Commerce
Michigan Chamber of Commerce today issued the following statement by Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley in response to a ballot question committee announcing a petition drive to more than double Michigan's Corporate Income Tax (CIT) from six percent to 11 percent.
"2015 is a non-election year. At a time when Democrats and Republicans and business and labor should be working together in the legislative process to fix the roads, it's sad to see a union and a so-called "progressive" group politicize the debate over transportation funding with the threat of an anti-business ballot proposal."
"Michigan residents want to fix the roads. But anyone who cares about job creation and economic growth should think long and hard before signing a misguided petition to impose a $900 million (83%) tax hike on Michigan's job providers."
"This dangerous petition drive appears to be based on a profound ignorance of corporate income taxes and state economic competitiveness. If approved, the $900 million business tax increase would severely damage our state's economic competitiveness by giving Michigan the second highest corporate income tax in the country."
"Another reason Michigan voters should think twice before signing this ballot proposal is, under the current State Constitution, there is no guarantee the Legislature must use revenue from a corporate income tax increase to fix the roads." Read more: Michigan chamber
Indiana Chamber Scores State Legislators on 2015 Voting Records
State legislators have received their grades from the Indiana Chamber on their performance during the 2015 General Assembly. The numbers, released in the annual Legislative Vote Analysis, are based on voting records on pro-jobs, pro-economy legislation.
The 2015 scores were wide-ranging, from 36% to 100%. There were a total of nine perfect marks – all in the House, which is the exact opposite of last year when 10 senators were atop the list.
“We saw a greater spread in scores this year, even among those in the same party. That’s a testament to the nature of the public policy being introduced and debated, as well as the changing demographics in the Legislature,” states Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar.
New this year, the Indiana Chamber added a secondary leadership element to the scoring metrics: significant, tangible actions by committee chairs as well as bill authors and sponsors.
For more than a third of the legislators, this meant a “slight adjustment to the base voting scores and, we believe, represents a more accurate picture of their overall performance,” Brinegar says.
For 18 legislators who went the extra mile, they earned a star designation for overall leadership or their significant efforts on issues deemed of critical importance.
Read full story.
Chamber Excitement: PGA Championship Tour Preps Underway in Sheboygan
The 97th PGA Championship at Whistling Straits kicks off in less than three weeks and final preparations to the course and throughout Sheboygan County are well underway.
"Any time you have 200,000 visitors coming to the area, a lot of them for the first time, it's a great way to showcase our county," says Bill Marklein, Community Relations Director for the Sheboygan County Chamber.
Sheboygan County is gearing up for the PGA Championship Tour that starts at Whistling Straits on August 10th.
The chamber has hosted customer service workshops throughout the county, making sure businesses are ready to host and help visitors.
"Just getting our businesses in that mode, to be in hospitality mode, making sure our visitors know how to get to the course," says Marklein.
The chamber is also taking notes from last year's championship in Louisville, and participating in the 'show us your ticket' initiative to help drive business even further.
"Anyone including volunteers with a PGA ticket or volunteer credential can use that ticket for discounts across the county including at The Blind Horse Winery," explains Marklein. Read more: WeAreGreenBay.com
Paducah Chamber August PIP to feature US Congressman Ed Whitfield
July 27, 2015 --- US Congressman Ed Whitfield will be the featured speaker for the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce August Power in Partnership breakfast. The breakfast will be held on Thursday, August 6 at 7:30 a.m. at the Julian Carroll Convention Center. Strawberry Hills Pharmacy is the sponsor.
Whitfield has served in Congress since 1994 to represent Kentucky's First Congressional District. A native of Hopkinsville, KY, he earned a Bachelor's Degree and Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky. He also studied at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., where he now serves on the Board of Governors. Whitfield served as a 1st Lieutenant in the 100th Division of the U.S. Army Reserves.
Congressman Whitfield serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the full House Energy and Commerce Committee. He is also a member of the Subcommittee on the Environment and Economy and the Subcommittee on Health. The Energy and Commerce Committee is the oldest standing Committee in the House and presides over a wide spectrum of issues, giving it the broadest jurisdiction of any Committee in the legislative body. The Committee maintains primary responsibility for legislative oversight relating to healthcare, telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health, air quality and environmental health, the supply and delivery of energy and interstate and foreign commerce. Read more: Paducah Chamber
Those who work at Mississippi welcome centers are often the state's ambassadors of tourism. That's why workers were in Ocean Springs on Tuesday for the chance to experience for themselves some of the attractions they encourage tourists to visit. The Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce took welcome center employees on a whirlwind tour of the city. Officials said the idea behind the FAM tour is that when people can talk about what they've experienced, they can make a better pitch to get tourists to come here.
Just a few months ago, Torria Dale opened her pottery supply store in Ocean Springs. One thing she does at Sunburnt Ceramic and Supply is teach people how to make beautiful artwork.
"It's hard to believe that it's as easy as it is, but it really is," said Dale. "But people might not believe it unless they hear about it first hand."
Making pottery was just one part of a hands on learning tour. Ladies from the state welcome centers in Jackson, Pearl River, and Hancock counties also stopped by restaurants, shops, and attractions.
Sean Sutton of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce said, "Because Ocean Springs has a lot to offer from food, we're a culinary destination. We're also an arts destination with a lot of nature. We have a lot of natural assets in Ocean Springs. A lot of great outdoor activities."
"If you don't get down this way much, because we're from further up the Coast, then you don't really have that experience to tell them," said Laura Ladner of the Pearl River County Welcome Center. "So this gives me the opportunity to be hands on and see what there is. That way I can go back and tell them from a first hand experience 'Yes, I've actually been there. Yes, I've actually done this and it's a great place to go.'" Read more: WLOX
Smyth (Virginia) chamber hosts webinar on selling to Defense Logistics Agency
The Procurement Technical Assistance Center of Southwest Virginia in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce of Smyth County is hosting a free webinar titled “Selling to the Defense Logistics Agency” on Thursday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the chamber office, 214 West Main Street, Marion.
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) spends more than $11.6 billion a year to purchase 5.2 million items to support men and women in uniform. Everything from machined parts, spare parts, guns, ammunition, food, pipe and tubing, sound recording equipment, resistors and capacitors, food, clothing, tents, and millions of other items. Businesses in Southwest Virginia have the capability to supply some of these items. This webinar will inform and educate the attendees on the “how to” of doing business with DLA. Read more: SWVAtoday.com
Chamber interest: Suburban Chicago companies see opportunity in Cuba
Many suburban companies said they are eager to send representatives to visit Cuba and explore new business opportunities in the island country newly opened to Americans.
Yet, with an ongoing trade embargo and underdeveloped infrastructure, Cuba likely won't return to a bustling, vibrant economy for at least 5 to 10 years, said Roger Sosa, executive director of the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and a native of Cuba.
"Businesses have to get in now in order to get things done there," Sosa said. "It will take a long time to get agreements in place between U.S. and Cuban companies because that just doesn't exist now. So they will need to build an infrastructure from the ground up."But those obstacles should not stop suburban business owners and executives from starting now to establish their own relationship with Cuba, he said, adding opportunities are many, he said. Read more: Daily Herald
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Technology)
"From then on, when anything went wrong with a computer, we said it had bugs in it." --- Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper
On the removal of a 2-inch-long moth from the Harvard Mark II experimental computer at Harvard in 1947, as quoted in Time (16 April 1984).
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