Kentucky Chamber Congressional Forum: McConnell blasts Obamacare, then says politics aren’t as polarizing as they seem
After giving a speech critical of the Obama Administration and Democrats in Congress, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said politics in Washington aren’t as polarizing as they seem.
“I want to disabuse you of the notion that politics is more contentious than it’s ever been,” McConnell said to the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce at its inaugural Congressional Forum. He then mentioned an incident in 1856 when Rep. Preston Brooks beat Sen. Charles Sumner with a cane.
McConnell was joined at the forum by Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington; Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville; and Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Bowling Green.
McConnell blamed the Obama Administration for much of the current anger seen throughout the country, saying that when there is a large recession, there’s usually an equally large recovery.
“We’ve had a deep recession and a tepid recovery,” McConnell said.
He attributed the lack of growth to an increase in federal regulations on businesses.
“You’re being massively overregulated no matter what business you’re in,” McConnell said. “It’s been a regulatory rampage going on all across America for eight years. That’s what produces this kind of tepid growth rate.”
McConnell said he has little power to combat federal regulations.
McConnell also said the federal health care overhaul is failing.
Recently, health insurance company Aetna pulled out of several insurance markets created under the Affordable Care Act, claiming it was losing too much money after the Obama administration blocked a merger with Cigna.
“All of this was entirely predictable,” McConnell said, “and while a few more people have been insured, the question is, what is the cost-benefit ratio?” Read more: Kentucky.com
Governor Bruce Rauner in Marion for Chamber lunch
Gov. Bruce Rauner is set to be the big name at a Marion Chamber of Commerce lunch Friday.
Rauner’s southern Illinois visit to the chamber’s second annual Legislative Summit comes the same day he’s set to appear in the parade opening the Du Quoin State Fair later in the day.
Marion Chamber Executive Director Dalus Ben Avi said Rauner will join several other lawmakers and officials in giving five-minute speeches to as many as 200 business leaders.
A Rauner spokesman confirmed the visit.
Most of the participants are planning to take questions from the crowd, but Rauner isn’t likely to, Ben Avi said.
The event will happen a little more than 70 days before the November election and at a time when local candidates have already been flooding the TV airwaves with advertising.
The chamber’s first legislative summit last year drew about 150 people. This one was organized by Hayden Gardiner of South Porte Bank and Mary Jo McCurdy of First Southern Bank, Ben Avi said. Read more: The Daily Republican
Valpo Chamber event: Top Northwest Indiana businesswomen offer tips for success
Ten area businesswomen with backgrounds from farming to investing recently shared some tips for success.
The women, some of whom took on dramatic career shifts, talked of perseverance and passion for what they do.
"Treat your clients and customers with compassion. That's why we're successful today," said bankruptcy attorney Stacey Whitten, who practices law with her husband, Dan, in Portage. While lawyers often get a bad rap, she added, "I'm fortunate. I get to help people."
Around 100 people attended last week's program, "10 Timeless Tips from Top Businesswomen," at Urschel Pavilion and sponsored by the Valpo Chamber of Commerce and the Service Core of Retired Executives, or SCORE, a division of the state's Small Business Administration.
The chamber wanted to do a program for women in business because so many women own businesses in Valparaiso, said Kurt Gillins, member services director. Pairing with SCORE was natural since the group meets in chamber offices.
Real estate agent Dawn Collins offered tips for business and life.
"My philosophy in all things is move ahead," she said, adding that includes embracing change. "'Move ahead' is not just my catch phrase. It's a way of life."
Listening to and understanding the needs of clients or cutomers is very important, Collins said.
"It is only in helping others move ahead that we can truly succeed ourselves," she said.
Amanda Snider, owner of Homenclature, a Valparaiso home furnishing store, was educated in biology and genetics, but decided in 2008 to go into business for herself.
"I don't take 'no' for an answer," she said, adding her husband resisted at first, but is now working full-time at the store.
From her store's location in an old warehouse, to the wares she sells, Snider said she offers a memorable shopping experience and exemplary customer service, both critical for getting people talking about her store.
"Make yourself unique," she said. "Set yourself apart from what everyone else is doing." Read more: Post-Tribune
Batavia Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory
The Batavia Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Business Directory is available at the Batavia Chamber today! Thanks to Holly Deitchman and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
Town SquarePublications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
Chamber program: Leadership Vicksburg applications available
After a year’s hiatus, Leadership Vicksburg is back.
Leadership Vicksburg, sponsored by the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commere, is a yearlong program aimed at nurturing and educating those in key positions within businesses, industry, education and government here.
Jane Flowers, executive director of the chamber, said she is happy the program has returned in a new and improved way.
“We were approached by Gerad Hardy, vice president and general manager at Ameristar Casino. He was getting ready to participate in Leadership Mississippi, and he was interested in helping us with Leadership Vicksburg,” Flowers said.
A group of former Leadership Vicksburg graduates and others in the business community already were meeting in an effort to revamp the program, she said.
“Ameristar in Vicksburg has always had a great commitment, not only to the city, but to Leadership Vicksburg. We’ve sent several of our people through the program. We had two in the last graduating class, and were prepared to submit two to last year’s class, but it was cancelled due to lack of participation,” Hardy said. “When I got the message that it was cancelled, I thought, ‘What a missed opportunity,’ Leadership development is so important for the health of the community — the business community and the community at large. It’s something we want to continue to be committed to.”
Hardy and Lori Burke, Ameristar’s business development manager and a Leadership Vicksburg alum, began brainstorming, he said.
“She started drawing from her experience and I started drawing from mine and my experience as a Leadership Mississippi attendee and we asked ourselves, how can we create a program that businesses and organizations find real added value in, one that when they look at it they think, ‘Man, how can we not be a part of that?’ ”
When Hardy and Burke met with the chamber’s leadership and with Leadership Vicksburg alum, their aim was to put together a program that accomplishes three things, he said:
“Number one, how do we personally get better? How do I become a better leader? How do it grow the tools I need for leadership?” Hardy said. “Number two, if I have all the tools for leadership, where can I make a difference. Where is there a need? And, the last part, let’s focus on making a difference. Read more: Vicksburg Post
Northern Virginia Chamber, Board of Trade, Prince George’s Chamber to Host DC, Maryland, and Virginia Leaders at Annual Capital Region Business Forum
The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (Northern Virginia Chamber), Greater Washington Board of Trade (Board of Trade), and Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce (Prince George’s Chamber), announced it will host Muriel Bowser (D), Mayor of the District of Columbia, Terry McAuliffe (D), Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Larry Hogan (R), Governor of the State of Maryland, for the Annual Capital Region Business Forum to promote regional cooperation.
The event, scheduled for the morning of October 12th in Washington, D.C., will address opportunities and challenges that affect the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Topics will include:
- Transportation and interconnectivity,
- Economic diversification, in light of declining federal expenditures,
- Branding the national capital region, and many more.
“Acting regionally is critical to how we will make Greater Washington better by improving, recruiting, attracting and growing,” said Daniel Waetjen, Regional President, Greater Washington DC Region, BB&T and 2016 Chairman, Greater Washington Board of Trade. “These leaders are central to that success.”
“Working together to secure, maintain, and cultivate healthy business partnerships within the metro area is essential to having a voice in this nation. Being a part of this second Annual Forum is a step in the right direction,” said David C. Harrington, Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce President & CEO.
“We are thrilled to bring these leaders together to address the issues our region faces,” said Jim Corcoran, Northern Virginia Chamber President & CEO. “We must continue to work together to plot a course for the future that will grow our regional economy and set us on a path to success for decades to come.”
This event, a joint initiative of the Northern Virginia Chamber, Board of Trade, and Prince George’s Chamber, will provide the leaders the opportunity to discuss their plans to work cooperatively to bolster the regional economy in an ever competitive global marketplace. CONTACT: Alex Chagouris, Director, Communications & Marketing - achagouris@NOVAChamber.org - 703-752-7526
Registration is available on the Greater Washington Board of Trade’s website.
MMAC report: Most area economic indicators improved in July
Most metro Milwaukee economic indicators improved in July, according to the latest economic report from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, but the number of positive indicators dipped slightly compared to June.
Of the 22 economic indicators with available information for July, 15 posted year-over-year gains during the month, compared to 16 that posted gains in June.
“While the aggregate number of positive indicators is down slightly from recent months, the majority of indicators continue to point upward,” said Bret Mayborne, economic research director for the MMAC.
July was the 54th consecutive month, dating back to January of 2012, that a majority of metro Milwaukee economic indicators have posted year-over-year gains, Mayborne said.
Highlights of the MMAC’s July economic report:
- The metro area has added 13,700 jobs over a year ago, a 1.6 percent increase.
- Seven of 10 major industry sectors had year-over-year job increases in July in the metro area. The construction, mining and natural resource sector posted the largest gain, up 7 percent.
- The financial services sector had the largest jobs decline, down 4.9 percent year-over-year.
- The number of unemployed in the metro area dipped 8.7 percent from a year ago to 39,800.
- The area’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate in July was 4.7 percent, down 0.6 percentage point from a year ago. By comparison, the state’s unadjusted unemployment rate in July was 4.1 percent, and the national rate was 5.1 percent.
- New car registrations in the metro area fell 22.9 percent in July. Read more: Biz Times
Chamber interest: World of Beer hiring, expects October opening
World of Beer is now projecting an early October opening in Canton as the company moves to hire 75 employees for what owner Chad Wilson called “beer school” training.
While not a brewery, World of Beer is expected to bolster Canton’s place on the craft beer map because it will offer 550 different bottled brews from about 30 countries and another 50 beers on tap.
Canton Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Paden called Michigan’s still-growing craft beer industry “huge” and said World of Beer should prove successful while also bringing in new jobs and adding to the tax base.
“That’s what makes a community tick,” he said. “The more businesses we have coming in, the better it is for the tax base and the more opportunities we have for employment and for residents to get excited about new businesses. That’s what keeps a community vibrant.”
World of Beer, which also serves food, is taking shape on Ford Road, west of Lilley, placing it along Canton’s premier retail and restaurant corridor. It will employ about 75 bartenders, servers and kitchen workers who will receive a two-week training course. Read more: Hometown Life
Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey
RULE
#23 Never ask permission to spend
money already approved.
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