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Legislative Issues
Small Business Index Survey due March 23rd! Print E-mail

Dear Jan,

If you have not done so already, we encourage you to use our Chamber Views survey tool to distribute our Small Business Index Survey to your members by Friday, March 23rd..  Thank you to those that have already sent out the survey.  For directions on how to use the survey tool, please read the message below.

To view the live survey, click here.

The Florida Chamber is in need of your support with distributing our recent Small Business Index Survey to your membership.  The purpose of this survey is to obtain the most accurate information about the business climate in Florida with efforts to wrap up the 2012 Legislative Session and plan for the 2012 Election Cycle.

Over the last year, the state of Florida created more jobs than all but two other states.  We would like to take this time to receive feedback from the businesses of Florida, and we need your help!

This survey allows you the flexibility to add specific questions that you would like to survey your membership on, as well as rebrand the survey with your chamber's logo or header. Please help us increase our response rate to this survey by distributing it to your membership database with any additional questions you feel are necessary.  The deadline to respond to the online survey is Friday, March 23rd. All results will be shared and available for your use by the end of March.  You will be able to access those results through your Chamber Views webpage that is available to all local chambers.

Our Chamber Views survey system allows you to do three things:

1)      Use our existing survey to ask your membership about key issues facing their business

2)      Add questions to the existing survey that relate to issues your Chamber may be facing locally

3)      Brand the survey using your ChamberÂ’s heading so that your membership know the survey is coming from their local chamber

If you are interested in surveying your membership using Chamber Views, please log on to the website (www.Chamberviews.com) and enter your username and password.  You can distribute the survey to your database or post the link to your website.  After you have signed in, you should be able to view our survey under the "global surveys" header.  Please upload the most recent survey into your account.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call me at 850-521-1243.

Your answers to our surveys over the past year indicated that the tax burden was one obstacle facing your business.  During the 2012 legislative session, the Florida Chamber worked with Governor Rick Scott and legislative leaders to lessen that burden.

In our effort to Secure FloridaÂ’s Future, it is critical that we know what issues are most important to you and your member businesses!  Your membersÂ’ personal information will not be shared.  We will also provide you with the results of the survey and any policies that come from the results of the survey.  Our message is more powerful in Tallahassee when you voice your opinion.

Please take five minutes to complete this 15 question Small Business Index Survey and provide feedback on what you believe are the important issues facing small businesses.  Also, we would appreciate it if you took a few more minutes to pass this survey along to your membership.

Thank you for your help and support of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Florida's small businesses!

 
 
Florida Chamber-backed Bill Saving Florida's Employers Millions in Unemployment Comp Taxes Passes Senate Committee Stop (2-28-12) Print E-mail

Florida's businesses are facing an $817 million tax increase in 2012!  The Florida Chamber of Commerce is fighting to lessen the burden of this massive tax increase on the business community this year.

A Florida Chamber-backed unemployment comp reform bill passed the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations today.  SB 1416 by Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff will provide tax relief to Florida's businesses by:

  • Returning the wage base to $8,000 from $8,500 and
  • Stretching out the recoupment period from three years to five years.

These two taxation policy changes would reduce the UC tax increase by almost $50 per employee, saving employers $197.3 million in 2012 and $352.1 million in 2013!  If nothing is done this year, Florida's business community will be hit with an $817 million tax increase!

Florida's unemployment comp system was never built to sustain high levels of unemployment and the unemployment comp taxes that our businesses face are threatening job creation and the soft economic recovery that is underway.

We encourage our members to continue contacting their Senators in support of unemployment comp tax relief.  Click here to send a pre-written email to your Senator encouraging their support of tax relief for Florida's employers!

To learn more about the Florida Chamber's efforts to stop this massive tax increase on Florida business, please visit our unemployment compensation issues page at www.FloridaChamber.com.  To sign-up for grassroots alerts and updates, visit www.FloridaChamber.com/grassroots.
 
Urge EPA to Accept Florida's Numeric Nutrient Criteria Standards! Print E-mail

Florida is a leader in job creation and water quality.  Over the last year, Florida has created more than 135,000 new private-sector jobs and is on the right track.  The last thing Florida needs is yet another job killing regulation from Washington.

Over the weekend, Federal Judge Robert L. Hinkle opened the door for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to accept Florida's numeric nutrient criteria standards.  Judge Hinkle agreed with our argument that the EPA set unrealistic, restrictive and overreaching nutrient limits for streams that would have required unnecessary nutrient reduction.

Like we have said all along during this fight, Judge Hinkle's order demonstrates that Florida knows best how to manage its waters - a key point in support of the state-written rules that are set to be approved by the EPA after passing the Florida Legislature unanimously and signed last week by Governor Rick Scott.

Take action by contacting the EPA and urging them to accept Florida's rule in its entirety!  With the federal court ruling invalidating the EPA's rules for streams and rivers, it is critical that we implement these Florida-written water protections that correct flaws in the EPA rules!

Click here to send a personal email to the EPA!

The Florida Chamber of Commerce has long advocated for science-based water quality standards that will protect Florida's natural resources and promote sustainable economic growth.  The Florida Chamber supports Florida's right to direct and establish a set of scientifically based nutrient criteria for its waters.

For more information on the Florida Chamber's support of Florida's right to set its own NNC rules, visit our NNC issues page at www.FloridaChamber.com.  For more grassroots updates and alerts from the Florida Chamber on our top priorities, please visit www.FloridaChamber.com/grassroots.

 
 
Register for Local Chamber Federation Webinar for Latest on Workers' Comp and Strategies for Unemployment Comp Reform - Monday, February 20th! Print E-mail

Thank you to the Chamber leaders that joined us on last week's webinar.  We were able to develop and implement a strategy for one of the top priorities of the business community in 2012 - lowering workers' comp costs for employers.  This week we will focus on workers' compensation reform and unemployment compensation reform - giving the latest updates on the progress of this legislation and impact local chambers have in Tallahassee!

If we pass workers' comp and unemployment comp reform this session, we could save Florida's employers and our members nearly $1 billion!  You must sign-up for the webinar to join the conference call!

Please join us on our webinar and conference call this week as we discuss the latest legislative updates on pro-business priority bills and continue to develop plans of action to help lower the cost of doing business for all of our members and Florida's business community.

Learn how your Chamber can stay engaged in Tallahassee as we begin the second half of this year's legislative session!

Please join us on our weekly Legislative Strategy Conference Call and Webinar Monday morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

Local Chamber Legislative Strategy Webinar & Conference Call
Monday, February 20th at 11:00 a.m. Eastern
Please register for call-in information!

Please join Florida Chamber President & CEO Mark Wilson, Executive Vice President David Hart and Vice President of Corporate & Strategic Partnerships Brad Swanson as we look forward to working together throughout the 2012 Legislative Session to improve Florida's business climate, reduce overburdensome regulations on Florida's employers, create jobs for unemployed Floridians while trying to solve a $2 billion budget gap.

To register for the Webinar, click here.

 

Dear Jan,

Thank you to the Chamber leaders that joined us on last week's webinar.  We were able to develop and implement a strategy for one of the top priorities of the business community in 2012 - lowering workers' comp costs for employers.  This week we will focus on workers' compensation reform and unemployment compensation reform - giving the latest updates on the progress of this legislation and impact local chambers have in Tallahassee!

If we pass workers' comp and unemployment comp reform this session, we could save Florida's employers and our members nearly $1 billion!  You must sign-up for the webinar to join the conference call!

Please join us on our webinar and conference call this week as we discuss the latest legislative updates on pro-business priority bills and continue to develop plans of action to help lower the cost of doing business for all of our members and Florida's business community.

Learn how your Chamber can stay engaged in Tallahassee as we begin the second half of this year's legislative session!

Please join us on our weekly Legislative Strategy Conference Call and Webinar Monday morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

Local Chamber Legislative Strategy Webinar & Conference Call
Monday, February 20th at 11:00 a.m. Eastern
Please register for call-in information!

Please join Florida Chamber President & CEO Mark Wilson, Executive Vice President David Hart and Vice President of Corporate & Strategic Partnerships Brad Swanson as we look forward to working together throughout the 2012 Legislative Session to improve Florida's business climate, reduce overburdensome regulations on Florida's employers, create jobs for unemployed Floridians while trying to solve a $2 billion budget gap.

To register for the Webinar, click here.

 
 
Florida Chamber Applauds Governor Rick Scott for Signing Bill on Florida-only Water Standards Print E-mail

Governor Rick Scott today signed a Florida Chamber of Commerce-backed bill that will protect our stateÂ’s right to set its own nutrient standards.  The Florida Chamber is fighting to eliminate all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates that apply restrictions and that pose a threat to FloridaÂ’s economic recovery, including unfair Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC) standards for Florida.  This law will directly reduce the regulatory burden and fiscal impact on FloridaÂ’s business community.

“The Florida Chamber commends Governor Rick Scott today for signing into law important water quality legislation that provides our state with the ability to establish science-based nutrient criteria rules,” said Florida Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Mark Wilson.  “FloridaÂ’s science-based rules will protect FloridaÂ’s natural resources while also promoting sustainable economic growth.”

The Florida Chamber strongly supports the stateÂ’s right to direct and establish a set of scientifically based nutrient criteria for FloridaÂ’s waters.  On December 8, 2011, the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission unanimously approved the DEPÂ’s numeric nutrient criteria rules.

The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Six Pillars Caucus System™ has determined that a comprehensive water policy is also a long-term focus to secure Florida’s future. Water policy options are referenced in the Six Pillars 20-year Strategic Plan™ within the Infrastructure and Growth Leadership Pillar. Click here to learn more about this visionary process and how you can get involved.

The Florida Chamber would also like to recognize U.S. Senator Marco Rubio for legislation filed today that would make sure Florida can determine the best approach to protecting its own water bodies rather than leaving such important decisions in the hands of federal bureaucrats.

The “State Waters Partnership Act of 2012” says that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must suspend its federal nutrient criteria rulemakings while considers approving Florida’s standards, and upon approval, only the Florida nutrient criteria rules would apply in the state.

The legislation supports FloridaÂ’s right to set scientifically based nutrient criteria for FloridaÂ’s waters, a position advocated by the Florida Chamber, and recently embraced by the Florida Legislature.  The proposal is designed to ensure that FloridaÂ’s water standards are sound and can provide economic security for our state.  Senator RubioÂ’s bill, and a similar one previously filed in the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, will help ensure that these state rules are promptly approved in their entirety by the federal government.

If you would like to know more about the Florida ChamberÂ’s support of FloridaÂ’s right to set its own NNC rules, visit our NNC issues page at www.FloridaChamber.com.  For more grassroots updates and alerts from the Florida Chamber on our top priorities, please visit www.FloridaChamber.com/grassroots.
 
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