Charlotte Chamber 2011-2012 Legislative Agenda

The Charlotte Chamber creates competitive advantage by growing the economy, advocating pro-business public policies and delivering innovative programs and services.

As the revenue and unemployment crises continue, it is more critical than ever that job creation remains central to the work of public and private entities.

Transportation

  • Retain and secure funding for the completion of I-485, the widening of I-485 South, the Monroe Bypass (accomplished), the Garden Parkway and Yadkin River Bridge replacement (progress made.)
  • Support completion of Charlotte’s mass transit and light rail plan.
  • Support alternative methods for additional funding for roads and transit such as tolls, public private partnerships and design-build financing.
  • Support efforts to remove conflicts between NCDOT and local policies and regulations.

Job Creation

  • Support incentives and programs designed to attract jobs, such as the Job Development Investment Grants, One North Carolina Fund, film incentives.
  • Support funding for the arts, travel and tourism in North Carolina as it spurs economic development.
  • Support actions to ensure adequate supply of energy and promote regulatory tools to manage cost and rate impact to customers.
  • Support North Carolina’s Right to Work laws for private and public employees.
  • Support reform of North Carolina’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to address the state’s debt to the federal government, the long-term solvency of the Fund, and workforce training and retraining programs
  • Support efforts to create the federal Health Care Exchange program to address affordability to business

Taxes

  • Support the 2011 expiration of the corporate and personal income tax surcharges. (accomplished)
  • Oppose targeted taxes, fees, policies and rules that would impede business growth.

Regulatory Reform

  • Support efforts to reform NC’s Workers’ Compensation Act. (accomplished)
  • Support efforts to reform NC’s environmental laws and regulations to encourage growth. (some progress made)
  • Support efforts to pass an assessment model for funding Medicaid. (accomplished)
  • Support efforts to reform NC’s medical malpractice system. (accomplished)
  • Support the maintenance of a balanced civil liability system in North Carolina including the elimination of joint and several liability and the elimination of the collateral source rule. (some tort reform accomplished)
  • Support efforts to increase the efficiency of Mecklenburg County’s Board of Equalization and Review. (accomplished)
  • Support preservation of current extraterritorial jurisdiction laws.
  • Support zoning regulation reforms that would encourage commercial and residential growth.

Education

  • Support efforts to improve Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Central Piedmont Community College and UNC Charlotte including:
    • Support the funding of enrollment growth increases.
    • Support for the completion of the state’s financial commitment to Johnson & Wales.
    • Support funding for operations of UNC Charlotte’s Energy Production Infrastructure Center (EPIC) and Center City Building. (accomplished)
    • Support funding for Charlotte Informatics Partnership and Planning for Science Building at UNC Charlotte.
  • Support efforts to reform K-12, community colleges and universities to allow for flexibility in managing budget cuts with minimal impact on students as well as changes to state laws that limit a local education provider from recruiting, retraining, and promoting the best talent, as supported by Project L.I.F.T.