March 27-29, 2012

Lee’s Summit ChamberWashington, D.C. Fly In Recap

Lee’s Summit

Travels ToWashington D.C.

Chamber

On March 27-29, representatives from the Lee’s Summit Chamber along with members from the Blue Springs, Grandview and South Kansas City chambers traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with elected officials.

A total of twelve individuals made up the delegation which included interested community business leaders and chamber executives. Together this group represented nearly 2,000 businesses that employ more than 30,000 people.

The Chamber Delegation traveled to Washington, D.C. with five primary messages: Energy Independence, Transportation, Work Force Education, Business Taxation, and Health Care.

Energy IndependenceSupport pro-growth energy policies that:

• increase existing, new and diverse energy sources and supplies

• lower/stabilize costs

• improve overall efficiency in the energy delivery network

• reduce our dependency on foreign energy sources

• incentivize and promote environmental stewardship

• create jobs for United States citizens

• incentivize commonsense solutions to accelerate the commercial use of clean energy technologies

TransportationSupport the reauthorization of a comprehensive Transportation bill that will:

• increase the efficiency with which goods move throughout the nation’s transportation system

• foster and expand innovative financing options

• encourage private sector participation

• enhance operational capacity

• reward grantees that meet important goals

• promote a seamless transportation system in which transportation modes are efficiently connected

• increase oversight to ensure large Federal investments are being protected

Work Force EducationAdvocate reform of the nation’s K-12 Education system that will: • double current graduation

rates

• increase post secondary enrollment and completion rates among all students

• incentivize states and local public school districts to attain creative solutions to higher achievement levels

• incentivize creative approaches and collaborations between K-12, post-secondary and business and labor that ensure job recruitment and training systems meet the needs of both students and employers

• eliminate redundant and overlapping federal job training programs and give state and local policymakers flexibility in their use of funds

Business TaxationAdvocate for pro-growth tax policies that preserve America’s global competitiveness and oppose tax increases that reduce businesses’ ability to grow, invest, and create jobs. Tax reform should, at a minimum:

• maintain the personal exemptions on itemized deductions

• maintain current tax rates on capital gains and dividends

• maintain itemized deductions to reduce tax liability

• remove or reduced the estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes

Health CareSupport the reduction of costs and burdens of the new federal government health care law. Health care reform must:

• remove mandate requiring purchase of health insurance

• target incentives, strategies and solutions to help businesses get health care costs under control

• expand and improve the quality of health care coverage and services while providing health care coverage to the uninsured

The delegation listens intently to senior US Chamber of Commerce legislative staffers on legislation and policy matters that are important to the business community in preparation for their Congressional visits.

To view the Lee’s Summit Chamber’s complete 2012 legislative priorities and agenda visit, lschamber.com.

Representatives from the Lee’s Summit Chamber included:Diane Forte - 2012 Chair of the Board - Dean’s Trophies, Shirts & Awards

Nancy Bruns - Lee’s Summit Chamber President

Bob Glaser - Chair Elect - Summit Bank of Kansas City

Phyllis Balagna - Board Member - Steppin’ Out - The Studio

Mark Dickey - Lee’s Summit Chamber Vice President