2010 Legislative Agenda

C.O.M.P.E.T.E
Community Development
• Support a consistent, timely and predictable permitting process.
• Support policies that consolidate permit processing, create clear deadlines for state agencies to the business
community and streamline land use appeals.
• Advocates for policies that review regulatory inequities, and allow workers compensation premiums to pay for
workers compensation claims only.
• Promote working with State officials and members of the legislature to ensure guidelines adopted under the
Shoreline Management Act are consistent with the Growth Management Act and the State Environmental Policy Act and
that cost to the business community are factored in the discussion.
• Support decreased regulations on public construction projects to put them in line with the lower costs of private
projects.
Offering Incentive not Additional Regulation
• Support legislation that would expand the $1,000 tax credit exemption for the Streamline Sales Tax for business
with gross income up to $3 million.
• Advocates for policies that ensure an abundant energy supply at reasonable costs.
• Pursue new ideas and technology as energy alternatives
• Provide incentives to encourage businesses to conserve
Maintain Health Care Change
• Advocate for meaningful Health Care Change including Evidence Based Medicine
• Support controlling costs of the worker's compensation system
• Encourage a “catastrophic injury” health insurance plan with reduced mandates for small businesses to remain
competitive
• Oppose funding for the Family Leave bill by any addition of taxes or fees on business
Performance
• Implement or respond to the performance review recommendations of the State Auditor expeditiously
• Use Priorities of Government approach to create a strategic framework for investment decisions and the budget
process.
Education
• Support maintaining graduation standards and funding appropriate to make Washington globally competitive.
• Support allowing K-12 – school districts greater flexibility to decide upon how to allocate State funding based
upon local needs
• Prioritize State funding for high demand, high impact bachelors and associates degrees in high impact industries
such as: manufacturing, information technology, environmental science and health care.
• Maintain support of community and technical colleges by supporting actual FTE costs
• Fully fund programs such as Running Start and worker retraining
• Maintain expansion of apprenticeship programs in Washington State
Transportation
• Strongly support South Sound Chamber of Commerce Coalition Transportation priorities
• Supports transportation governance that keeps regional programs and South King County funds in South King
County
• Support efforts to reduce congestion and programs that get our people and goods to work.
• Support a healthy and robust regional transportation system that allow business to move its goods, services, and
people to help stimulate and improve the economy of Kent and the State of Washington.
Economic Development and Energy
• Support fair, competitive and balanced business climate that allows our employers to compete successfully on a
local, state, national, and international level.
• Oppose taxes and fees that inhibit the growth and retention of business and private sector jobs.
ISSUE OF GREEN RIVER VALLEY FLOODING
The Kent Chamber of Commerce is extremely concerned with the risk of potential flooding of the Green River Valley and issues regarding
the Howard Hanson Dam. We urge the Washington State Legislature to support expedient repairs of the Howard Hanson Dam as well as
supporting funding to repair levees along the Green River Valley to protect crucial business & trade infrastructure of the State of
Washington. The Kent Chamber of Commerce also urges the Legislature to support inspections and debris removal from the Green River
regardless of environmental policies when actions mitigate potential flooding. We must optimize our efforts by supporting provisions that
promote effective mitigation, both pre and post disaster, in shared responsibility with all levels of government and property owners.
Supporting coordination of Cities, King County, State and community leadership regarding potential flooding, emergency preparedness
and disaster recovery will aid in the prosperity of the Green River Valley. We urge the State of Washington to promote legislation and
policies that require mitigation in reconstruction post disaster that allows mutual aid for post disaster damage determinations and
permitting. We support waivers in the permitting process to rebuild in existing building footprints to expedite business recovery in the
Green River Valley. In case of natural disasters, the ability for economic recovery will be based on the ability to rehabilitate the area
immediately. Furthermore, we support legislation that will encourage the formation of a Joint Underwriters Association.