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of Independent Business, an advocacy group that represents 350,000 of small business owners nationwide.
“The majority of Georgia Chamber members are small businesses, so my experience fighting regulations and advocating for lower taxes served me well,” says Raynor, “Plus, the NFIB and the Georgia Chamber have had a solid working relationship for a long time.”
Atlanta, but statewide, as well.”
The Chamber didn’t take a position on Campus Carry, the bill that would legalize firearms in most areas of public colleges statewide.
The Georgia Chamber supported casino gambling and horseracing as a way to grow tourism and bolster the state’s merit-based HOPE Scholarship. In recent years, HOPE has struggled to meet demand, forcing lawmakers to At the state capitol this year, curtail benefits. The proposed Raynor and his team were largely gaming legislation failed, but successful in navigating proRaynor says the Chamber will business measures through the continue to search for solutions Legislature and curtailing bills seen that maintain HOPE funding. as harmful to job growth. For the remainder of this year, A plan to let the city of Atlanta Raynor’s team will focus on vetting pursue a $2.5 billion expansion and supporting pro-business of MARTA also passed with the candidates on both sides of the Chamber’s support. This fall, aisle. “We’ll advise our members voters will be asked to approve a which candidates are most half-percent hike in the sales tax sympathetic to decisions that to pay for the expansion. “The will keep the state’s #1 business number of millennials that rely rating.” on public transit is growing. We need to make sure we have transit Looking ahead to the next resources in place, not only in session, funding for healthcare
I think it’s the diversity of our team that helps us deliver.
and public education are likely to be priorities. “We’re doing a deep dive into the overall picture of healthcare statewide,” says Raynor. “Even in states like Georgia that have chosen not to expand Medicaid, some alternative needs to be addressed so we can reach more of the uninsured and underinsured.” There will also be an effort to find new ways to pay for public education. “With financial support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we’ve been looking at how to replace an antiquated funding formula with one that promotes a more work-ready workforce.” Results of the study will be released late this summer and lawmakers will be briefed in the fall. Also on the radar in 2017: preserving the movie industry tax credit, which generated $6 billion in Georgia last year. “As with any tax credit, we have to demonstrate to the legislature that it’s worthwhile. There’s no question that this one is creating jobs across the state.” Being successful in a role where so much is at stake requires a capacity to listen and learn. “The most important skill for the Public Affairs team is to understand the expectations of our investors and then over-deliver on it. I think it’s the diversity of our team that helps us deliver.”
Jason O’Rouke, Megan Baker, Kade Cullefer
The Georgia Influencer
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