2011 PUBLIC AFFAIRS & LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
The following are priorities and major emphasis public affairs and legislative initiatives of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama for 2011:
1 Actively advocate cooperative relations and accountability among and between all elected officials in Tuscaloosa County and West Alabama and the legislative delegation.
2 Advocate the creation a unified legislative and public affairs agenda among all local governments and The Chamber to improve and maximize the community’s effectiveness and influence in Montgomery and Washington.
3 Maintain active support of Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa as well as expanded funding support to meet local needs and care for community-based patients.
4 Advocate improved working relations among local governments, state legislators, the Alabama Department of Transportation, both in Montgomery and at the division level, and the private sector to more effectively facilitate, coordinate, and hold accountable identified transportation priorities in the region.
5 Correct and resolve through the Alabama Legislature, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, or the local District Attorney’s Office, identified deficiencies in the worthless check laws of Alabama and related judicial applications and hold accountable the failure to address.
6 Actively monitor and advocate reasonable policies and application of local sign and landscape ordinances and requirements that enhance the physical image of the community but do not create barriers to economic growth and small business development.
7 Aggressively advocate and support legislative reapportionment that would provide Tuscaloosa County effective and balanced representation in the Alabama Legislature, reflective of the community’s economic, educational and governmental leadership role and our expanding population. Such reapportionment should also result in the majority of the Tuscaloosa County delegation members residing in Tuscaloosa County for maximum effectiveness.