2013 PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA
The following are the public policy priorities of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama for 2013:
1. Actively advocate cooperative relations, communications and accountability among and between all members of the Tuscaloosa County and West Alabama legislative delegations in order to create a unified effort critical to improving and maximizing the area delegation’s effectiveness and influence in Montgomery.
2. Aggressively support passage of legislation which provides the citizens of Tuscaloosa County with the right to vote on identified issues of significant public concern and achieve home rule.
3. Continue to 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, expedite and hold accountable critical, identified transportation priorities in the region.
The three major projects currently on the Tuscaloosa Area Metropolitan Planning Organization 2035 long-range transportation plan are as follows:
I-20/59 from the Black Warrior Parkway to Keenes Mill Road: $54,024,942
SR-69 from Skyland Boulevard to Old Greensboro Road (southern intersection): $39,614,853
Tuscaloosa Eastern Bypass section project 2004: $43,229,262
Long-range priorities not currently on the 2035 transportation plan that we as a delegation feel should be studied further and possibly placed on the MPO transportation plan are:
SR-69 North from US-82 to Mitt Lary Road (not on long-range transportation plan, 2004 estimate): $20,000,000
Tuscaloosa East Bypass (all remaining segments, only one segment is on the long-range transportation plan): $275,532,844. As part of this project the committee suggests the completion of the northern end of the project to utilize Rose Blvd which has been completed to I59/20
The addition of infrastructure access to the North River area via the completion of McWrights Ferry Road. Estimated construction cost from the City of Tuscaloosa is $49,223,424; right-of-way $6,360,000; utilities $2,580,000; for a total cost of $58,163,424
4. Continue support for funding of extension of the runway at the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport and modernization and installation of a radar system to support and assure safety as well as economic development opportunities.
5. Aggressively advocate expeditious efforts to move the eastern bypass project forward and hold accountable all of the various governmental bodies and agencies that are barriers to progress.
6. Actively support and advocate the Hope Initiative to address crime, poverty, expanded public safety and the protection of the citizens of the community, in order to build and sustain a healthy business environment and improved livability.
7. Support the concept of a career technical curriculum to be accessible by all students in the county.
8. Actively oppose the “employee free choice act” which would undermine long standing principles of workplace democracy and fairness, resulting in a lack of balance between management and labor in the workplace.
9. Support legislation that will outline a plan to repay the Alabama Trust fund the $145.8 million borrowed in fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015; and in the future, oppose the use of AFT as a rescue fund for balancing either the General or Education Trust fund budgets.
10. Support a comprehensive federal energy policy that increases the supply of energy in a manner that is safe and protective of the environment, promotes comprehensive energy conservation and encourages research and development of clean and alternative energy sources.
11. Oppose moratoriums or bans on certain types of businesses in the Cities of Tuscaloosa and Northport.
12. Supports efforts to revise specific zoning regulations of the City of Tuscaloosa in the tornado recovery area when to do so would support responsible business growth and development.
13. Support the election of pro-business candidates for local, state and federal elected offices.
14. Actively oppose any legislation infringing on employers’ right to provide a safe workplace by restricting unauthorized firearm possession on company property and/or creating any new causes of action against employers because of such policies.
15. Supports the creation of the Alabama Tax Appeals Commission (ATAC) as an independent state agency, headed by a judge selected in a non-partisan manner who has specific training in state and local taxation. The legislation would also abolish the Administrative Law Division of the Alabama Department of Revenue.
16. Supports efforts to enact the Alabama Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights II, an update and expansion of the original landmark legislation enacted in 1992, which extends the appeal deadlines for taxpayers.
17. Supports efforts to streamline and simplify our sales/use tax system so that in-state and out-of-state retailers are on a level playing field and provide a single point of filing for state and all local sales and use tax returns.
18. Support legislation to provide for a research and development income tax credit parallel to the federal tax credit, with an extra incentive if a qualified research institution performs the research.
19. Support the increase in funding for pre-kindergarten educational programs administered by certifiably trained staff, and ensure that the programs demonstrate student academic preparedness for kindergarten through required appropriate accountability measures.
20. Support the passage of the Marketplace Equity Act, which authorizes states to require all online retailers, regardless of location, to collect state sales tax. This federal legislation will help eliminate the competitive disadvantage many brick-and-mortar retailers have related to online retailers who do not currently charge sales tax.