Government Policies

SERVING ALL OF GRAYS HARBOR
GRAYS HARBOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GOVERNMENT POLICY OBJECTIVES VII
2005 & 2006

PREAMBLE: We believe that while government is necessary, it must be limited, effective, and responsive to the people.
The State’s difficult business climate is of great concern to Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce businesses. Progressively worsening public policy has encumbered Washington’s economic growth. Changes must be made in the state’s tax, regulatory, and infrastructure if small business is to survive and become globally competitive. Failure to do so immediately will come at a high cost!

We must act now to tackle the impediments to the state’s economy. “Elected officials will need to summon the political courage to adopt policies that will improve our competitive position, enhance our advantages, and correct our weaknesses.” Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy

AGENDA 1
BUILD A STRONG ECONOMY FOR ALL OF WASHINGTON STATE…
I. RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Economic Development is unequally distributed across the state with more than half the population and more than 60% of the jobs in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties. Personal income growth in Washington’s other 36 counties has consistently fallen behind since 1975.

· Put Washington government to work assisting relocation of businesses moving from urban areas, with unaffordable housing and congested highways, to rural areas of the state.

· Increase the Community Trade and Economic Development’s resources to promote rural economic development.

· Enable public-private partnerships whenever and wherever possible to achieve economic development goals.
· Support economic development incentives that speed growth throughout the state, and generate capital to attract significant projects.

· Expand the State’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) statutes. Incorporating new sales tax revenues into the existing state TIF law will create a more workable tool for communities that will provide needed infrastructure to attract business and industry (WEDA).

II. INFRASTRUCTURE
Inadequate infrastructure is a barrier to business development

· Expand investments in public infrastructure to enhance economic development and job creation. A long-term sustainable funding source for the highly successful Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) law is critical for rural economic development.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS:

· Allow Public Utility Districts to create a fiber optic network and wholesale excess where it is unavailable by private enterprise.

TRANSPORTATION:

· Develop and implement an integrated strategy for a transportation system for the efficient and safe delivery of people, goods and services throughout Grays Harbor.

· Improve traffic flow and safety throughout Grays Harbor, particularly eliminating traffic congestion in Aberdeen and Hoquiam.

· Keep Beach access and driving open.

· Create means for financing local transportation issues.

· Reform the transportation system by: accelerating decisions, controlling costs, streamlining existing funding sources, simplifying regulatory requirements and achieving significant improvement in transportation management.

· Make an expanded highway and road system a top priority.

· Increase accountability by making clear to citizens the connection between how gas tax dollars are spent and outcomes achieved, and by holding elected and appointed officials to measurable outcomes.

· Continue investments in freight rail improvements and safety programs in rural communities.

PERMITTING:
· Create an efficient, uniform, one-stop permitting and compliance process for all sectors of the economy in the style of Workforce Centers.

· Require consolidation of and concurrency permitting and appeals.

· Eliminate federal, state and local duplication.

· Establish objective requirements and eliminate subjective decisions by agencies.

· Empower local government decision-making on land use issues.

· Improve consistency in the application of local, state, and federal requirements.

· Improve compliance by DOE, F&W, DNR, & DOT with the economic development strategies of CTED.

· Require a set-time frame for all permitting and appeals.

· Require improvements to the Growth Management Act, Shoreline Management Act and Water Resources laws that acknowledge a community’s need for economic development.

III. INDUSTRY

FORESTRY:
· Foster support for the changing forest products industry in Grays Harbor, Olympic Peninsula and Washington State.

· Support Exemptions for small landowners, and flexible implementation of Road Maintenance and Abandonment Plan (RMAP).

· Support the Department of Natural Resource’s (DNR) open public process and use of science in developing its Sustained Yield.

· Support the development of the “Federal Assurances” for Endangered Species.

· Support the DNR’s process for securing assurances from the federal government that all forest practices activities in compliance with the state forest practices rules and administrative program will satisfy federal requirements under ESA for aquatic species.

· Support the reduction of the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improvement of forest health by actively managing forests.

· Support a salvage timber program for dead, down and diseased timber from all forestlands.

· Eliminate duplication and contradiction in forestry, fish and wildlife laws.

FISHING:
· Aid and support the fishing industry in finding ways to advance fish enhancement, with greater emphasis on rearing more fish destined for ocean release.

· Require agencies to implement the combined Forestry & Fish & Wildlife Permitting.

· Reduce the harbor seal and sea lion population in Grays Harbor.

· Protect and support the commercial and sport fishing enterprises on the coast.

· Forbid the relocation of fish killing species to areas where fish are or may be listed.

TOURISM: Support the growing tourism industry.
· Increase the state’s tourism marketing budget. Sell Washington tourism to the state, nation, and to the world.

· Recognize the economic benefit of the film industry by creating an environment conducive to the production of movies within the state.

ENERGY: Create a long-term energy plan for increased generation and transmission.
· Expand energy production and diversify to include gas turbines, wind and other power sources.

· Oppose Bonneville’s imposition of Cost Recovery Adjustment Clauses (CRAC).

· Remove Bonneville’s surcharges, which will provide actual rate reduction to the Northwest.

· Increase free enterprise.

· Oppose the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission call for the formation of Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs).

· Oppose the Federal proposal to create a single nationwide market for electricity sales.

· Oppose forcing western consumers to pay to upgrade electricity transmission systems nationwide to send power to distant markets.

AGRICULTURE: Support and promote agriculture as a viable and important industry to our economy.

AGENDA 2
CREATE A POSITIVE BUSINESS CLIMATE…
Which encourages investment in Washington and functions under fair, efficient, consistent, understandable, regulations based upon true need with demonstrable benefits. There is a place for some regulation to protect the environment, the consumer, and the workforce, as well as to create a fair competitive business environment. However, unnecessary regulations, and uncompetitive tax policies create a non-competitive business climate in Washington.

I. REFORM WASHINGTON’S REGULATORY CLIMATE
· Lawmakers should create laws not agencies. Agencies must implement the intention of the law.

· Regulations must be based on a consensus of science or fact and shall include clear and concise outcomes.

· Require an economic impact and cost analysis for every regulation
· The legislature shall require an annual performance audit on every state agency.

· The legislature shall require specific legislative authority before state agencies may implement policies exceeding federal requirements.

· Produce regulatory equity between public and private sectors.
· Set consistent permit requirements with reasonably set timelines for addressing, and reviewing decisions by agencies; with set windows for the appeal process.

II. PROMOTE SOUND TAX AND SPENDING POLICIES
Washington businesses pay more than half of all state and local taxes. Business taxes in Washington are more than 200% higher than business taxes in Oregon, while household taxes are just 80% as high as those paid by households in Oregon.

TAXES:
· Increase accountability by making clear to citizens the connection between how tax dollars are spent and outcomes achieved, holding elected and appointed officials to measurable outcomes.

· Require that all business taxes, exemptions, and incentives competitive with other states and apply all to rural areas.

· Preserve existing and increase tax exemptions and incentive programs.
· Preserve manufacturing investment tax credits.

· Authorize and expand infrastructure-funding mechanisms that make use of revenues generated by growth, like tax increment financing.

· Authorize user fee (e.g., gas taxes, tolls, licensing fees) to support specific transportation infrastructure and maintenance.

· Eliminate sales tax on Public Works Projects.

· Do not increase the current B&O tax rates.

SPENDING:
· Encourage local, state, and federal agencies to explore ways of sharing resources to expedite delivery and streamline procurement of all services.

· Manage the state budget: Preserve the integrity of dedicated accounts.

· Replace all automatic budget increases with “zero-based” budgeting.

· Eliminate the “spend or lose” policy; allow for a carrying over of a percentage of non-spent budgeted dollars, with taxes lowered accordingly discontinue government services, which are no longer meeting a substantial need.

· Streamline procurement and contracting regulations to encourage privatization and reduce costs.

III. INCLUDE LOCAL INVOLVMENT IN THE CREATION OF AND CHANGED REGULATIONS

· Make hearings available to the public in the county which is impacted by rules.

IV. INITIATIVE PROCESS

· Require the economic impact, cost and funding sources appear on all initiatives presented for signature gathering. Retain the requirement that a fiscal impact statement must accompany each qualified initiative in the voter’s handbook.

V. EMPLOYMENT
· Revise current minor labor laws to afford youth an opportunity to gain work experience and work maturity skills.

· Without penalizing business, continue extended unemployment benefits for unemployed workers displaced due to public policy decisions. Continue funding for training of these workers.

· Support the establishment of a sustainable living wage based upon the respective local economic factors and local cost of living

· Support a freeze in the State minimum wage in times of high unemployment.

AGENDA 3
PROMOTE REALISTIC ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY…
The Chamber fully supports sensible protection of our environment. We believe the human species also is important and the regulations must be based on common sense and best available science.

I. WATER AND PROPERTY RIGHTS
· Require governmental regulators to work cooperatively and not adversarial with small businesses.

· Expand the ability to transport and store water to meet both agricultural and urban demand.

· Establish state water policy ensuring a water supply adequate to meet the needs of a growing economy and recognizing existing and historical property rights regarding water.

· Oppose legislation that would place undue environmental prerequisites on the sale and rental of buildings.

· Support citizens constitutional right to property and require that government:
1) State the reason for proposed land use.
2) Identify the full economic impact of the proposed land use regulations.
3) Consider alternatives and choose the least burdensome alternative that will achieve the objectives.
4) Compensate landowners when private property is taken for the general good, public use, or otherwise restricted from its regular, highest use due to government regulation. Compensation must be based upon full value of entire property before environmental restrictions were declared.
5) Require that governments pay property owners or forego enforcement by repealing, changing, or not applying restrictions, when certain land use restrictions reduce owners’ property value. (Oregon Measure 37)

II. SHORLINE MANAGEMENT ACT (SMA) GUIDELINES
· Adoption of the deadlines shall continue and spread over the period of time from 2005-2014.

· Seek legislation that results in future synchronization between the SMA guideline review, Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) review and Growth Management Act review of critical areas ordinances to facilitate efficiency.

· Support legislation requiring 100% state funding of local SMP updates.

· Support legislation requiring 100% of payment by the state for anticipated costs to local government at least two years in advance of the deadline to update local SMPs.

III. PUBLIC ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS
· Keep all public forest roads accessible for use by the public.

· The Legislature shall investigate co-management of recreation sites.

IV. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
· Revisit the Endangered Species Act in order to:
1) Establish more flexible and realistic regulations that mandate inclusion of economic impacts and provide options to mitigate this impact.
2) Allow discretion for federal land managers, where scientific data is uncertain or inconclusive, to use management options which provide for species protection and commodity production.
3) Provide for incentive based management rather than punitive enforcement of the ESA on private land.
4) Establish a more pro-active de-listing procedure for recovered species or species listed with incomplete or erroneous information.
· The Chamber supports the recovery of Snake River salmon runs. We believe restoration efforts can accommodate both fish recovery and a sound economy.
· The chamber supports the multiple uses of the Columbia Snake River System as specifically authorized by Congress. The Chamber opposes eliminating existing uses of the Columbia-Snake River system as it is potentially devastating to the economy of the entire region.
· Oppose efforts to move the Caspian Terns to Grays Harbor.

AGENDA 4
PROMOTE A STRONG COMMUNITY
Which creates the highest possible quality of life for our citizens. Quality of life begins with a good job and includes quality and affordable health care, a suitable and affordable home, near good schools, in a safe place, where we choose to live.

I. EDUCATION
· Increase education quality. Provide quality education in K-20:
1) Fund all mandates to local schools.
2) Allow higher education increased management and tuition setting authorities, which will permit them to expand programs to meet the demands of both the student and the employer community. (WashACE)
3) Better prepare students with work-ready basic skills, thinking skills, and attitudes for life-long learning.
4) Increase the availability and extent of vocational training for all who choose.
5) Return more funding to local classrooms.
6) Increase the availability and extent of instruction in technology and information systems.
7) Increase emphasis on math and science skills.
8) Make all teachers pass a competency test in the area in which they teach.
9) Allow students to proceed to the next grade level only when they can pass the test for their grade level.

Recognize the increasing importance of the two year community and technical colleges:
1) Fund Grays Harbor College to its capacity.
2) Support technology improvements to extend access to learning opportunities.
3) Enhance the college’s programs for improving student success rates.
4) Assure the community college’s ability to respond to the needs of the community—especially in funding training and upgrading job skills.
5) Continue workforce training and re-training in our community and technical colleges; especially those: Requiring Skill retraining.
6) When a citizen leaves public assistance to enter the workforce, require savings from public assistance to be utilized for support of the transition
7) Assure the training is locally needed and enables a skilled workforce to find local employment.
8) Increasing funding cap for special needs students in underdeveloped areas.
9) Establish a housing allowance for students whose Washington residency is more than 60 miles from any four-year state college or university.

· Support creative work force training investments to meet universal economic development competition:
1) We can retain and expand our work force by utilizing a broad based delivery system.

II. HEALTH AND WELFARE
· Support the Workforce Investment Act and implement its requirement to elevate business as a primary customer.

· Require the workforce delivery system to partner with representatives of the demand side.

· Remove disincentives for persons wishing to gain self-reliance; increase employment incentives; discourage long-term reliance on assistance.

· Return affordable health care coverage for all by:
1) Protecting a competitive, free market system that provides a choice of high quality, cost-effective, health plans to business and their employees.
2) Reducing mandated coverage.
3) Limiting malpractice awards.
4) Providing an umbrella malpractice insurance pool.
III. PUBLIC SAFETY

· Increase street safety and reduce crime.
1) Strengthen and maximize penalties. Recognize victim’s rights.
2) Implement speedy trials and appeals.
3) Limit appeals to substantive issues.
4) Fund mandates to local law enforcement agencies.

Adopted November 2004

THE PURPOSE of the Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce is “To make Grays Harbor a better place to live, visit and transact business.” To this end the Chamber works to enhance business, the community, and the quality of life for the citizens of Grays Harbor. The Grays Harbor Chamber meets this objective by providing: Advocacy, Business Assistance, Connections, and Data.
THE MISSION of the Government Affairs Committee is “To work to create a positive climate in which our businesses can ear a fair profit and create jobs.”
OUR SHARED VISION…A positive business climate is one in which business, the local community and governments develop a non-adversarial partnership working for win-win solutions.

A HEALTHY BUSINESS CLIMATE will be free of regulations that are redundant and unnecessary for the well being of employees, the public, or the environment.

THIS VIABLE CLIMATE is one in which encumbrances, regulations, fees and taxes are not onerous, and do not penalize or prohibit the free exercise of commerce.

A POSITIVE BUSINESS CLIMATE is one in which investment in Grays Harbor is encouraged and rewarded; and in which government’s involvement is efficient, consistent, understandable and based upon true need with demonstrable benefits.

What we value as an organization sets the criteria that direct our legislative program…

“WE BELIEVE deeply in government. We do not look at government as a necessary evil. All civilized societies have some form of government. Government is the mechanism we use to make communal decisions…It is the way we provide services that benefit all our people…It is the way we solve collective problems facing American society today.

WE BELIEVE that civilized society cannot function effectively without effective government—something that is all too rare today.

WE BELIEVE that the people who work in government are not the problem; the system in which they work is the problem.

WE BELIEVE deeply in equity—in equal opportunity for all Americans”
[Above Beliefs quoted from PG. XVIII REINVENTING GOVERNMENT by David Osborne and Ted Gaebler.]

WE BELIEVE that while government is necessary, it must be limited, efficient, and responsive to the people.

WE BELIEVE in the free, competitive, private enterprise system. History and current events prove no system brings freedom and prosperity to everyone in the society as well as our economic system.

WE BELIEVE in business and industry. Succeeding, prospering businesses pay the way for every program, government aid, and citizens’ livelihood. Without successful business there are no dollars for taxes, nor are there funds to support any government, private, not-for-profit, charitable or humanitarian program. Without successful business there is no capital for wages, food, housing or medical care.

WE BELIEVE in our community. Here, we put people first. Quality of life is an issue of great importance to business and the Chamber. Our neighborhoods must be a safe and healthy place in which to live, work, and play. Education, public safety, culture, health care, a sound environment, and recreational opportunities are important in this community.

WE BELIEVE in the responsibility of every citizen. It is our responsibility to improve public policy by participating in government. We must increase responsiveness of government to the needs of citizens, communities and business.

It is imperative that our local businesses and professionals continue to be involved in the governing process. The Grays Harbor Chamber will advocate on behalf of our members and inform them of the issues. The Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce is the oldest and largest business association in Grays Harbor County. Our 650 members employ more than 5,000 men and women in Aberdeen, Cosmopolis, Hoquiam and the County of Grays Harbor.
Your comments and suggestions regarding the Chamber’s Government Policy Objectives and Issue Statements are always welcome. Members are invited to work with the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee, which meets regularly throughout the year. Please contact the Chamber’s office at 532-1924, fax 533-7945, or email: leroy@graysharbor.org. You may also contact Government Affairs Committee Chair, Delroy Cox 533-1251;
Adopted by the Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors November 19, 2004

NOTES:

For Addendum adopted by the Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors on December 16, 2006, click here