Message From the Chair:
Chambers and the Shifting Political Sands
 Jay Byers
Senior Vice President, Public Policy
Greater Des Moines (IA) Partnership
2010-2011 Chair, ACCE Government Relations Division
The 2010 midterm elections are over and, as predicted, the GOP took over the U.S. House and nearly equalized the U.S. Senate. At the state level, Republicans won 23 out of 37 gubernatorial races and racked up historic gains in many state legislatures.
This election was clearly a big win for the Republican Party, but it begs further questions. Does 2010 mark a dramatic pendulum swing to the right or just realignment back toward the center? If the former is correct, are big, frequent ideological swings the new political normal? Remember that 2006 and 2008 were both watershed elections with Democratic takeovers of the U.S. House in 2006 and the White House in 2008.
That being said, voters across the country, clearly unhappy about government deficits, business climate issues, and the overall economy, sent a strong message in shaking up the political order. As many new business-friendly candidates were swept into office, we as chamber leaders have a unique opportunity to work with our federal and state officials to create a more stable regulatory and tax climate so our businesses can confidently invest in the future and create jobs.
We also must continue to encourage our elected officials in both political parties to find common ground on education reform, international trade, transportation funding, immigration, energy policy, balanced budgets, deficit reduction, public pension reform, and multiple other federal and/or state issues important to our businesses and the overall economy.
With the multiple opportunities coming out of this election, it is incumbent on chambers to take an active leadership role in tackling these important issues. We must not be afraid to think big and act bold. Our nation's future competitiveness demands it.
Upcoming Events
The Looming Crisis: Getting a Grip on State Budgets and Spending
For states, revenue from property, sales and income taxes is down sharply while demand for services is up. Closing the gap means making tough decisions about spending cuts and tax increases. The business community cannot afford for local chambers to sit out this debate.
To help you and your business members better understand the budget challenges states face and offer research-based solutions, ACCE has partnered with the Pew Center on the States to organize a three-part DIALogue teleseminar series.
Part 1 - Spending Decisions: States’ Fiscal Health
Download the Presentation
Part 2 - Spending Efficiently: Smarter Government Performance
Dec. 1, 2010 - 1p.m. – 2p.m. ET
Part 3 - Spending Effectively: Smarter Investments
Jan. 12, 2011 - 1p.m. – 2p.m. ET
Click here for more information and to register.
From the Policy Clearinghouse Blog
The ACCE Policy Clearinghouse Blog has moved. You can now find the most recent state and local public policy news and information on the ACCE website.
Recent posts from the Policy Clearinghouse Blog:
Utah Compact on Immigration
The Salt Lake Chamber steps into a heated state immigration debate by releasing five core principles to guide immigration reform
Victories to Celebrate
A round up of ballot measure results that made chambers happy on November 3rd
Is Municipal Debt the Next Housing Crisis?
A possible trend that could hamper your community’s ability to fund key infrastructure projects
Regional Government Relations in North Carolina
Realizing the strength in numbers, several chambers in eastern North Carolina make strides toward regional advocacy
Other posts from around the blogosphere:
From Stateline:
Uncertainty of Bush-era tax cuts leaves states in budget limbo
Because their tax codes are intertwined with the federal income tax, states are in budget limbo awaiting a decision from Congress on the Bush-era tax cuts.
From The Infrastructurist:
Can We Save America’s Crumbling Water System?
Our water system problems are largely hidden, yet the magnitude is huge and updates will be very expensive.
For more policy-focused commentary and links, check out the Policy Clearinghouse Blog |
