Key Issues

State and Local

Economic Development

The Little Rock Regional Chamber is the region's leader for economic development. To that end, the Chamber supports:

• Creation of a permanent economic development funding source at the local level
• Continued funding of the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund
• Elimination of sales tax on natural gas and electricity used in the manufacturing process
• Enhancing the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s, Arkansas Science and Technology Authority’s, and the Arkansas Development Finance Authority’s programs, incentives, and resources
• Legislative priorities of Accelerate Arkansas to raise the state’s per capita income to the national average by 2020
• Passage of the following two constitutional amendments which will appear on the 2010 ballot:
  • HJR 1007
    To amend Amendment 82 of the Constitution of Arkansas to authorize the General Assembly to establish criteria before authorizing the issuance of bonds for prospective employers planning an economic development project.
  • HJR 1004
    An amendment providing that constitutional provisions setting the maximum lawful rate of interest on bonds issued by and loans made by or to governmental units are repealed; the maximum lawful rate of interest on loans by federally insured depository institutions shall remain at the rate resulting from the federal preemption effective on March 1, 2009; establishing that the maximum lawful rate of interest on any other loan or contract shall not exceed seventeen percent (17%) per annum; authorizing governmental units to issue bonds to finance energy efficiency projects and allowing such bonds to be repaid from any source including general revenues derived from taxes; providing that any federal laws applicable to loans or interest rates are not superseded by the amendment; and repealing Article 19, § 13, and the interest rate provisions of Amendment Nos. 30, 38, 62, 65, and 78 of the Arkansas Constitution.

Education

The economic development of the region is dependent on a strong, viable public school system. To that end, the Chamber supports:

• Increasing voter turnout in school board elections by moving the date of the election to the primary or general election date
• An orderly transition of public education in Pulaski County following the end of the desegregation lawsuit
• Education reforms enacted by Act 649 of 2003

Public Safety

The Chamber supports:

• Increasing County reimbursement rates for State prisoners
• A new, dedicated revenue source for the Pulaski County jail
• Innovative improvements to state and local prevention, intervention, and treatment efforts
• Timely transfer of state prisoners in the Pulaski County jail to Department of Corrections facilities

Labor and Workplace

The Chamber opposes:

• Attempts to enact a Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act
• Legislation that requires public or private employers to withhold union dues from employee paychecks
• Any attempt to repeal, reverse, or limit the Arkansas Right to Work law Energy Coming Soon

Tort Reform

The Chamber supports:

• Protecting the legal reforms enacted by Act 649 of 2003 Workers’ Compensation
• Protecting the workers’ compensation reforms enacted by Act 796 of 1993

Federal

Labor and Workplace

The Little Rock Regional Chamber’s top public policy priority is defeating the Employee Free Choice Act (aka Union Card Check). To that end, the Chamber:

• Supports protecting workers’ rights to a secret ballot in union elections
• Aggressively opposes any form of binding arbitration in contract negotiations
• Opposes enhanced access to employees by union organizers
• Supports employees' rights to form a union under the current National Labor Relations Act
• Opposes legislation that would expose workers to intimidation, deception and coercion

Energy

The Little Rock Regional Chamber supports increasing and diversifying America’s energy supply while utilizing proven energy sources. To that end, the Chamber:

• Supports expansion of nuclear energy which is the largest source of zero-emissions electricity
• Supports policies to ensure a diversified fuel mix to manage energy price and supply risks for consumers, as the U.S. cannot rely on any one source of energy to meet the future electricity demands
• Supports creation of a national energy policy
• Supports increasing energy efficiency and modifying the regulatory framework to align incentives for utility provision of energy efficiency
• Opposes legislation that would place American businesses at a competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace
• Supports reducing the environmental impact of energy consumption and production including the research, development and commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration technology
• Supports responsive and innovative regulation to ensure a reliable source of electricity for consumers and financially healthy utilities which in turn supports thriving economic development outcomes for the region

Immigration Reform

The Little Rock Regional Chamber strongly supports comprehensive, national immigration reform. To that end, the Chamber:

• Supports allowing for seasonal and low-skilled workers
• Supports a fast, reliable employment verification system
• Opposes mass deportation and amnesty for undocumented workers
• Supports measures to secure our borders

Trade

The Little Rock Regional Chamber supports removing trade barriers abroad and keeping our markets open at home.

Infrastructure

America's infrastructure directly affects our economic and social well-being. Every day, we rely upon our roads, bridges, transit, rail, water, waste and other infrastructure to survive and thrive. Despite our dependence on it, we have permitted our infrastructure to become stretched beyond its capacity.

Recently, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave a cumulative grade of "D" to the nation's infrastructure, stating, "For the safety and security of our families, we can no longer afford to ignore the congested roads, aging dams, broken water mains, and deficient bridges we face every day. The quality of life for this and future generations depends on our willingness to rise to the challenge."

The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission concluded in its report, Transportation for Tomorrow, "We need to invest at least $225 billion annually from all sources for the next 50 years to upgrade our existing system to a state of good repair and create a more advanced surface transportation system to sustain and ensure strong economic growth for our families. We are spending less than 40 percent of this amount today."

The Little Rock Regional Chamber supports robust, reliable, effective funding for all forms of infrastructure - roads, bridges, transit, rail, waterways, water, waste, and beyond. We must insist upon courageous and visionary action now. Our infrastructure requires it, our economy needs it, and we all stand to gain.

For more information, Will Whiting, Vice President, Public Policy, 501.377.6005.