Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

Set the Agenda
2008 Regional Policy Meetings

A shaky economy paired with a highly competitive election season only heightens the importance of your membership and involvement in the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Minnesota Chamber members set and drive the business agenda at the Legislature. We need your input at one of our twenty-eight member focus groups to ensure your priorities are heard.

Your voice and your opinion counts. Please share it with us. Find a meeting in your area.

Watch ‘Vanishing Graduates & Minnesota’s Future’

Don’t miss the thought-provoking and inspiring documentary that examines why a shrinking number of Minnesota’s students will be graduating from college and what that means for our economy.

Bill Blazar, senior vice president of public affairs and business development at the Minnesota Chamber, is among the business leaders, education experts and students sharing their experiences and discussing the state’s education and workforce development challenges. The individuals highlight the need to do a better job of helping more students succeed in school — and how everyone can play a part.

Tune in at 7:30 p.m. May 11 on TPT Channel 17, or watch the program or clips on the LearnmoreMN Web site at www.learnmoremn.org.

Minnesota Business Groups Advocate for the MSP Hub in Testimony submitted to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee

Key Minnesota business leaders, representing thousands of businesses throughout the state, submitted testimony April 24 before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee linking the merger between Northwest and Delta Air Lines to sustaining and building the air service at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport and statewide.

Executives from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Coalition of Chambers co-signed the testimony. Respective leaders are President David C. Olson, President Todd Klingel, President Kristofer Johnson and Chair Daron Van Helden.

Chamber members will help drive reform of state tax policy

Dave Beito and David Carlsen are among several representatives of Minnesota Chamber members appointed by Governor Pawlenty to the 21st Century Tax Reform Commission.

Beito is president of Northern State Bank in Thief River Falls and secretary/treasurer of the Minnesota Chamber Board. Carlsen is chairman and chief executive officer of UMI Companies, Inc., in Mnneapolis, and a former Minnesota Chamber Board chair.

The 15-member commission is charged with advising the Governor on reforming the state’s tax laws with the goal of making long-term improvements in the revenue system that reflect changes in business practices, demographics and the economy that have occurred in Minnesota and other states. Recommendations are due December 1, 2008.

The Governor, in an April 23 press conference, called Minnesota's tax system outdated and uncompetitive and directed the commission to recommend changes to improve the state's economic appeal. "We live in a hypercompetitive global economy, and we need to make sure that our tax system in Minnesota is modern and competitive relative to the rest of the nation and the rest of the world.”

Follow this link, www.governor.state.mn.us/mediacenter/pressreleases/PROD008842.html, for the Governor’s formal announcement and a complete list of commission members.

Transportation funding bill accelerates projects statewide

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced its 2008 construction schedule – 135 projects totaling $441 million. Accelerated projects will represent an additional $216 million, bolstered by passage of HF 2800. A number of local bridge projects also will be completed.

For 2008-2010, the bill will provide a total of $645 million for construction programs. More than 30 road and bridge projects will be advanced due to the legislation. The bill, supported by the Minnesota Chamber, contained measures consistent with the Chamber’s long-term funding and program efficiency legislative package.

“I know the Minnesota Chamber has great interest in seeing that the resources in this bill are invested wisely and efficiently,” said Bob McFarlin, assistant to the commissioner, in remarks before the Minnesota Chamber’s Transportation Policy Committee in April.

The Department of Transportation shares that goal, he said, adding that dollars must be invested in the highest priorities, and projects must be delivered as soon as possible. “Time savings are just as valuable as actual cash savings in projects,” he said.

The complete Q&A with McFarlin can be found in the May edition of Business Views.

Follow this link to the Department of Transportation’s announcement of 2008 projects: www.dot.state.mn.us/construction.

Discounted Workers' Compensation Coverage

Minnesota companies now have another avenue to address escalating workers’ compensation costs. Through a partnership between the Minnesota Chamber and SFM, a Minnesota-based employer, we can provide our members with first-class service and the potential for a premium discount in the form of up to a 15-percent scheduled Chamber Safety Group Credit.

“The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is committed to helping Minnesota employers be as successful as possible through our advocacy and hands-on business services assistance,” said David Olson, president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. “Workers’ compensation coverage and the increasing costs associated with it are consistently among the top concerns of our members. We’re pleased to partner with SFM Companies to offer our members affordable and specialized services that can directly address some of the overhead challenges.”
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