Chamber criticized for resisting new business taxes

Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Dave Adkisson appeared on cn|2′s Pure Politics recently to discuss Gov. Beshear’s Blue Ribbon Tax Commission and the economic health of the Commonwealth.

His remarks have drawn criticism from a few media outlets, including the Lexington Herald-Leader ["'Revenue neutral' simply a cop-out"] and The Morehead News ["State Chamber circles its wagons on tax reform"].

The Kentucky Chamber continues its mission to create a business-friendly environment in the state and promote improvements in education and workforce development. It is the position of the Chamber that this is accomplished through responsible spending, and Kentucky must discontinue excessive spending, as outlined in the Leaky Bucket reports.

As it was put in a recent kychamberblog.com post:

The Chamber is prepared to support pro-business tax reform that will improve Kentucky’s competitive position; however, we are carefully monitoring the process and will vigorously oppose attempts to simply raise revenue by increasing the cost of doing business in Kentucky. Tax reform can help employers grow jobs and raise revenue through economic growth to support important investments if we do it the right way.

The Chamber invites members to contact our public affairs team with feedback on this and other issues.

Begala, Kristol take on 2012 elections and more at Annual Meeting

Paul Begala and William Kristol are opinionated political analysts on opposite sides of most issues, but there’s one important issue where they both missed the mark during interviews with the Kentucky Chamber in March: Neither picked the University of Kentucky basketball team to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Perhaps their visit to Kentucky this July to speak at the Kentucky Chamber’s Annual Meeting will help them make more informed bracket choices in the future.

Begala, a populist Democrat who served as counselor to President Clinton in the White House, will sound off against Kristol on July 17 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown, where the two will discuss the presidential election race and other major national and global affairs.

We sat down with Kristol, a neoconservative Republican who served as chief of staff for then-Vice President Dan Quayle, and Begala and asked them to weigh in on everything from politics in the Commonwealth to the greatest worries for the U.S. Both Begala and Kristol say they’re looking forward to sharing the stage.

“He’s a fairly smart person,” Begala says of Kristol. “We don’t agree on much politically, but analytically we don’t disagree that much. I’m a huge Bill Kristol fan, so it will be fun.”

Kristol said he and Begala will debate and tease each other, but “sometimes we actually end up agreeing analytically on what’s likely to happen. I always try to put it in a little bit of a historical perspective, and how do we understand this moment we’re in.”

Though Begala and Kristol may occasionally agree, Begala says they won’t let the other one-up them: “Each of us will always want the last word, ‘Oh, here’s one more thing about Afghanistan!’”

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Annual Meeting 2012

Annual Meeting 2012

Victory for business in 2012 session

Perhaps the greatest relief for businesses during the 2012 Kentucky General Assembly was the passage of legislation (HB 495) that addresses the interest on the debt the state owes the federal government for unemployment insurance (UI). Without a mechanism to repay this interest, Kentucky employers would have faced a disastrous $420-per-employee tax penalty. In a cooperative effort, working closely with the Chamber and other business groups, legislators addressed this problem in a bipartisan way that provides for both the interest payment and opportunities for future tax relief on businesses.

HB 495 prevents a $609 million tax increase on Kentucky employers by creating a permanent mechanism to pay back the interest the state owes to the federal government for UI. The bill requires the governor to seek a cap on federal taxes and provides additional tax relief in future years.

Listen here for more on the UI solution and its impact on Kentucky businesses.

Get involved on behalf of your small business

Because small businesses are often disproportionately affected by changing legislation and the economic climate, the Chamber fights everyday to ensure your small business has a voice at the Capitol. But that fight can’t be won without the support and feedback of our members. We strongly encourage you to support the legislative process by getting involved with one of the initiatives mentioned below.

small businessSmall Business Council – Each year, the Chamber’s policy councils and committees, comprised of business leaders from across the state, develop our legislative positions and priorities. Join the small business council and help ensure the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda focuses on the broad range of issues of particular importance to small business owners. Contact the Chamber’s Public Affairs Department at 502-848-8733 to find out how you can get involved.

Small Business Action Network – The Chamber’s Action Networks are a great way to stay up to date on the issues that matter most to your business. Sign up for any of the seven networks (Education & Workforce Development, Government Modernization, Health & Wellness, Kentucky Competitiveness, Energy & Environment, Manufacturing and Small Business) and receive timely news updates related to that subject, as well as action alerts on pending legislation. Join today.

On and off the court, Kentucky’s a player

Tell us why you think Kentucky is No. 1

It’s no secret the Commonwealth is a hotbed for college basketball success, something that’s never been more obvious to the rest of the world now that we are sending two teams to the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Final Four. But Cards and Cats basketball isn’t the only thing our state’s got to brag about; Kentucky’s a player in many areas. From signature industries to product inventions to top rankings, the bluegrass really is greener in My Old Kentucky Home. 

At the Kentucky Chamber, we make it our business to protect our state’s business climate for the good of companies and employees. We couldn’t be any prouder of these achievements, but we know there are more. Help us add to our statewide Brag Book by telling us why you think Kentucky is No. 1. Is there something your community leads the country in? Let us know in the comment section!

Horse Racing: Not only is the state home to the world’s most legendary racetrack, Churchill Downs, and most prestigious race, the Kentucky Derby, but it is also home to Keeneland and Turfway Park and was the site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Energy Production: As of 2010, 24% of the nation’s electricity was produced in Kentucky – either Kentucky coal, or from enriched uranium rods coming from the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion plant.

Bourbon Distilling: The Commonwealth produces roughly 97% of the world’s bourbon, including Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Jim Beam and Wild Turkey. Visitors from all across the globe visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail each year to see one of Kentucky’s signature industries for themselves. For more on other attractions like the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, visit kentuckytourism.com.

Automotive Manufacturing: The world’s No. 1 selling car, the Toyota Camry, is produced in Georgetown. A top-selling SUV, the Ford Escape, is produced in Louisville. And one of the world’s most popular and iconic sports cars, the Corvette, is produced in Bowling Green!

Food Industry: The largest restaurant company in the world, Yum! Brands, is based in Louisville, and many other national and worldwide restaurant chains like Papa John’s and Fazoli’s also call Kentucky home. Restaurants employ more than 180,800 Kentuckians.

Education Improvement: Over the past several years, the Commonwealth has made significant improvement in academic rankings. It became the first state in the nation to adopt the Common Core State Standards for K-12 in 2009. Also, the state’s public and private universities awarded a record number of degrees and credentials during the 2010-11 academic year, making it No. 1 at the rate it is increasing the granting of college degrees.

Outstanding Chambers of Commerce: Since 2007, four Kentucky chambers of commerce have received the national Chamber of the Year award from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives association. Chambers in Paducah, Bowling Green, Louisville and Owensboro have each earned the highest achievement in the chamber profession, excelling in financial performance, member programs and internal operations.

These are just a few areas where Kentucky’s a star player. What do you have to add to the list?

Big support for small biz

November 26 marks the second annual Small Business Saturday initiative, which encourages consumers to patronize small merchants in their neighborhoods on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

It’s easy for the Kentucky Chamber to get behind this initiative … with small businesses making up more than 70 percent of our membership, many of the laws and policies we fight for foster growth and prosperity for small businesses.

It’s important to recognize the contributions small businesses make to our state’s economic growth, not to mention the influence and impact of these companies in their local communities. Fortunately, Kentucky is also an ideal place for small businesses to thrive, with its geographical access to the rest of the country and world through road, rail, water and air and its relatively low cost of living and doing business. Whichever county you’re in throughout the Commonwealth, you should have plenty of small businesses to choose from.

Here’s how to participate:

Business owners

Check out the free online toolkit with marketing resources and sign up to be promoted as a participating small business. Last year, participants saw a 28% increase in sales over the same day in 2009, so it pays to join in!

Take advantage of the web badges, printable signs, and more to drive business through your doors. Including a special offer can help grab the attention of consumers as well.

Be sure to comment below and let us know about your business and how you’ll be participating.

Consumers

Show your support for small businesses by liking the Small Business Saturday Facebook page and by turning up at small shops on Saturday, Nov. 26.

When there’s something you need, think first if it’s possible to get it from a local merchant or provider.

Remember, Small Business Saturday is not just for the obvious retailers and restaurants (although it’s great to support them, of course). Think of creative ways to support small companies in your area. Here are just a few of the services and products that may be available to you:

Small Business Saturday

Shop Small on Saturday, November 26, 2012

  • Car washes and oil changes
  • Pet grooming and supplies
  • Salons and spas
  • Greenhouses, nurseries and farms
  • Print shops
  • Bed & breakfasts
  • Artists, designers
  • Professional services (such as legal and accounting)
  • Financial planners
  • Gyms, dance and yoga studios and personal trainers
  • Dry cleaners
  • What did we miss? Add your suggestion in the comments section.

The nationwide Small Business Saturday is still 10 days away, but you don’t have to wait until then to shop small in your neighborhood. On your way to work tomorrow, choose your local coffee shop for your morning pick-me-up, or give your sister cooking classes for her birthday. Small gestures of support for small business can mean big things for your town.

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