4211 Trindle Road, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011 (717) 761-0702 Fax (717) 761-4315

Positions

Following are the current standing positions of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce as approved by its Board of Directors. Please use every opportunity to bring these positions to the attention of our legislators.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its June 14, 2007 meeting.

• Supported SB 707, an act establishing spending limitations on the Commonwealth, providing for the disposition of surplus funds, establishing the Taxpayer Protection fund, and repealing provisions of the Fiscal Code regarding the funding of a stabilization reserve.
• Supported SB 7, a constitutional measure to create safeguards in the budget process to keep government spending in line with personal income growth.
• Opposed HB 321, which would eliminate the use of secret ballots for unions.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its May 10, 2007 meeting.

• Supported SB 811 that requires the Department of Aging to create a website with licensing and certification information on nursing homes, personal care homes and domiciliary care homes, including information on violations and any corrective action taken.  The bill will also place additional duties on the Departments of Aging, Health and Public Welfare.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its April 12, 2007 meeting.

• Adopted a motion to support the following changes for improving the process by which transportation projects are considered for funding through the Harrisburg Area Transportation study (HATS):

                  -Open Application Period

                  -Enhanced Staff Coordination for Project Development

                  -Update the RTP every 4 years and the TIP every 2 years

                  -Give more emphasis to local priorities.

• Supported the Cumberland County Planning Commission’s grant application for Pennsylvania’s Dept. of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener under the Integrated Water Resources Management Initiative.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its October 12, 2006 meeting.

• Supported SB 1305 that amends the Administrative Code by including appropriations of state funds must be made only as authorized by law.
• Supported HB 807 that would require a 2/3 vote of all legislators to avoid frivolous spending of taxpayers’ money.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its September 14, 2006 meeting.

• Support Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) in opposition of a proposed parking tax levy.  The position is taken upon the basis that the tax levies would: be an additional tax on business; set an undesired precedent of one governmental entity taxing another which would result in higher taxation across the board; and be a detriment to one of the area’s best economic development drivers.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its July 13, 2006 meeting.

• Appointment of Eric Clancy and Buff Hawley to three-year terms as Chamber representatives on the WS EMS Board.  Also, Gerrit Betz is currently serving upon Chamber appointment.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its June 8, 2006 meeting.

• Upon the recommendation of the Chamber’s Technology Business Council, the Chamber supports a permanent drop-off recycling facility in Cumberland County, especially for recycling of used computer equipment. 

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Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its May 11, 2006 meeting.

• Support Hiring Certificates in use by area high schools to assist students seeking employment with area businesses.  The certificates attest to the student’s attendance, attitude, academic achievement, and basic workplace skills.
• Support SB 884 – A proposal for an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that would set spending limitations on the state and direct additional funds’ allocation.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its November 10, 2005, meeting.

• Support HB 2054 and SB 881 relative to Eminent Domain Amending Title 26 (Eminent Domain) adding a chapter entitled the Property Rights Protection Act. The legislation prohibits the exercise by any condemnor of the power of eminent domain to take private property in order to use it for private enterprise.
• Support the repeal of the legislative unvouchered expense accounts.

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Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its October 11, 2005, meeting.

• Support Commuter Services of South Central PA – a program providing assistance to employees to share rides via carpooling, vanpooling, etc.

• Oppose any increase to the minimum wage.  HB 257, PN 3872 Amends the Minimum Wage Act by increasing the minimum wage to $6. 25 per hour beginning January 1, 2006 and to $7.15 per hour beginning January 1, 2007.  Passed the PA House 146/50 on April 5, 2006.  Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Labor and Industry Committee on 4/17/06.

Position adopted by the Board of Directors at its September 8, 2005, meeting.

• Support those state legislators who have taken a stance in opposition to the legislative pay increase of July 2005, and the procedure by which it was enacted. 

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Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its July 14, 2005, meeting.

• Oppose the CORRIDORone project as proposed as of July 2005, and call upon those in support of the project to respond to the weaknesses and recommendations as stated in the March 2005 Pennsylvania Transportation Institute report “A Review and Critique of the CORRIDORone Regional Rail Transit Project for South Central Pennsylvania.”
• Support the expansion of the West Shore Council of Governments (WSCOG) to include boroughs and townships in Dauphin County.
• Support HB 423 (PN 462), HB 138 (PN 139), HB 1182 (PN 1388), HB 670 (PN 2276) and HB 1716 (PN 2186) furthering efforts towards tort reform.
• Oppose HB 1128 (PN 1334) referring to insurability based on an insured’s credit history.

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Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its April 14, 2005, meeting.

• Support HB 50, PN 1507 - Right to Work Law.  Act providing that employment shall not be conditional upon membership or non-membership in, nor upon the payment or nonpayment of money to, a labor organization; and providing for bargaining, penalties and remedies.
• Support HB 51, PN 1508 - Agency Shop Repeal over Education Employees.  Amends the Administrative Code eliminating authority for the fair share fee for employees of school entities; and relieving certain employee organizations of certain duties and obligations.
• Support HB 52, PN 1467 - Agency Shop Repeal over State Employees.  Amends the Administrative Code, eliminating authority for the fair share fee for employees of Commonwealth entities; and relieving certain employee organizations of certain duties and obligations.
• Support HB 53, PN 1509 - Agency Shop Repeal over Local Employees.  Act repealing the Public Employee Fair Share Fee Law relieving certain employee organizations of certain duties and obligations.

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Position adopted by the Board of Directors at its March 10, 2005, meeting.

• Support the Harrisburg Southern Gateway Project, The Harrisburg Southern Gateway Project focuses on transportation and associated land use planning issues at the southern entrance to the City of Harrisburg.
• Support the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry’s Agenda for Jobs, including support of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to:
  
  1. enact real, effective changes to our state’s business structure;
  2. ensure health access for employees;
  3. continue to reform Pennsylvania’s costly legal system;
  4. make Pennsylvania’s labor laws more cost-effective.

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Position adopted by the Board of Directors at its March 11, 2004, meeting.

• Support the vision of regional rail, but oppose the CORRIDORone concept, as of March 2004, due to incomplete planning and lack of economic viability.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its February 12, 2004, meeting.

• Support the immediate elimination of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax.
• Oppose any legislation adding authority to the Department of Education or State Board of Education, as well as any additional state mandates for local school districts.
• Table the previous position “to support the inception of slot machines if the proceeds are directly tied to property tax reductions” pending further discussion due to continuous changes in gaming and tax reductions proposals.
• Support the need for tort reform at any cost, even if it requires a change in the Pennsylvania Constitution.
• Support Pennsylvania Right to Work legislation.
• Support a 5% reduction in the aggregate of commonwealth spending.
• Support HB 2327, PN 3248, amending the Workers’ Compensation Act by adding that an employee must visit the same physician for a period of 180 days.
• Oppose HB 2317, PN 3238, establishing the Gambling Impact Commission.

For further information on positions of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, please call or email Edward Messner, President & CEO, at 761-0702.

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