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Member Driven, Results Focused

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce works each and every day to ensure that your business has the most competitive business environment possible. Our advocacy at the State Capitol on behalf of all business customers is second to none. We have a distinguished record of protecting our members' bottom lines by delivering results in the Legislature, regulatory arenas and courts.

This year, we tested our policy recommendations with a survey of our entire membership and three rounds of focus groups across the state with our members. We received their input in the spring and fall of 2008. In addition, our agenda is bolstered by the Minnesota Business Barometer survey, a poll of the general business community in its fourth year, cosponsored by Himle Horner, Inc.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce represents more than 500,000 employees, 2,400 companies, and a network of more than 130 local chambers of commerce. While not every recommendation has unanimous agreement, our members are united on our key priorities.

In total, we have policies and background information on nearly 50 issues, however, our member priorities are below.

CHAMBER FEDERATION

Our relationship with local chambers of commerce is the foundation of the Minnesota Chamber’s grassroots network and our success at the Capitol. We work with all local chambers to speak as one voice on critical issues that affect our economy.

We specifically recognize the following chambers to date, that, by resolution, have committed to be Federation partners in 2009. These chambers formally support the business community’s five priority issues.

In addition, these chambers are partners in Grow Minnesota!, our private-sector initiative committed to retaining and growing Minnesota companies. We applaud their pledge to represent statewide business interests with a unified voice.

Members, to date:
Austin
Brainerd Lakes
Burnsville
Cambridge
Dakota County Regional
Fargo Moorhead
Faribault
Fergus Falls
Hastings
International Falls
Litchfield
Marshall
Minneapolis Regional
Northfield
Owatonna
River Heights
Rochester
St. Cloud
Saint Paul
Southwest Metro
TwinWest
Waconia
Waseca
Willmar Lakes
Winona

• State Budget

  Priority: Balance the state budget without a general fund tax increase.

• Workforce

  Priority: Ensure that businesses have an adequate supply of skilled workers to compete in today's global economy by advancing reforms in the K-12 public education system.

• Transportation Efficiency

  Priority: Ensure that taxpayers receive the greatest value for every dollar spent on the state's infrastructure system.

• Climate Change

  Priority: Climate change legislation should be addressed on the national – and international – levels. State lawmakers should not pass any state or regional cap-and-trade policy due to the negative economic impact on businesses and families, and the extremely high probability that a state-specific program will not solve or even reduce the problem.

• Nuclear Power

  Priority: Change the existing state law so nuclear power is an option for generation of additional and necessary base-load power.

Protect Environment and Economy

Energy and environmental policies promise to be generate debate at the 2009 Legislature. Yet Minnesotans remain largely in the dark on the long-term implications of many of these initiatives on their jobs and pocketbooks.

Energy Matters Minnesota is a diverse group of businesses and business-focused organizations in Minnesota that want to be informed about the impact of energy policies and emerging energy issues on businesses, consumers, and the state economy. The organization, led by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, also serves as a public information resource to individuals and organizations and is an advocate on energy issues.

Become educated and become involved by visiting http://www.energymattersmn.org/. Contribute to the debate by visiting the Inside Energy blog at http://www.insideenergy.blogspot.com/

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