My Number One Priority
By Paul Speranza, Chairman of the Board, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
We all know that we have a major problem with education and workforce development in America. This is a significant impediment to global competitiveness and also threatens the American Dream.
PennsylvaniaBill Would Hold State Accountable for Job GrantsA state senator is introducing legislation to provide increased accountability and scrutiny of state grants and loans awarded to businesses for job creation. The bill by Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, will address a state audit released last week that found that 60% of the 360 companies that received state job grants between 2000 and 2003 did not meet their job promises. Source: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The presidential race is still up for grabs and could go either way, according to two popular political commentators who spoke at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this morning. "Things that normally couldn't happen are happening," said Charlie Cook, publisher of The Cook Political Report. "We are in a strongly changed environment," agreed Stuart Rothenberg, editor of The Rothenberg Political Report.
Alabama State Ranks High in ContractingPrivate contractors have done more than $43 billion worth of government work in Alabama over the past six years, a space- and defense-laden portfolio that puts the state in the Top 15 in the nation for government contracting, according to a congressional study. Source: The Birmingham News
U.S. Chamber lobbyist Katie Strong (at the head of the table) briefs members of the Greater North Fulton, Georgia, Chamber of Commerce on health care issues at U.S. Chamber headquarters in Washington, D.C. The business delegation from Georgia later visited members of Congress to discuss small business issues.
The U.S. Chamber praises the release of a recent National Petroleum Council (NPC) report, Facing the Hard Truths About Energy: A Comprehensive View to 2030 of Global Oil and Natural Gas, for its realistic portrayal of U.S. energy needs."This report underscores the importance of secure and diverse supplies of abundant, affordable, and clean energy on which our economy, environment, and way of life depend," says General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.), president and CEO of the Chamber's Institute for 21st Century Energy.
Home for the holidays-that's where everyone wants to be, right? Here are some helpful hints on how to arrange holiday vacation schedules without leaving employees frustrated or your business understaffed.Determine which days you'll need coverage. Do certain operations occur during the holidays while others go on hiatus? Will your office be closed entirely, or will it observe shorter hours? Is working remotely a viable option?
BILL NAMESUMMARY OF BILL AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOUU.S. CHAMBER'S POSITIONSTATUSTransportationFunding H.R. 3074 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008
