Progress on Health Care, Education
Paul S. Speranza Jr.
Chairman of the Board
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
As my year as volunteer chairman of the U.S. Chamber board of directors concludes, I feel proud to have played an important role in strengthening the organization and in advancing a few of its key policy priorities.
Wallace E. Mundy, RLA PresidentW.E. Mundy Landscaping, Inc.Aurora, IL
Small Business Owners Meet With LawmakersPresident Bush rallies small business owners around his trade, health care, and tax proposals.At the U.S. Chamber's Small Business Summit, President George W. Bush praised small businesses and the Chamber for their contributions to the economy and to the policy debate in Washington, D.C.
Small business owners and local chamber leaders met with their elected representatives, networked, learned tips for running their businesses, and gained political insight during America's Small Business Summit 2008, April 16-18, in Washington, D.C.
AlabamaGovernor Leads Trade Mission to Latin America Gov. Bob Riley (R) plans to lead a 45-member delegation of educators and business representatives to Chile, Columbia, Brazil and Argentina on a South American trade mission beginning May 29. Riley and Alabama companies hope to open new markets to further increase Alabama's already ballooning trade with Latin American that has followed free trade measures such as the 2004 U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement. Source: Montgomery Advertiser
DelawareState Has Lowest Tax Burden-Delaware has the lowest business tax burden, according to an annual study by the Council on State Taxation. Delaware business taxes came in at 3.5% compared with the national average of 5%.Source: Associated Press
GeorgiaGov. Suspends Gas Tax HikeGov. Sonny Perdue's (R) recent decision to freeze a gas tax hike that was supposed to take effect July 1 will save Georgia motorists $70 million to $80 million over the next year. The Department of Revenue recalculates the state gasoline tax every six months based on the price per gallon, so as fuel costs rise, so does the tax. Perdue's suspension of this rise was met with bipartisan support.Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Taxes, trade, and energy are the three most pressing issues facing the U.S. economy, Vice President Dick Cheney said during a June 11 speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Local Chambers Provide Business Solutions While Congress continues to grapple over education and health care, local chambers of commerce and their members are leading a quiet revolution that is changing the way small companies buy health insurance and prepare the future workforce.
