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Governmental Affairs
Division
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The Ventura Chamber of Commerce continues its legacy as a positive
impact in the public policy process. Our Chamber is one of the top
chambers in the state and as an accredited chamber on the national
level, continues to be a strong advocate for business interests in this
area and region. In 2002, the Regional Legislative Alliance (RLA) was
formed to provide a unified voice for chambers and business associations
in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.
The chamber keeps informed of pending legislation and election
information to continually provide communication to the business
community. Through our relationship with the California Chamber of
Commerce we are watching many job killer bills and in some cases sending
our official position. To track ongoing bills please visit the
CalChamber website at
www.CalChamber.com and search “job killersâ€.
Many of your fellow business members are joining the Chamber because
of the significant role we play in the public policy arena. We will
continue to be assertive and smart about how we implement our advocacy
efforts and do it in an effective manner. The benefit to our member
business is a first class proactive advocacy representation that they
have neither the time nor resources to provide for themselves.
One of the best ways to become informed and involved is to join a
division committee. Currently the Governmental Affairs Division
has the following active committees: Business Advocacy Roundtable,
Political Action Committee and issues based task forces as issues arise.
To learn more or attend a meeting please contact President / CEO Zoe
Taylor at
zoe@ventura-chamber.org or call 805-676-7500.
This “Business Issues and Advocacy Guide†serves as a valuable resource for the Ventura business community
when contacting officials and key staff members about issues affecting
their companies on all levels of government. This guide highlights
the issues this Chamber believes are important as keys to economic
growth - education, infrastructure, international trade and maintaining
employer flexibility with labor laws in taking a balanced and measured
approach to environmental concerns. Our agenda remains consistent with
the mission of our Chamber that states “to promote quality of life
through economic vitality.â€
At the local level we are playing an increasing role as the voice of
business when advocating public policy changes that stimulate and
sustain growth for business resulting in the creation and retention of
jobs. The Chamber remains committed to having a productive working
relationship with lawmakers fostering a positive employment climate that
will support global class schools and an outstanding quality of life for
the citizens of the City of Ventura. The chamber hosts an annual State of the City to provide a venue
for panel discussion on our local economy. During this event
attendees hear from our mayor, city manager and leading economists
regarding the direction of the city.
Our Chamber members are the lifeblood and most important resource in
the campaign to improve the economic vitality of Ventura. As members of
the Chamber team, we ask you to join with fellow business members in
continuing to direct and support our advocacy measures. It is through
your participation and increase in numbers that the Chamber gathers its
strength in order to influence public policy, insure our collective
success and enhance the quality of life of our community.
Each spring our members are invited and encouraged to join the
California and Ventura Chambers at the Business Legislative Summit.
This two day Trip to Sacramento is complete
with business meetings with legislators and a conference with the
governor.
It is the Chamber's role and commitment to create, develop and
utilize cutting-edge policies and practices that will provide
outstanding pro-business legislative and local policy representation to
our membership. We seek to educate and involve members by
providing election information with an emphasis on job killer bills that
pertain to Ventura.
The Political Action Committee (PAC)
of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce is committed to seek out, endorse and
support candidates to run for public office at the city, county, state
and federal levels who support the free enterprise system, believe in
fiscally responsible government, and whose views represent the interest
of both the private and pubic sectors of the economy.
To help members become involved with our
Governmental Representatives we have provided you with information
on city, county, state and federal representatives.
The public policy platform provides direction to the Ventura Chamber
of Commerce for developing positions on legislation and other public
policy issues, acting on those positions in a timely manner, assessing
candidates for public office and monitoring the voting record of elected
officials. The practice and implementation of these policies
enhances the private enterprise base by directly improving the economic
climate essential for prosperous businesses and the superior quality of
life in our community.
The policies are to:
Improve our civil justice system with emphasis on:
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Curtailing frivolous lawsuits
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Reducing litigation costs and time to
resolution
Improve the educational systems and enhance workforce development
with emphasis on:
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Education as one of the highest priorities in local and state
policy decisions
-
Supporting initiatives promoting a qualified and skilled
workforce
Improve the environment and our quality of life with emphasis on:
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Streamlining and simplifying the regulatory process
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Economic analysis prior to implementing
regulations
Enhance our human resources with emphasis on:
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Legislation reducing unnecessary and duplicate workplace-related
government regulation
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Health care reform which achieves expanded coverage while
maximizing free-market force and minimizing governmental mandates
Improve the infrastructure with emphasis on the following issues:
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Affordable housing reducing commuting and lost productivity time
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Infrastructure necessary to support reasonable growth
Support international trade with emphasis on:
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Free trade expansion where national security is not compromised
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Equitable access abroad for U.S. and California products and
services
Improve taxation and public financing with emphasis on:
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Government efficiency related to budget reform
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Changes in personal and business taxes as well as capital
formation rules
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Policies of greater privatization of government services
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Enhance the quality of life in our community
Throughout the policy platforms, quality of life is a key premise
and encompasses the social, environmental and economic aspects of living
and working in Ventura.
Chairman's Circle Members
