2008 Legislative Priorities

Affordable Air Fair Fund

The State of Kansas established the Affordable Air Fair Fund with $5 million annually appropriated to this fund.  This fund was developed to provide more air flight options, more competition for air travel and affordable air fares in Kansas.  The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce believes the state should examine the disbursement method in order to determine if all areas of the state have equal access to the fund for the purposes intended.  The Topeka Chamber suggests the decisions regarding disbursement should be made by a department of the state rather than the regional partnership now charged with the task of dispersing the funds.

Immigration

The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce understands immigration reform is needed to assure that residents of Kansas and the United States legally work and reside in our communities.  Employers are currently required to verify immigration status through required documentation prior to employment.  Employers who follow the law, yet unknowingly hire illegal workers should not be penalized.

Business Taxes

The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce supports legislation which improves the business tax climate in Kansas, including:

• Completion of the phase-out of the franchise tax
• A phase-down of corporate income taxes and reduction in individual income taxes
• Complete elimination of the machinery and equipment personal property tax
• Allowing local decisions regarding consolidation of city/county governments
  

Kansas Tourism Initiative

 Currently the State of Kansas is ranked 48th in funding available to market and promote the state as a tourist location.  The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce supports the Kansas Tourism Initiative plan to promote VISIT KANSAS utilizing current state tourism funding and additional funds dedicated from the collection of “new” state gaming revenues, tourism-related sales tax revenues, and tax credits.  These dollars would be used to market Kansas as a tourism destination, provide enhanced product development, research and professional development.  With increased investment the state could generate an additional $300 million in tourism spending and increased tax dollars in Kansas.

 Women & Minority Owned Business Designations

 The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce supports the development of a State of Kansas certification process for Women Business Enterprises (WBE) and Minority Business Enterprises (MBE).   This designation will assist women-owned and minority-owned businesses in bidding nationally on government procurements and certain private-sector procurements. 

 Economic Development Funding

 The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce continues to support funds from gaming revenues dedicated to the Economic Development Initiative Fund (EDIF).  This fund has played an integral role in the growth of the state’s economy.  Funds have been used locally to train and retrain workers and to assist with expansions and locating new business and industry in Topeka/Shawnee County.  Eliminating or reducing funds for economic development will hinder the state’s interest in growing jobs and capital investment.

 Economic Development Incentives

 Incentives for business expansion and development, provided by the state, assist the private sector in creating jobs for Kansas residents.  In order to keep existing business and industry growing and to compete with surrounding states for new business investment, Kansas must maintain its incentive package, including tax credits, tax abatements, and the elimination of business personal property taxes while continually evaluating and upgrading the incentive program to compete with comparable states.  Efforts to simplify and expand the availability of incentives, especially the High Performance Incentive Program (HPIP), to grow quality high-waged jobs in Kansas and allow small businesses access. 

 Comprehensive Transportation Plan Funding

 Infrastructure construction and maintenance are critical to sustaining and growing the Kansas economy and are critical to the safety of travelers on Kansas’ streets and highways.  Therefore, the chamber expresses strong support for fully funding the completion of the 1999 Comprehensive Transportation Plan as promised.  The Topeka Chamber recommends a new comprehensive transportation plan be developed at the end of the current transportation plan with input and direction from communities across the state.

 TABOR –Taxpayer Bill of Rights

 The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce encourages economy and efficiency in government including controlling costs.  However, these actions must be responsible measures and in no way detrimental to the growth and prosperity of the community.  The concept of a constitutional state and local spending cap has been proposed for Kansas.  Although appealing at first glance, a constitutional or statutory spending cap is an inflexible response which removes accountability from elected officials, creates an inflexible structure to deal with the future, stymies infrastructure improvements, and creates unforeseen consequences.  It also may increase spending by creating an incentive to spend up to the level of the cap so the spending authority continues to grow each year.  The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce opposes TABOR or similar legislation which limits a governing body’s ability to respond to the needs of its electorate.  Local and state officials can make responsible spending decisions within the parameters of current law.