2009 Legislative Agenda

In the midst of uncertain economic conditions, maintaining and improving the economic climate of a state, region, and/or locality becomes an even greater priority for communities. The cost of doing business impacts our competitiveness and thus our ability to recruit, expand and maintain the industry base that has made Durham and the Research Triangle region a leader in job creation. 

Our public policy agenda for 2009 therefore reflects the need to protect our competitive edge by supporting legislation that assists business by streamlining the cost of doing business, opposing actions that would unduly shift the tax burden to the business community, supporting key transportation, health care and child care support for the business workforce, and opposing efforts to weaken our right to work status. 

In addition, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce has adopted the Research Triangle Regional Legislative Agenda to ensure the competitiveness advantage of the region as well. This agenda addresses the on-going need to protect our regional competitiveness, our job creation and retention capabilities, our investment in green and sustainable technologies, and our investment in transportation infrastructure.

This agenda addresses these issues on a national, state, regional and local agenda format and is designed to assist our elected officials representing Durham in these areas in understanding the business community’s position on both the legislation listed and regarding any related legislation that might develop during the course of the legislative year.

2009 Legislative Action Agenda: Enabling Economic Development

Local Priorities

ISSUE: SUPPORT S.T.A.C. RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Support local/regional implementation of S.T.A.C recommendations.

ISSUE: SUPPORT IMPROVEMENTS TO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS

  • Support on-going efforts by public and private sector to streamline and improve the development review process in Durham. 
  • Support legislation to extend by two years the expiration date of any permit site plan or development related entitlement from the current expiration date as governed by local ordinance or state regulation. 

ISSUE:  PROPOSE STUDY TO URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARIES

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Support City/County policy requiring tax base impact analysis be conducted prior to any action being taken to remove a parcel from the inventory of property currently located within the existing Urban Growth boundary’s. 

State Priorities

ISSUE: DISAPPROVE JORDAN LAKE RULES

  • Support concept of disapproving Jordan Lake Rules; including without limitations those portions that hold local government agencies accountable for retrofit requirements. 

ISSUE: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

  • Support maintaining funding for Smart Start, North Carolina’s Early Childhood initiative.
  • Support maintaining funding for child care subsidy programs to enable employees to go to work or look for work.

ISSUE: AMEND DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING LAW:

  • Amend G.S. 75-42 Deceptive representation of geographical location in telephone directory, print advertisement, or on the internet. In section A of G.S. 75-42, line five, strike language in a geographical area from statue ultimately holding all business, regardless if there name is reflective of a geographical location, accountable to deceptive advertising laws. 

Federal Priorities

ISSUE: OPPOSE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT (Card Check)

  • Oppose legislation aimed at denying workers a fair and just process which ultimately eliminates secret ballots, creates mandatory arbitration and new penalties that apply only to the employer. 

ISSUE: HEALTH CARE

  • Support market driven health reforms that increase access to affordable health care coverage for small businesses.