CCAA/BCA Partnership Update, Feb. 18, 2009

To:        CCAA Chamber Executives
From:        Ralph Stacy, CCAA President & CEO
Date:        February 18, 2009
Re:        Partnership Conference Call

As part of our on-going efforts to keep member Chambers informed, aware and involved in the legislative process, the CCAA/BCA Partnership held the first of what will be several 2009 Regular Session updates via conference call Wednesday afternoon.  For those who were unable to participate or desire a review, we are providing this synopsis of the legislation and issues discussed.

Following a brief introduction by CCAA President Ralph Stacy, BCA Senior Vice President for Governmental Affairs Quentin Riggins provided an overview of how he sees the legislative session progressing after just five days.  Riggins noted that the 35-member State Senate currently has only 32 members serving due to the election of Parker Griffith to Congress, the recent death of Pat Lindsey and the conviction of E.B. McClain on felony charges of abusing taxpayer money.  As a result, the narrow voting margin between the majority and minority factions in the Senate is likely to prevent any controversial measures from passing the upper chamber.

That reality, coupled with the fast-approaching 2010 election cycle, has kept workers compensation legislation, severance tax bills and other anti-business measures seen over the last several years from being introduced, according to Riggins.  Gov. Bob Riley, Senate General Fund Committee Chairman Roger Bedford and other leaders have also indicated that they do not see a need for new taxes or revenue measures in the current session since the federal stimulus package has been approved by Congress.

Victor Vernon, BCA’s Director of Legislative Policy, briefed participants on an industrial incentive bill approved by the House on Tuesday.  The bill provides tax incentives, exemptions and rebates for the commercial production of film and television projects in Alabama.  The state has been without such incentives for several years and, as a result, even movies that are set in Alabama have been filmed in other southeastern states.  The legislation caps the aggregate incentives offered at $5 million in 2009, $7 million in 2010 and $10 million thereafter.

Another provision of the same legislation provides tax incentives that encourage investment partnerships to operate within the state.

Several bills were discussed in detail by Elizabeth Kennedy Lawlor, the BCA Director of Legislative Affairs.  Among them was a bi-partisan package of legislation that seeks to block illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits, prohibit the establishment of “sanctuary cities” in Alabama and establish penalties for transporting illegal immigrants into the state for commercial purposes.  Lawlor said BCA will continue to ensure that such legislation places the burden of proving employees’ citizenship status on the federal government rather than on businesses and their human resources departments.

A child labor law making its way through the Alabama House was another topic of interest.  HB144, sponsored by Rep. Frank McDaniel (D – Albertville), makes it easier for a business to employ a minor of 14 years of age or above in a part-time status while ensuring the Alabama Department of Labor continues to monitor and protect the interest of such workers.

HB217, a bill by Rep. Terry Spicer (D – Elba), deals with the construction and establishment of toll roads and toll bridges.  Lawlor informed those participating on the call that BCA is working to ensure that the legislation does not allow toll roads to be made out of currently existing non-toll roadways.

The BCA Senior Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications, Marty Sullivan, provided a briefing on the new Capitol Impact website accessible by those participating in the CCAA/BCA Partnership.  Available under the “Legislation & Advocacy” heading on www.bcatoday.org, Capitol Impact provides information on all bills being tracked by the Business Council and The Partnership, their status, why they are being tracked and whether they are being supported or opposed by the BCA.

Those who access the website can use it to privately post their thoughts, comments and concerns about specific bills, and that information is immediately relayed to the BCA Governmental Affairs Division for review.  An on-line tutorial regarding how to best utilize the website will be made available in the near future.

BCA President William J. Canary concluded the call by announcing that the annual BCA Legislative Reception, scheduled for March 3, will be themed as a “Tribute to Alabama Chambers.”  The event, heavily attended by legislators, members of the governor’s senior staff and other influential Alabama leaders, will serve as an effective showcase for the work and accomplishments of our local chambers of commerce.

He also asked that chamber executives, chamber board members and others on the local level utilize the Capitol Impact website.  Calling it a “critical advocacy mechanism,” Canary said the website will help The Partnership identify local grassroots teams that are ready to contact individual legislators in support or opposition of important legislation affecting the business community.

As the session concluded, participants were reminded that The Partnership will sponsor another conference call on Friday, February 20, at 12:00 p.m. with David Perry, an attorney recently hired by the Riley Administration to help distribute approximately $3 billion that Alabama will receive as its share of the federal stimulus package.  Perry will discuss various grants and resources that will be made available on the local level and answer questions from CCAA Chamber participants who are interested in attracting stimulus dollars to their communities.