May 19, 2010
U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt Speaks to RCGA
On May 18th Congressman Roy Blunt (R-MO), Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, spoke to a large crowd of regional business leaders at the RCGA as part of our 2010 Public Policy Speaker Series.
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Congressman Blunt discusses the importance of small business growth to the nation's economic recovery.
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Rep. Blunt
discussed many of the pressing issues affecting both Missouri and the
nation, including cap and trade, health care reform, national security and transportation funding. He lauded the Midwest China Hub Commission as a unique opportunity for the region to leverage its strategic location and establish meaningful trade relations with China. Congressman Blunt also responded to a wide variety of questions regarding his campaign for U.S. Senate, saying that he thought a majority of Missourians support his views on important federal issues.
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A full house was on hand to hear Congressman Blunt's presentation, with similar attendance expected for Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan on June 4th. (See "Upcoming Events" below.)
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Congressman Blunt meets JoAnna Schooler, RCGA Public Policy Council member and Public Relations Director for Covidien.
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Rep. Roy Blunt discusses airport issues with RCGA Public Policy Council member Don Morrison, consultant for American Airlines. (in background) RCGA Board member Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Airport Director for Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, speaks to Steve Johnson, RCGA's Senior Vice President of Economic Development, about the Midwest China Hub
Commission.
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About Roy Blunt
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Served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1997 representing Missouri's 7th Congressional District, which includes the Southwestern region of the state.
Served as House Republican Whip from 2003 to 2009
Second ranking Republican on the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Member of the Select Committee on Intelligence.
Missouri Secretary of State from 1984 to 1992
Former President of Southwest Baptist University
Graduate of Southwest Baptist University and Missouri State University
Born in Niangua, Missouri
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Focus on Illinois: Still No Budget Agreement, with Legislature in Recess
Despite the fact that no State budget has been passed, the Illinois General Assembly recessed as expected on Friday, May 7th. No date has been set for the Legislature to reconvene, but many capitol observers expect the session to resume next week.
Senate Democrats introduced and passed a budget over the strong opposition of Republicans, who only had one hour to review the bill before voting. Republicans criticized the proposed budget on a number of fronts, saying that it relies too much on short-term borrowing and fails to make required pension payments. The Senate’s budget proposal has not yet been taken up by the House.
Senate Democrats also proposed a short-term borrowing plan that would allow the State to sell bonds to finance its $3.7 billion pension contribution and retire debt over the next eight years. The bill, SB 3514 sponsored by Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) and Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), required a super-majority (3/5 vote) because of its bonding provision. House Democrats could not gain
support from enough Republicans to achieve the super-majority, and the bill was defeated by a 59-57 vote.
Without a budget agreement, there is no consensus on how to address the State’s $13 billion budget shortfall for the fiscal year
beginning July 1st. Governor Pat Quinn (pictured right) has continued his call to increase the state’s income tax by one percent, which would save the K-12 education system from a $1.3 billion reduction. However, neither chamber voted on this proposal. Sen. Deanna Demuzio
(D-Carlinville) and Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) proposed a bill (SB
3660) that would allow the State to securitize the Tobacco Settlement, essentially selling the long-term revenue stream that generates roughly $300 million annually for a one-time payment of $1 billion and reduced annual payments in the future. Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) and Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) suggested a short-term tax amnesty program that would allow delinquent taxpayers to pay their taxes without penalty and
interest. Another possible source of revenue would come from increasing the cigarette tax by $1 per pack, making it among the highest in the Midwest. This proposal is contained in SB 44, sponsored by Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg (D-Evanston) and Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-Broadview).
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General Barry McCaffrey Stresses Infrastructure's Critical Role in National Security and Economic Prosperity
RCGA members received a briefing from General Barry McCaffrey, USA (ret.), decorated four-star general, Desert Storm Commander, and current Adjunct Professor of International Affairs at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, on the vital and strategic relationship between infrastructure and our nation's security. General McCaffrey serves on the Board of Directors of HNTB, an employee-owned infrastructure firm working on transportation projects, public private partnerships
and urban design and planning for federal, state and municipal clients; he is also chairman of HNTB Federal Services.
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(from left to right) Jerry Mugg of HNTB, General Barry McCaffrey, USA (Ret.) and Tom Campbell, Managing Partner of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman and RCGA Public Policy Chair.
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McCaffrey said business leaders must make the case to federal, state and local government leaders that skimping on infrastructure now will erode the foundation that is essential to America's long-term economic success and competitiveness. He listed high-speed rail, aviation modernization, and expanded urban transit systems as critical investments in our nation's economic prosperity. McCaffrey said that it is in the nation's interest to provide a series
of truck-only lanes through the I-70 corridor through Missouri to more effectively deliver goods and services through the Midwest. He praised MoDOT for their success in raising Missouri's road pavement quality from the nation's third worst to ninth best in just five years.
RCGA members were also encouraged by the General to get involved in math and science instruction at their local schools. McCaffrey stressed that intervention must occur in elementary and middle school, because children must have strong, basic math skills before starting the coursework needed for civil engineering. Over the past 20 years, there has been a 40% drop in the number of engineering degrees issues by American universities and colleges.
To view General McCaffrey's presentation, click on the image below.
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General Barry
McCaffrey's Seven Engineering Challenges
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1. Fix America's Infrastructure
2. Secure Critical Infrastructure
3. Develop a Robust Domestic Freight Infrastructure
4. Modernize the Transportation Infrastructure that Supports International Trade
5. Address Traffic Congestion Problems
6. Expand Our National Aviation Infrastructure
7. Develop Tomorrow's Industry Leadership.
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Green Products Fair Enlivens RCGA Green Business Challenge Seminar
The May 12th seminar of the RCGA's St. Louis Green Business Challenge featured a exhibition of green products and services to help companies become more sustainable in their business operations. Sixty-two RCGA-member companies and institutions participate in the Challenge which encourages companies to follow a scorecard to reduce energy, water and waste and promote clean transportation options and sustainable outreach at their workplace. The St. Louis Green Business Challenge is a program of
the St. Louis Climate Prosperity Project which aims to move St. Louis to a greenbelt economy and make the region a home for "green savings, green opportunity and green talent."
The Green Products fair featured exhibitors with solar energy, solar shades, renewable energy credits, data destruction recycling, green cleaning supplies, office products, catering, office furniture, hotels and shoes, as well as car and vanpool services, green consulting services, and organization who recycle tools and construction materials. The RCGA thanks these companies and organizations for participating in the Green Products fair: Brown
Shoe, Buckeye International, EPC USA, Halcyon Shades, Microgrid Energy, Moonrise Hotel, Office Essentials, Patty Long Catering, Pure Power, RBF
Office Interiors, ReSource St. Louis, ReStore and Ride Finders.
Scenes from the RCGA's Green Products Fair:
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Laura Lock of Brown Shoe displays the latest line of Naya Shoes, the new eco-friendly shoe to Steve Butcher of the Moonrise Hotel
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Harold Burton of Halcyon Shades stands behind his company's solar shades that filter sunlight and reduce cooling costs.
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Marc Lopata (center left) and Rick Hunter (center right) of Microgrid Energy explain to the Green Products Fair crowd the benefits of installing renewable energy at the business location.
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Mary Barbeau of the RCGA learns about the selection of green offices supplies from Jim Shields and Mark Tucker of Office Essentials, Inc.
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Jason Stone of EcolifeSTL.com wins a free Moonrise Hotel t-shirt from Jarah Warfield at the end the RCGA's Green Products Fair.
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Following the Green Products Fair, Challenge participants learned the do's and don'ts of green marketing from Cary Levitt (pictured below, right) and Timmi Kloster of Armstrong Teasdale's Intellectual Property Group. With the growth in green-labeled products, regulation and enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission over "green" labeling has increased. Levitt and
Kloster recommended that products substantiate their claims with scientific studies or independent research, as well as specific word choices. They recommended that companies ensure that their target customer truly understands the "green elements of product and to follow the Federal Trade Commission green marketing guidelines. For the full presentation on green marketing, click on the image below.
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Tom Peterson (pictured below), Principal and Director of Technology at Mackey Mitchell Architectsshared with the Challenge participants his firm's innovation to greatly reduce paper consumption at their firm. Mackey Mitchell installed a new design and construction process that utilizes software and digital tablets and flash drives to create, store and file
their architectural drawings and project management files. For instance, Mackey Mitchell's design of St. Louis University's Chaifetz Arena generated 467 pages of drawings, all created and stored electronically. The new processes have enabled Mackey Mitchell to save hundreds of hours per project as well as the cost savings due to reduced printing and courier costs. For the complete presentation on "Digital Delivery: Decreasing Waste Within the Design and Construction Process", click on the on the image below.
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Greg Rottjakob (pictured below at podium) and Steve Sherwood of Deloitte Tax LLP informed the Challenge participants about the wealth of federal tax credits available for installation of renewable energy and energy efficiency equipment. They explained the advantages of investment tax credits, production tax credits, renewable energy incentives and energy conservation incentives offered by the federal government. Deloitte has assisted n $750 million in federal cash
grants mostly in wind, solar and biomass, and they expect significant activity to continue throughout this year. When coupled with state tax incentives, the payback timetable for renewable energy equipment can be greatly reduced. Rottjakob noted that Missouri and Illinois are currently behind the coastal states in these type of incentives. They also believe the federal government will remain active in encouraging renewable energy and energy efficiency investments for the next couple of years. For a complete analysis of federal incentives and tax credits, click on the
slide image below.
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For more information on the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, contact Eric Schneider at eschneider@stlrcga.org or go to www.stlouisgreenchallenge.com
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UPCOMING EVENTS
May 20 - RCGA Energy and Environmental Council
U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Dr. Karl Brooks
will speak to the RCGA's Energy and Environmental Council on Thursday, May 20th. Brooks oversees the Agency's activities in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska and will speak about the U.S. EPA's priorities and initiatives in our region. Hosted by St. Louis County Government, this special meeting will be held at the World Trade Center - 121 S. Meramec Avenue - Suite 1012 in Clayton from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. In addition, St. Louis County officials will present their environmental initiatives and their "Green and Growing"
framework for sustainability, climate protection and development. RSVP to Sherri Bailey at sbailey@stlrcga.org.
June 4 - MO Secretary of State Robin Carnahan
The RCGA's Public Policy Speaker Series will feature Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, on Friday, June 4th from 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. in the RCGA's Regional
Collaboration Center in downtown St. Louis. Click here for more
details and to register for the event.
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