St. Louis RCGA Legislative Agenda
|
  |
|
2012 St. Louis RCGA Legislative Agenda
Mission Statement
The RCGA Legislative Agenda is formulated each year in pursuit of our mission, which is to develop and sustain a world-class economy and community for the St. Louis region. As such, it reflects the overall business interests of our large and diverse membership.
Four Key Areas of the RCGA's Legislative Agenda:
Promoting an Advantageous and Pro-Economic Development Business Climate
Fiscal Responsibility
Encourage responsible stewardship of state and local finances and balanced budgets without placing undue tax burdens on the business community or unduly reducing the effectiveness of essential programs. Support prudent borrowing for urgent capital improvement and economic development needs. Review existing programs to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, and discourage creation of new programs that would not provide a positive return on investment. Promote fiscal stability and sustainability of public pension programs, including adequate contributions from employees.
Regional Governance and Economic Policy
Promote efficiency and avoid unnecessary duplication of services among the region's municipalities and counties to enhance fiscal stability and foster economic growth. Support policies that encourage a regional perspective on intra-regional business relocation decisions including, but not limited to, policies regarding the use of local public incentives.
Economic Development Incentives
Support proven tax credit programs that stimulate employment and leverage private investment, and oppose efforts that threaten the viability of such programs, including proposals to subject them to the annual appropriations process. Ensure economic development incentives are performance-based and competitive with other regions, and support the availability of up-front funding for targeted transactions.
Employment Law Reform
Restore balance and strengthen employment laws to foster job growth, including better protection for employers and managers relative to causation, individual liability, damage caps, and "whistleblower" claims. Support measures to ensure stability and reasonableness of unemployment insurance and workers' compensation systems, including strong causation standards and policies to reduce costs and unnecessary litigation.
Small Business
Support assistance to small businesses with high-growth potential, including: grants for professional services, mentoring and training through the Small Business and Technology Development Centers (SBTDC), greater access to low-interest loans for start-ups and expansion capital or state matching-grants for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Encourage greater access to markets for minority and women business enterprises in the public and private sectors. Continue support for health care policies that help small business owners reduce their costs.
Energy and the Environment
Support balanced and reasonable energy and environmental policies that are equitable to all regions and industries, encourage innovation and economic growth, and achieve sustainable environmental benefits. Oppose policies that would unduly raise energy costs for businesses or jeopardize the creation of jobs in the St. Louis region. Support development of clean energy technologies and advancement of cost-effective renewable and alternative energy sources. Support appropriate funding to maintain effective state environmental programs, without unduly taxing businesses.
Health Care
Support full, affordable and comprehensive access to health insurance, and a robust health care system that protects the interests of the business community while addressing the needs of patients, providers and payers. Support timely and adequate funding of state programs, including Medicaid, as well as funding mechanisms that enhance the use of federal funds, such as provider assessments. Promote policies that encourage governments to work with private insurers, health care providers and the business community to ensure an inclusive health care marketplace, and oppose shifting the cost of the uninsured to businesses. Oppose health insurance mandates that undermine the provision of high-quality insurance at a reasonable cost. Support policies and programs that encourage healthy behaviors and promote informed health care decisions. Support preparation of a strong health care workforce through high-quality medical education programs. Support certificate of need regulations that ensure a level playing field between hospitals and specialty providers.
Regional Attractions
Support and encourage regional tourism, conventions and sporting events, including incentive programs that help our region compete more effectively in the attraction of major events. Support funding for the arts and regional cultural institutions to help maintain a high quality of life.
Investing in Innovation and Capital Formation
Science and Innovation Initiatives
Support full funding of the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act (MOSIRA) and the Missouri Life Sciences Research Trust Fund to build the entrepreneurial infrastructure necessary to foster growth of science and innovation companies.
Risk Capital
Support the creation of an Angel Tax Credit in Missouri to increase entrepreneurial access to risk capital.
Entrepreneurial Support
Support increased funding for the Missouri Technology Corporation to assist companies with intellectual property issues and business development. Encourage state pension funds to establish policies for economically targeted investments.
Innovation Centers
Increase funding for the Center for Emerging Technologies, the SIU-Edwardsville Entrepreneurship Center and the Innovation Challenge Grant program in Illinois.
Research and Development Incentives
Support re-enactment of incentives for research and development in Missouri and Illinois, with an emphasis on biotechnology.
Protection of Scientific Research
Preserve the protections enacted in the Missouri Constitution in 2006 for all types of stem cell research, therapies and cures allowed under federal law. Oppose additional limitations or funding restrictions on allowable research in Missouri and Illinois.
Leveraging Regional Assets
Mississippi River Bridge
Ensure timely completion of the New Mississippi River Bridge and related highway improvements on both sides of the River.
Logistics, Distribution and Transportation
Support policies, incentives and funding to enhance the bi-state region's logistics, distribution and transportation infrastructure capabilities, including roads, bridges, railways, ports and airports, with an emphasis on international cargo and global competitiveness.
Illinois Capital Bill and Infrastructure Improvements
Encourage funding for key downstate projects as priority parts of Capital Bill funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Capital Development Board. Ensure allocated appropriations for capital improvement projects in Southwestern Illinois stay on track. Support the region's listed projects in the IDOT Highway Improvement Program.
Transit
Support policies and funding for Metro that promote more effective and sustainable system operations, as well as system expansions in accordance with the Long Range Transit Plan. Support legislation to improve the safety and security of Metro, along with bonding terms that allow it to manage its debt service more effectively. Support increased funding for public transportation in Madison and St. Clair counties.
Rail Improvements
Support federal and state funding for a high-speed rail corridor from St. Louis to Chicago. Support federal and state funding for improvements to railroad bridges and related facilities to enhance passenger and freight service in our region.
Missouri Transportation Funding
Actively support the work of the Missouri Transportation Alliance, a statewide business-led effort designed to educate citizens on the importance of multi-modal infrastructure and identify the most critical transportation needs. Support adequate transportation funding and a formula that reflects the economic strength and development needs of the St. Louis region, as well as an expansion of the Missouri Department of Transportation's Public Private Partnership Authority to allow delivery of critical large-scale transportation improvements. Maintain regional representation on the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.
Levee Restoration
Support efforts of the Flood Prevention District Council to improve Metro East levees to new federal standards and push for greater cooperation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the region's improvements plan. Support federal legislation to provide relief to residents and businesses within the region relative to unduly expensive flood insurance and development requirements and restrictions, and legislation to reduce adverse economic impact from the special flood hazard area designation in the American Bottom.
Regional Defense Industry
Support increased federal authorization and appropriations for research in defense-related businesses. Support increased opportunities for small and medium-sized defense contractors. Continue support for the C-17 Globemaster, F-15 Strike Eagle and F/A-18 Hornet in foreign sales campaigns and for any potential U.S. requirements.
Scott Air Force Base
Continue strong support for the presence and effectiveness of SAFB as one of the region's and nation's most significant and strategic assets. Support funding to ensure SAFB can effectively continue its critical national security mission.
Riverfront Development
Support funding from the Water Resources Development Act for the Chouteau Lake District and for the St. Louis Regional Greenways Plan. Support the continued funding of the brownfield cleanup grants and economic development incentives for the River Edge Program in East St. Louis. Support plans to optimize active public use of the Arch Grounds, Metro East riverfront, and existing downtown assets, including funding to implement proposals from the The City + The Arch + The River 2015 international design competition.
Telecommunications
Support policies that encourage investment in technology infrastructure and promote customer choice. Support policies that establish minimal regulatory treatment of all providers of telecommunications and video services to enhance infrastructure investment and maximize customer benefits from competition.
Brownfield Development
Increase direct funding and tax credits for brownfield cleanup. Enact liability reform for brownfield sites to encourage their conversion to a productive use. Support increased funding for the Illinois Municipal Brownfield Redevelopment Grant program.
Strengthening Education and Workforce Development
Workforce Development
Support job training funding to aid in the attraction of new businesses and the expansion and retention of existing businesses. Support increased funding for workforce training and skills development with special emphasis on the RCGA's key industry sectors: financial and information services, advanced manufacturing and technology, health science and services, multimodal supply chain management, and sustainable technologies.
Missouri Higher Education Funding
Protect core funding and stable allocations during the current budget shortfall. Support continued funding for "Caring for Missourians," an initiative for Missouri's universities and community colleges to provide additional capacity for training the State's health care workforce including additional physicians, dentists, nurses, optometrists and allied health providers.
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Secure funding for the Benton-Stadler science building and support the final $1.9 million adjustment to address system-wide equity issues. Support the capital requests for new facilities at the Colleges of Nursing and Optometry. Support a plan to provide consistent funding for campus capital improvements.
Illinois Education Funding
Ensure full and timely funding of State colleges and universities and adequate support for regional administration of public schools. Support collaborative partnerships with schools, community colleges, community-based organizations and businesses to enhance and improve education opportunities for all students.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Support continued funding of the School of Pharmacy, National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center, and Southwestern Illinois Advanced Manufacturing Center.
Regional Community Colleges
Support capital funding for construction, maintenance and repair of buildings and equipment as well as development of new campuses and centers. Maintain critical job training funding, and encourage the development of a stable, sustainable funding model to provide necessary capital for college growth and expansion.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education
Support efforts to improve science, technology, engineering and math education, including: streamlining the mathematics and science curricula, expanding the pool of students motivated to pursue math, science, engineering and technology careers through greater scholarship opportunities and advanced education experiences, increasing the number of educators in math, science, engineering, and technology, and improving technology use in the classroom.
Early Childhood Education
Support policies that expand access to high quality early childhood education programs, especially for at-risk children, as an investment in strengthening long-term educational success and economic growth. Support a statewide quality rating system for early childhood programs.
St. Louis Public Schools and Charter Schools
Support stability in the governance and operations of the St. Louis Public Schools and the work of the Special Administrative School Board. Promote financial and academic accountability in the delivery of school choice options, and support legislation granting sponsorship authority for charter schools to appropriate entities, including the Mayor of St. Louis.
(Back to top)
