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Government Affairs

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Chamber Announces 2010 Legislative Priorities

For the first time ever, the Chamber has elected and approved six priorities for the upcoming 2010 legislative session. The priorities, voted on by the Government Affairs Committee and subsequently approved by the Board of Directors, join additional position statements ranging from business and economic development, to education and transportation. After a thorough five month process, the Chamber is proud to announce its 2010 legislative priorities:

• Fund the University of Missouri fiscal year 2010 core budget of $451 million.
• Support the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act (MOSIRA) which would invest in projects to improve infrastructure, train and retrain workers for high-tech jobs, promote Missouri’s already impressive high-tech base and help increase the investment capital available to Missouri startups.
• Continue to support the bill passed by the House of Representatives last year to issue bonds to invest in higher education capital projects, including the top identified construction needs for the state’s college and university campuses around the state.
• Support the coordinated and sustainable state policies and programs as outlined in the Grow Me State Initiative to address Missouri’s critical need for risk capital, including: create a co-investment seed capital fund; create a proof of concept-fund program to improve the conversion rate of R&D innovation into entrepreneurial firms and commercially viable products; create a $5 million angel tax credit program; and increase funding for the Missouri Technology Corporation.
• Support efforts for continued funding for Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63.
• Support the extension of term limits to 16 years in either house or senate or 16 years total in the Missouri legislature and expanding the terms of state representatives from two years to four years.

We invite Chamber members and volunteers to help staff advocate on behalf of these priorities and positions. If you would like a copy of the 2010 State Legislative Agenda, please feel free to pick one up at the Walton Building, or click here to download an online version. Thank you to Missouri Employers Mutual for their sponsorship of the 2010 Legislative Agenda.