2007 Government Affairs Accomplishments

The Chamber's government affairs department works tirelessly to allow your business to continue taking advantage of Nevada's pro-business environment. In 2007 the Chamber's advocacy efforts defeated countless anti-business legislation and passed numerous pro-business bills into law.

1. Helped secure $1 billion in transportation dollars. Good roads are vital to the transportation of goods and services, getting employees to and from their jobs, helping customers access businesses and bringing tourists into our state. Transportation infrastructure that is overburdened, congested and in bad condition is not conducive to a growing economy. In short, when transportation doesn't move, business doesn't move. The Chamber applauded the governor and legislators for reaching a compromise that reallocated current tax dollars and revenue sources from various organizations and government entities to the highway construction fund. The Chamber testified in support of Assembly Bill 595 that was passed and signed into law. The road improvements and construction plans are critical to both the commerce and economy of Southern Nevada, and your Chamber is proud to have played a key role in the funding of the state's transportation system. While it does not, by any means, solve the entire issue of transportation, the Chamber believes it is a start to a critical process.
2. Led a delegation of business leaders to Washington, D.C. and met with prominent leaders of the U.S. Congress. Under the leadership of the Chamber, business owners were able to discuss the concerns and needs facing the Southern Nevada business community with all members of the Nevada congressional delegation in D.C. as well as with various other leaders on Capitol Hill. With more and more federal issues directly affecting Nevada, it is critical that the Chamber continues to build active relationships with Nevada's representatives in Washington, DC.
3. Advocated for public employee benefit program reforms. Currently, the Public Employees' Benefits Program, the health care subsidy portion of the public employee retirement system, faces an unfunded liability of $6.3 billion. While the Chamber believes public employees are vital to our state, it also believes taxpayers cannot afford to continue funding an overly-generous system. The law creates the State's Retirees' Health and Welfare Benefits Fund. The funds will be invested, offsetting a portion of the current and future costs of health care benefits for public employees.
4. Protected business owners from the government's eminent domain powers. The Chamber supported two successful measures at the 2007 Legislature which mandated that private property can only be seized for certain public uses and not for the economic development of another private enterprise. Places of business should not be at the mercy of government.
5. Conducted community presidential caucus training workshops. The Chamber hosted representatives from both the Nevada Democratic Party and Nevada Republican Party to ensure the community was well-informed on Nevada's all-important role in the 2007 early Presidential caucuses. Attendees were able to gain valuable insights to the caucus process and ask questions before the state's first ever early caucuses.