Voice of business 2017

The Voice of Business Detroit Regional Chamber Advocacy Highlights

The Detroit Regional Chamber conducts one of the most aggressive advocacy programs in the United States, fighting for its members at all levels of government. From Detroit to Lansing to Washington D.C., the Chamber has served as the voice of business on key issues including infrastructure, high education standards, next-generation mobility and the Detroit region’s continued revitalization. The Chamber’s advocacy team continues to achieve results that power the economy throughout the region and state.

detroitchamber.com/advocacy

A Champion for Business Making the Historic Grand Bargain a Reality and Supporting Key Legislation to Move Detroit Forward

Leveraging its bipartisan reputation with lawmakers in Lansing and at the 2014 Mackinac Policy Conference, the Chamber’s advocacy team worked on both sides of the aisle in the state House and Senate to help with the passage of historic Detroit bankruptcy legislation.

The result — achieved while limiting the impact on pensioners and protecting the assets of the Detroit Institute of Arts — is a critical step in positioning the state’s largest, and most economically impactful, city to prosper. In addition, the Chamber continues to support legislation that tackles issues such as blight and scrap metal theft, as well as legislation that assists the city’s positive fiscal momentum.

Championing Education Reform for Detroit Public Schools, $617 Million Debt Relief Plan

A top priority for the Chamber from the start of 2016 was to continue to advocate for legislation to reform Detroit Public Schools (DPS) and alleviate the district’s debt. The Chamber joined businesses and organizations across the state in support of a Detroit Education Commission and returning control of DPS to a locally controlled school board, which is key in returning the district to fiscal solvency. Education also took center stage at the Mackinac Policy Conference.

Those conversations helped catalyze the eventual passage of a $617 million rescue plan for DPS. During the November election, the Chamber again took the lead as the only business organization to endorse a cohort of candidates for Detroit School Board, three of which became members of the board.

Fighting for the Common Core and Ensuring Student Assessments

As the loudest business voice in education reform in Michigan, the Chamber advocated in support of Common Core state standards and aligned assessments to ensure Michigan’s students are prepared for careers and advanced education. Due to these efforts, the Legislature voted to reinstate funding for Common Core, allowing the Department of Education to resume implementation of these important standards. With proposals to replace the M-Step student assessment and the Common Core under consideration in 2017, the Chamber and Business Leaders for Michigan are working with lawmakers to ensure the state maintains an assessment that is aligned to the standards. In addition, the assessment should be comparable to other states and a reliable tool for measuring growth to better prepare students to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Increasing the Skilled Trades Training Fund

To address the constantly changing needs of Michigan’s manufacturing industry, the Chamber served as a lead advocate to successfully increase the funding for Michigan’s Skilled Trades Training Fund, which incentivizes incumbent worker training programs to help fill the talent pipeline. The increased appropriations by the Legislature has almost tripled, reaching nearly $31 million today. In addition, the Chamber successfully advocated for funding increases in the state’s Community Ventures Program, which focuses on structurally unemployed workers, and the Michigan Advanced Technical Training Program (MAT2), a program designed to promote the importance of skilled trades in education curriculum.

Lead Advocate for the Regional Transit Authority Millage, Road Funding Legislation

Building on its longstanding support of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), the Chamber continued its support for transportation infrastructure in 2016. The Chamber aggressively worked to achieve a “yes” vote on the millage proposal to fund the RTA master plan. The Chamber Foundation partnered with The Kresge Foundation on an awareness campaign. In addition, the Chamber was also a lead partner in Citizens for Connecting our Communities. Though the RTA’s millage proposal did not pass, the Chamber has continued to seek alternative solutions to connect the region with safe, reliable infrastructure. Remaining a steadfast supporter of transportation infrastructure funding and functioning safe roads, the Chamber aggressively supported the Legislature’s road funding proposal in 2015, serving as a key voice for the business community.

Driving Michigan’s Emergence as the Leader in Mobility

As a part of the 2016 Mackinac Policy Conference To-Do List, the Chamber supported the establishment of the American Center for Mobility (ACM) at Willow Run, which broke ground in November. To ensure Michigan as a leader in next-generation mobility nationally and globally, MICHauto and the Chamber’s advocacy team joined the business community in educating lawmakers on the statewide economic impact of next-generation mobility research and development.

Collectively referred to as the SAVE (Safe Autonomous Vehicles) Act, the Chamber supported a package of bills in the Legislature that cleared the way for the construction of mobility testing centers in Michigan and the testing of autonomous vehicles on state roads. The SAVE Act also set the groundwork for the ACM to move forward with construction expected to be completed in 2017. The legislation is a key step in attracting global technology and manufacturing investment and retaining talent.

Building Connections Between the Automotive Industry and Political Leaders

For the fourth consecutive year, the Chamber’s advocacy and MICHauto programs hosted legislators at the 2017 North American International Auto Show. Following a private tour of the show, the Chamber hosted the legislators alongside MICHauto investors for a private reception as part of an ongoing effort to increase dialogue between Michigan’s automotive stakeholders and lawmakers.

The Chamber continues to build on their ongoing relationship with the Legislative Auto Caucus. In 2015, for the second consecutive year, MICHauto testified in front of the Michigan House Commerce Committee and provided lawmakers an overview of the automotive industry, emphasizing the importance of talent attraction and technological development as keys to preserving, protecting and growing the industry across the state.

Advocating for Immigration Reform to Attract Highly Skilled Immigrants

The Chamber continues to support comprehensive immigration reform to drive economic growth, including Gov. Rick Snyder’s initiative to secure an additional 50,000 employmentbased visas for skilled immigrants to live and work in Detroit. The Chamber is a part of the Great Lakes Metro Chamber Coalition, which continues to address significant challenges of the global economy, by calling for more collaboration among the region’s leaders and federal government to encourage clear, open and secure borders in order for Michigan to have increased access to international markets.

detroitchamber.com/advocacy

The Detroit Regional Chamber is fighting for legislation and reforms that matter most to business.

2017 Legislative Priorities 1

Invest in Infrastructure: Continue to support the Regional Transit Authority, construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, user fee-based increases for transportation infrastructure and other efforts by federal officials to increase federal investment in all forms of infrastructure.

2

Create a Talented Michigan: Make college affordable for all students, increase funding for successful programs such as the Skilled Trades Training Fund, and create robust, healthy communities in which talented individuals want to reside.

3

Make Michigan an Economic Development Powerhouse: Maximize Michigan’s built-in advantage in automotive R&D, advanced manufacturing and next-generation mobility. Compete with states that offer incentives for transformational investments in brownfield sites and high-wage job creation, and promote our role in national defense.

4

Promote Healthy Local Governments and School Districts Partnership: Support efforts to reform a benefit system that balances financial responsibility with the desire to attract top talent. Promote partnership with state government and appropriate public policies to ensure revenues are sufficient to meet the needs of unique communities.

5

Develop an Education System Worthy of Michigan’s Citizens: Support the Michigan Merit Curriculum and Common Core. Implement provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act that include thoughtful accountability for school districts and tools to adequately measure and compare Michigan’s growth to peer states.

6

Make Michigan a Welcoming State: Pursue policies that create a welcoming environment, support efforts to expand high-skilled immigration, and create high-skilled immigration zones in urban areas transitioning from economic stress.

7

Advocate for Reliable and Affordable Energy: Continue to support federal energy legislation that modernizes the grid, prevents unnecessary regulation and provides reliable and affordable energy that allows for economic growth.

8

Support a Government That Works for Business: Support efforts to codify the regulatory progress of Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration and regulatory reform at all levels of government. Support policies that avoid duplicative regulation and continue to promote taxpayer-friendly reforms in the Michigan Department of Treasury.

9

Support Criminal Justice Reform: Support “presumptive parole” policies that avoid exorbitantly long prison terms, while related cost savings are allocated to public safety and other efforts to reduce crime.

10

Keep Michigan Healthy: Protect expanded coverage in Michigan that encourages and incentivizes patient use of primary care providers.

Continue to oppose coverage mandates, and support policies that encourage transparency in health care

detroitchamber.com/advocacy The Chamber’s government relations team actively addresses emerging issues impacting Chamber members at the federal, state and local levels. Please contact our team to learn more about what the Chamber is doing for business.

Brad Williams

Vice President bwilliam@detroitchamber.com 517.402.1744

Lindsay Case Palsrok Senior Director lcase@detroitchamber.com 517.667.6290

Jason Puscas

Director jpuscas@detroitchamber.com 248.709.4866