The Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, the third largest chamber in the Kansas City metropolitan area, represents 1,000 business and professional organizations that employ a combined total of more than 30,000 people living in and around the city of Lee’s Summit. The Chamber focuses on the economic prosperity of the business community by fostering and promoting significant job growth, increased revenues, superior infrastructure and an exceptional quality of life.
Mission Statement
We create opportunities for business success through networking and advocacy, as well as business and professional development. We provide leadership by serving as a catalyst for the economic growth and prosperity of the Lee’s Summit community.
Legislative Advocacy & Public Policy The Lee’s Summit Chamber is actively engaged in and committed to representing the business community at all levels of government. Our legislative program is interconnected to all aspects of the Chamber’s activities. The Chamber offers immediate access to the expertise of our staff. The participation of the Governmental Relations Committee and the Legislative Committee is critical to ensuring economic success, prosperity and quality of life for businesses and residents alike. The mission of our volunteer leaders is to review, debate and make recommendations to the Chamber’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors. The Chamber is continually monitoring legislation and political affairs on the local, state and federal levels of government. We strive to effectively communicate relevant information to assist our members in making the appropriate day-to-day and long-term decisions impacting their businesses.
Table of Contents State Legislative Priorities Transportation
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Economic Development
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Health Care
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Education
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Missouri Government Directory
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Legislative Priorities Transportation Support improvements to Missouri’s transportation infrastructure that enhance the orderly growth and development of Lee’s Summit. Background: MoDOT is responsible for the 7th largest road system in America. Missouri ranks 47th nationally in revenue per mile, primarily because the state’s large system is funded with one of the lowest fuel taxes in the country. MoDOT’s construction program has fallen from more than $1.3 billion in 2009 to just over $600 million today. The current state funding levels and projections, place Missouri at risk of losing federal funds in state fiscal year 2018, an unacceptable condition. In addition, projects that create jobs, increase safety, ease congestion and foster economic development, will not be possible. In 2011, MoDOT conducted a major restructuring of the agency and its goals and objectives due to the looming unprecedented transportation funding crisis. These moves underscore the urgent need to resolve Missouri’s transportation funding shortfall. The Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on Missouri Transportation Needs, created in 2012 by House Speaker Tilley, held public meetings across the state examining current and future transportation needs and exploring possible solutions. The committee concluded that an “additional $600 million to $1 billion per year will more adequately address our State’s growing transportation needs and is vital to Missouri’s economic growth, and that the voters of Missouri should be given the opportunity to make that investment.” Impact: Missouri continues to be among the states with the largest losses in manufacturing and construction jobs. Improved and expanded infrastructure will position Missouri and local communities to be much more competitive in the global marketplace, creating opportunities for attracting new businesses and creating jobs. A comprehensive transportation funding plan will have an immediate and profound impact on the economy in every region of the state. Not only will thousands of immediate construction jobs be created, but thousands of new, wellpaying jobs would be added by leveraging private investment. Missourians also will experience enhanced public safety and added convenience and choice. Action Needed: When surveyed, members felt transportation was the most urgent issue facing our state. The Chamber would like to not only see passage of legislation creating a comprehensive, sustainable transportation funding strategy that addresses Missouri’s immediate and long-term transportation infrastructure needs, but also ask that members proactively engage their state elected officials stressing the importance of addressing this crisis. The Chamber will actively encourage legislation that would allocate direct funding for roads and highways within Lee’s Summit, and encourage the City of Lee’s Summit and the Missouri Department of Transportation to find mutually beneficial funding methods for:
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3rd Street and 50 Highway
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M-291N and 50 Highway interchange
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Comprehensive I-470 Corridor Study to address mobility, accessibility, capacity and development opportunities
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Complete reconstruction of Lee’s Summit Road from NW Anderson Road to Lakewood Drive
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Approval to commission a comprehensive updating of the Highway 350/50 Corridor Study for the purpose of improving local access, enhancing capacity and safety, and fostering redevelopment/economic development
Economic development Support initiatives that will enhance quality business development in Missouri by attracting new and retaining existing employers. Background: Missouri continues to lag behind nationally in net jobs created and continues to have a high unemployment rate at 5.1 percent. Job creation numbers reflect Missouri in the lower 30 percent of states. Lee’s Summit is poised to attract and leverage private investment, create high-paying jobs and establish a breakthrough model for preparing its future workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. For the past five years, the Missouri General Assembly has been unable to reach consensus on comprehensive and meaningful economic development and tax credit reform legislation. The present situation creates an environment that inhibits the ability to attract much needed private investment and create sustainable job growth. Impact: The strategic restructuring of economic development incentive programs, coupled with reasoned business tax reform would allow the City of Lee’s Summit to attract knowledge-based industries, thereby creating quality jobs and experiencing significant private investment in building and equipment infrastructure. Action Needed: Advocate and actively support the passage of legislation providing incentives targeting: •
Investments in next generation businesses that focus on innovation in well-defined industries such as health care, life sciences, advanced technologies, energy production, etc.
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Workforce development and training
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Comprehensive redesign of Missouri’s tax system that adequately, but not excessively, finances governmental core functions
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With Right-to-Work being one of the top 5 locational considerations of corporations, advocate passage of Right-toWork legislation to improve the competitiveness of Missouri against adjacent states in attracting signature employers
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Support Missouri’s current stance on minimum wage which prohibits political subdivisions (cities, towns and counties) from raising minimum wage above the statewide level
Health Care Advocate for an improved health care system for state residents through the implementation of proactive approaches to dramatically decrease the number of uninsured and improve access to health care. Background: A healthy workforce and community are critical to the economic vitality of Lee’s Summit. Uninsured residents are a burden on our health care providers, and an added cost to anyone with health insurance. Expanding Medicaid under AHCA is a choice of the Missouri legislature. The health care industry plays a vital active role in the growth and vitality of the Lee’s Summit community. Lack of expansion would result in added revenue loss to Missouri hospitals equaling more than $400 million annually. Impact: •
Medicaid expansion would cover an additional 300,000 residents, providing better health care, and decreasing costs through preventive measures
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Create 24,000 jobs in its first year, generating $977 million in wages
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A worker with health coverage misses an average of 52 percent fewer work days than uninsured workers (from MHA)
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Federal funds totaling $8.2 billion would come into Missouri over six years, with less than $300 million in required state funding
Action Needed: Advocate and support legislative action to: •
Support Medicaid Transformation legislation that provides the appropriate level of funding to ensure the ongoing viability of all health care providers who furnish care to the uninsured and the underinsured. Ensure that the state’s Medicaid program is structured and operationally equipped to maximize all available resources outside Missouri general revenue, including federal matching dollars and Missouri’s FRA program
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Create flexibility for regulatory changes allowing for creative solutions in the provision of health care to the vulnerable
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Advocate for sufficient funding levels providing safety net services accessible to Lee’s Summit residents, including primary care that fosters physical and mental health
Support the creation of a prescription drug monitoring database that would curtail prescription drug abuse and lower the costs for employers who are paying for that abuse
education Support funding for Missouri’s educational system (Pre K–12 and higher education) that will prepare students to become suitably competent and “workforce ready” to meet the needs and expectations of employers. Background: A quality education opens the door to opportunity, and an educated citizenry is vital to a successful economy. Quality schools are essential to the health of every community. Schools need to be equipped to provide the necessary support to their student populations through advanced curriculum offerings, experiential and interactive learning processes, superiorly competent educators and advanced equipment and facilities. Impact: The current state funding mechanisms for financing Missouri’s public education institutions does not adequately provide resources to meet the needs of today’s employers. An acceptable legislative remedy would be the development of a comprehensive and sustainable funding strategy and emphasis on creating successful education systems that focus on cuttingedge sciences and technologies, math and engineering, health care and advanced information systems. Action Needed: The following are needed to meet the demands of Missouri’s employers to successfully compete in a continuing complex and competitive global economy:
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Support a long-term plan to fully fund and maintain the integrity of the Foundation Formula, avoiding any adjustments that would significantly alter the manner in which funds are distributed
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Support investments in high-quality early education programs in all school districts
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Support funding for accelerated college and career programs such as the Missouri Innovation Campus
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Support legislation that promotes the creation and development of a system of interventions that leads to improvements in achievement for struggling school districts in lieu of the current transfer approach
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Continue support of the Educational Ecosystem, the collaboration between the community of Lee’s Summit and its diverse educational partners to meet the lifelong learning needs of each student and all citizens
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Provide adequate, equitable funding to support all public colleges and universities, including community colleges, by increasing core funding
STATE Government Directory Missouri Governor
Missouri State Capitol
State Senators
State Representatives
S. Kiki Curls - District 9 Room 434 (573)751-3158 shalonn.curls@senate.mo.gov
Rick Brattin - District 55 Room 114-C (573)751-3783 rick.brattin@house.mo.gov
Ed Emery - District 31 Room 431 (573)751-2108 ed.emery@senate.mo.gov
Mike Cierpiot - District 30 Room 302-B (573)751-0907 mike.cierpiot@house.mo.gov
Jason Holsman - District 7 Room 329 (573)751-6607 jason.holsman@senate.mo.gov
Gary Cross - District 35 Room 112 (573)751-1459 gary.cross@house.mo.gov
Will Kraus - District 8 Room 418 (573)751-1464 will.kraus@senate.mo.gov
Rebecca Roeber - District 34 Room 116-3 (573)751-1456 rebecca.roeber@house.mo.gov
Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon Room 216 1(573)751-3222
201 W. Capitol Avenue Jefferson City, MO 65101 www.mo.gov
Sheila Solon - District 31 Room 305-B (573)751-8636 sheila.solon@house.mo.gov
Local Government Directory mayor
Randall L. Rhoads (816)524-8245 randy.rhoads@cityofls.net
DISTRICT ONE
DISTRICT THREE
Diane Forte (816)537-8958 diane.forte@cityofls.net
Diane Seif (816)668-3658 diane.seif@cityofls.net
DISTRICT TWO
DISTRICT FOUR
Allan S. Gray II (816)695-8845 allangrayd2@me.com
Dave Mosby (816)246-1315 davemosbyd4@me.com
Rob Binney (816)289-1929 rob.binney@me.com
Trish Carlyle (816)309-6364 trish.carlyle@cityofls.net
Derek Holland (816)309-8008 derek.holland@cityofls.net
Bob Johnson (816)225-6126 bjohnsond4@gmail.com
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220 SE Main Street • Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 816.524.2424 • LSchamber.com