The Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, the third largest chamber in the Kansas City metropolitan area, represents over 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 The Lee’s Summit Chamber serves its members by creating a dynamic business environment founded on leadership, advocacy, collaboration and success in 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 its members convenient and timely access to the expertise of 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 continually monitors 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-today and long-term decisions impacting their businesses.
Table of Contents State Legislative Priorities Transportation.................................................4 Health Care......................................................5 Education & Workforce Development............5 Economic Development..................................6 General Items..................................................6 Missouri Government Directory...................... 7
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES TRANSPORTATION Support improvements to Missouri’s transportation and infrastructure needs that enhance the growth, development and public safety of Lee’s Summit. Action Needed: •
Support and actively pursue comprehensive and sustainable funding that increases revenues targeted for multiple transportation infrastructure needs.
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Support innovative, private efforts to meet consumer demand for transportation needs to include funding for major interstate reconstruction.
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Support future capital expenditures for infrastructure development to create economic development and for areas such as Lee’s Summit Airport, major arterials and development projects promoting community development.
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Support funding for transportation options like the Rock Island Trail installation, which has opportunities to connect to the Katy Trail and future mass transit options.
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Advocate for and support environmentally prudent storm water management practices in Lee’s Summit.
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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 the following:
– 3rd St. and U.S. 50 Highway
– 291 North & U.S. 50 Highway interchange
HEALTH CARE Advocate for an improved health care system for all Missouri residents by implementing a variety of proactive approaches that dramatically decrease the number of uninsured and improve access to health care. Action Needed:
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Advocate for sufficient levels of funding to ensure the ongoing viability of all health care providers furnishing care to the uninsured and under insured. This also includes primary care practices fostering physical and mental health.
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Create flexibility in the regulatory system which would allow for creative solutions in delivering healthcare to vulnerable populations.
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Support the creation of a state wide prescription drug monitoring database (PDMP) that would curtail prescription drug abuse and lower the costs for employers who are paying for that abuse.
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Support funding for Missouri’s educational system (PreK–12 and higher education) that will prepare students to be “workforce ready” and meet the expectations and workforce needs of employers. Action Needed: •
Support providing appropriations for fully funding the Foundation Formula and maintaining the integrity of the current Foundation Formula.
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Support investments in high quality early childhood education programs in all school districts.
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Support legislation that requires all charter schools to be held to the same standards as all public schools.
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Support local school district authority to make the decisions about matters such as employee compensation and working conditions; class sizes; curriculum and instruction materials; professional development; programs and employee evaluations; and school calendar.
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Support funding for accelerated college and career programs such as the Missouri Innovation Campus.
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Continue support of the Educational Ecosystem, a collaboration between the community of Lee’s Summit and its diverse educational partners, working together to meet life-long learning needs of our community.
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Reinstate funding levels to support all public colleges’ and universities’ and developing a plan to make substantial, ongoing investment in post-secondary education.
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Increase funding for technical training programs and enhance workforce readiness.
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Keep the A+ promise, students who meet the A+ scholarship requirements should receive what they are promised providing full tuition and fees at a community college or a career/technical school.
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Support legislative efforts to advance the Missouri Access Program. This program needs to continue and allow access to a college education at all of the state’s post-secondary institutions, including private colleges, through the Access Missouri program.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Support initiatives enhancing quality business development both regionally and statewide by attracting new employers, while retaining those existing. Action Needed: •
Investments in next generation businesses that focus on innovation in well-defined industries (i.e., healthcare, life sciences, advanced technologies, energy production, etc.)
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Workforce development and sustainability – restructure the state’s workforce training incentives to meet the variety of training needs of growing businesses.
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Support efforts and any new ideas that can develop Missouri businesses in reinvesting into enhanced technologies, systems and facilities.
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Reform Missouri’s tax credit programs, including measures that would institute caps and narrow the amount of programs offered.
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Implement Internet sales tax reform to level the playing field between online and main street retailers.
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Support funding that would improve access to capital for businesses through resources such as Missouri Technology Corporation, Missouri Partnership, and Skilled Workforce Missouri.
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Promote entrepreneurial growth, positive business activity and job creation by supporting the mission and vision of Velocity Lee’s Summit.
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Support the enactment of the Right-to-Work law as approved by the Missouri General Assembly and signed by the Governor.
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Support continued investment in the arts, tourism and recreation strategies to enhance even more development in Lee’s Summit.
GENERAL ITEMS
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Oppose legislation that establishes special interest tax incentives or cuts. Any development of a new incentive should be broad based and seek to enhance the State’s return on investment.
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Continue to support efforts to streamline and/or eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and business regulation. These efforts will assist in lowering the overall cost to do business as well as the administrative overhead expense the State incurs.
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Oppose legislation that will result in an unnecessary loss of local control and funding. Local control should be retained in situations of local right of way and land use, effects on municipal revenue streams and the elimination of proven economic development tools that attract and retain quality businesses and jobs.
STATE GOVERNMENT DIRECTORY Missouri Governor Eric Greitens P.O. Box 720 Jefferson City, MO 65102 573.751.3222 Lt. Governor Mike Parsons 224 State Capitol Jefferson City, MO 65101 573.751.4727 SENATE S. Kiki Curls - District 9 Room 434 • 573.751.3158 shalonn.curls@senate.mo.gov
John Rizzo - District 11 Room 425 • 573.751.3074 john.rizzo@senate.mo.gov HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Rick Brattin - District 055 Room 114C • 573.751.3783 rick.brattin@house.mo.gov Vacant - District 030 Gary Cross - District 035 Room 112 • 573.751.1459 gary.cross@house.mo.gov
Ed Emery - District 31 Room 431 • 573.751.2108 ed.emery@senate.mo.gov
Rebecca Roeber - District 034 Room 116-3 • 573.751.1456 rebecca.roeber@house.mo.gov
Jason Holsman - District 7 Room 329 • 573.751.6607 jason.holsman@senate.mo.gov
Joe Runions - District 037 Room 101F • 573.751.9469 joe.runions@house.mo.gov
Mike Cierpiot - District 8 Room 431 • 573.751.1464 mike.cierpiot@senate.mo.gov
Dan Stacy - District 031 Room 400 • 573.751.8636 dan.stacy@house.mo.gov
LOCAL GOVERNMENT DIRECTORY COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES Frank White II County Executive 816.881.3000
DISTRICT TWO Craig Faith 816.204.4763 Craig.Faith@cityofLS.net
Theresa Galvin County Legislator - 6th District 816.881.3132 tgalvin@jacksongov.org
Trish Carlyle 816.309.6364 Trish.Carlyle@cityofLS.net
Tony Miller 3rd District At-Large Legislator 816.881.4423 tmiller@jacksongov.org
DISTRICT THREE Phyllis Edson 816.352.6885 Phyllis.Edson@cityofLS.net
LEE’S SUMMIT Mayor Randall L. Rhoads 816.524.8245 Randy.Rhoads@cityofLS.net
Diane Seif 816.668.3658 Diane.Seif@cityofLS.net
DISTRICT ONE Mayor Pro Tem Rob Binney 816.289.1929 Rob.Binney@cityofLS.net
DISTRICT FOUR Fred DeMoro 816.419.1404 Fred.DeMoro@cityofLS.net
Diane Forte 816.537.8958 Diane.Forte@cityofLS.net
Dave Mosby 816.246.1315 Dave.Mosby@cityofLS.net 7
220 SE Main Street • Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 816.524.2424 • LSchamber.com