CHAMBER TO HOST FORUM ON LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
On Friday, November 14, Aaron Cox, Vice President of Chamber Relations for the Texas Association of Business (TAB), and Cathy DeWitt, Vice President of Governmental Affairs for TAB, will be the featured guests of a Legislative Priorities Forum hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Fireman’s Park in Brenham.
Cox and Dewitt will give an overview of TAB’s Legislatives Priorities for the upcoming 84th Legislative Session in Austin. With a new Governor, Lt. Governor, and many new legislators soon in Austin, it is important to have the “Voice of Business” heard loud and clear at the state capitol. Cox and Dewitt will outline the priorities TAB has identified of top importance to Texas businesses in several key categories. Both speakers will also take questions from the audience.
Cox coordinates grassroots advocacy networks for TAB and creates legislative research, insight and education materials for chambers of commerce statewide. He also works to inspire chambers to mobilize on legislative actions taken by TAB.
DeWitt lobbies on business issues such as employment relations, tort reform, privacy, criminal justice and workers’ compensation. She also now spearheads an effort to curb prescription drug abuse which is now considered a national epidemic by the National Center of Disease Control.
As the state chamber of commerce and the only statewide broad-based business association in Texas, TAB is the leading voice for business. With advocacy as its primary role, it seeks to share its legislative agenda to increase awareness, develop a united front, and raise the collective voice of business in the halls of the Capitol.
According to Cox, “One of the most effective ways of connecting with business people, is face-to-face in their home community and not as a distant voice from Austin. We are fortunate to have a solid network of partners and strong local chambers like the Washington County Chamber, that give us access and connectivity to the local community which allows us to not just hear and share the issues affecting business across this state, but to also see the impact of policy created in Austin. This further ignites our passion to intensely advocate on their behalf.”
“There are many key issues for business entering the 2015 session. Transportation will again be a hot topic. The assumed passage of Proposition of 1 next week will dedicate $1.7 billion the first year and $1.2 billion each year after the first year for transportation. Texas legislators will have a huge decision on whether to fund the full $3.7 billion a year which is the number that Texas needs to keep to just keep pace meaning it would maintain current congestion levels. How it will be funded will also be up for a debate. The Budget will also be a hot topic. Although it is estimated that there will be a $5 to $10 surplus, how that money is spent will be up for debate. The Texas Enterprise Fund will also be under scrutiny this session. Other key issues include improving higher education, addressing the primary care physician shortage, and streamlining of the permitting process in Texas to be competitive with other states,” stated Cox.
Dewitt points out that “Every statewide office will be new this session and many legislative offices as well. In fact, the Senate will potentially have 14 Freshman and Sophomores. No office can hire any staff until they assume their respective offices on the opening day of session. We expect there to be a significant transition phase that will make for a slower start to the session than usual.”
“With so many new players this session, they also bring new ideas to the table with a fresh perspective. Every session has its own personality. While we don’t know yet the personality of 2015 session just yet, it will certainly be interesting and full of opportunities for us to make Texas the best state to live, learn, work and raise a family.”
The forum will be moderated by Kurt Podeszwa of Camp For All, the Chamber’s Immediate Past Chairman of the Board. “We are pleased to be able to host this event so our local businesses can have an opportunity to hear about these important issues at the state level,” said Liz Hopkins, the Chamber’s 2014 Chairman of the Board.
Tickets are $20 per person or $150 for a reserved Corporate Table for 6. A barbecue lunch is included. Reservations can be made by calling the Chamber at (979) 836-3695. The deadline to reserve a seat is Monday, November 10.
