Chamber Priorities

2012 State Issues

• Support efforts to promote efficient education innovation through initiatives like the Oklahoma School Performance and Innovation Grant Program.
  
  
• Support efforts to increase higher education enrollment and graduation rates in Oklahoma.
  
  
• Protect necessary and beneficial tax incentives and eliminate ineffective incentives through a process of periodic review.
  
  
• Maintain Oklahoma’s progress in improving its business climate by protecting recent workers compensation and legal systems reforms.
  
  
• Support legislative initiatives designed to enhance the market access for alternative and traditional fuels produced in Oklahoma. Our support includes efforts to promote the use of hydraulic fracturing, and the construction of necessary pipeline infrastructure to provide transportation services for this increased production of traditional fuels.
  
  
• Maintain Oklahoma’s friendly tax environment for businesses and economic development through the prevention of an increased assessment of intangible ad valorem taxes.  Should changes to Oklahoma’s tax code fail to materialize during the 2012 legislative session, the Tulsa Metro Chamber supports the extension of the Business Activity Tax in lieu of additional ad valorem taxes on intangible property.
  
  
• Support methods to expedite the critical need for weigh station completion and weigh-in-motion infrastructure that protect road and bridge quality from overweight freight traveling through the state.
  
  
• Support legislation modifying the definition of “high priority bridges” to include consideration of heavy haul corridors.
  
  
• Support the Bridge Improvements and Turnpike Modernization Plan proposed by Governor Fallin to repair or replace all of Oklahoma’s structurally-deficient bridges by 2019, and expand the Creek and Kilpatrick turnpikes. 
  
  
• Work with all significant stakeholders to examine the benefits and consequences of updating the state’s liquor laws.
  
  
• Support comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level and oppose further state legislation related to immigration reform. Support federal measures to secure borders, establish reasonable and efficient visa policies and procedures, and comprehensive reform at the federal level that recognizes the need for essential workers so the U.S. can continue to attract the best and brightest talent from around the world.
  
  
• Encourage use of the Oklahoma Quality Events Incentive Act to support Oklahoma’s tourism and convention industry. 
  
  

2012 Federal Issues

• Support legislative and regulatory initiatives designed to promote increased production of domestically produced conventional and certain alternative fuels, including incentives for domestically-produced alternative transportation fuels such as CNG and required infrastructure; domestic fuel production; and enhanced production techniques such as hydraulic fracturing. This support is not extended to the production and use of ethanol.
  
  
• Support the relocation of the Page Belcher Federal Courthouse.