Staff Report
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The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce made its presence known in Richmond on Wednesday at the annual Virginia Chamber of Commerce “Chamber Day at the Capitol”. Twenty-six Chamber of Commerce and 58 statewide organizations, leadership programs and businesses descended upon the Capitol to express support for business friendly legislation and concern for legislation hampering job creation and capital investment in the Commonwealth.
Gov. Bob McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and House Speaker Bill Howell each addressed the Chamber representatives. Participants spent the afternoon in the General Assembly Building meeting with local legislators. Chamber President Frank Tamberrino and members of the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee met with Senators Obenshain and Hanger and Delegates Lohr and Landes between the General Session and committee meetings.
“On behalf of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce and member businesses, we discussed local issues and the Chamber’s positions on unemployment insurance, Medicaid funding and transportation” reported Tamberrino. “We were well received, but we also understand the budget reality the General Assembly is facing this year.”
The Chamber’s Public Policy Committee is going through an extensive process of developing positions for the Board’s endorsement in areas of tax policy, transportation, health care, development and land use, economic development, general labor and employment law, agriculture and forestry issues, natural resources, education, workforce development and more. There are both state and local implications for businesses on each of these topics, and the Chamber wants to be at the forefront of advocating positions and encouraging government decisions that improve the business climate and encourage business growth in the Valley.
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AFP
