The Minnesota Chamber represents the interests of business across Minnesota. More importantly, the Minnesota Chamber considers how Minnesota’s business interests impact the region.

Minnesota Chamber President David Olson writes a monthly column, featured here, on a current trend or issue that impacts the way our members do business. Look for his column each month on our Web site, or visit www.mnchamber.com for more information.

**This page is updated every month, if you are looking for past articles from David Olson, you can find them here: www.mnchamber.com/mcce/monthly_column.cfm

July 2008

Minnesotans deserve the biggest bang for transportation bucks

By David C. Olson

Minnesota Chamber Federation delivers results

The 2008 Legislature posed both opportunities and threats for the state's
business community. Once again, the Minnesota Chamber Federation delivered
on your priorities.

From health care and energy to taxes and transportation, the Minnesota
Chamber advanced your priorities and blocked measures that threatened the
livelihood and security of employers and employees alike. The victories on
both "offense" and "defense" were noteworthy that policy-makers faced a
projected $935 million shortfall for this two-year budget cycle in the midst
of an economic downturn.

Among the results we delivered:

Health care - Major steps were taken to address cost, quality and
transparency in the delivery of health care. There is no "silver bullet" in
this debate, but action taken should begin the process of reducing health
care cost increases over time. Among the noteworthy items, beginning in
September 2010, consumers will have access to information on providers' cost
and quality and how they compare with their peers. Health plans will
specifically be required to develop products for individuals and small
employers that use the information to establish financial incentives for
selecting higher-quality, lower-cost providers.

Taxes - The projected budget shortfall was closed without any increases in
general fund taxes. Our members were unified in our message to "hold the
line" on spending. We blocked increases to the statewide property tax and
corporate income tax measures that would have placed Minnesota at a
competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace.

Transportation - Priority road, bridge and transit projects across the state
will see the first significant infusion of new dollars in nearly 20 years.
While we supported additional investment in our transportation
infrastructure, we successfully lobbied to reduce the level of new taxes and
fees imposed on Minnesotans. Efficiency is our next focus, and we secured
the creation of a task force that will develop recommendations to ensure
that the new dollars are spent wisely.

Environment/energy - The session began with aggressive proposals to
establish a Minnesota-only cap-and-trade system to control greenhouse gas
emissions. We opposed the legislation on the basis that it's premature to
make decisions without knowing the economic impact on Minnesota businesses
and consumers. The final legislation was pared down to order an economic
impact and potential revenue study for a regional cap-and-trade system.

The 2009 session already looms important, especially if the economic
downtown continues and there is pressure to raise taxes. In that regard, we
have completed a series of meetings across to state to identify your
priorities for next year.

The Minnesota Chamber prides itself as your full-time government affairs
team in St. Paul. Our success, however, would not be possible without our
broad-based grassroots lobbying from members statewide. Working together, we
can make Minnesota a better place to do business.

David Olson is president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. For more
information, visit the Web at www.mnchamber.com.