Learn How to Make
an Impact, Download the Fresno Chamber's Public Policy Manual
This Public Policy
Manual was created to inform our members, our elected officials
and the community at large where the Greater Fresno Area Chamber
of Commerce stands on the issues that impact businesses in our
County and the surrounding community.
My amendment was simple
– I asked Congress to over-rule the
Obama Administration’s recent decision that linked the death of
killer whales to San Joaquin Valley water users. Unless this
decision is stopped, our communities will lose as much as 500,000
acre feet of water – vastly expanding the devastation felt in many
of our communities.
You can watch the debate
on my
YouTube Channel by clicking here. Additional information
concerning the water crisis can be found on my website
www.nunes.house.gov.
Sincerely,
DEVIN NUNES
Member of Congress
June 16, 2009
Action Needed:
Oppose Federal Cap And
Trade Program
The federal government
is trying to put a cap on the amount of carbon dioxide that
businesses can emit, in order to reduce global warming.
Businesses will be
forced to purchase "emissions permits" regulating how much carbon
they can emit.
The Fresno Chamber opposes HR 2454, The American Clean Energy and
Security Act, which is currently under consideration by the House of
Representatives.
This legislation, which is referred to as Cap and Trade, will drive
up the cost of doing business, leading to more workplace reductions
and higher prices for consumers.
Action Needed:
Urge Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer To Oppose Expanding
Federal Control of U.S. Waters
U.S.
Senator Barbara Boxer is trying to push a legislative proposal,
S. 787, through the United States Senate that will expand the
Clean Water Restoration Act and put more costly federal
regulations on every river, lake, stream, canal and waterway in
the United States.
The Fresno Chamber opposes S. 787 which will go before the
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee tomorrow for a
vote.
S. 787 threatens
business, agriculture, small communities and manufacturing
companies by giving the EPA control over your property and
water. It will eliminate the requirement that the Corps and EPA
limit their jurisdiction to “navigable” waters and instead give
those agencies control over all waters of the US or “activities”
affecting those waters. The Clean Water Restoration Act is
nothing more than a massive land and water grab. We can’t afford
to let this legislation pass.
Action 1: Please call the following elected officials
today and urge them not to move this legislation forward:
Senator Barbara
Boxer at (559) 497-5109
Senator Dianne
Feinstein at (559) 485-7430
Action 2: Although this
legislation has not yet made it to the House of Representative,
it likely will if passed by the Senate. So please also call the
following elected officials too, and urge them to not to support
S. 787:
(Left to Right) Doris Fischer, Assemblymember
Mike Villines and Sieg Fischer at a brief ceremony in the Chamber's
board room last week.
May 27, 2009
Chamber Board Member Receives Business
of the Year Award
After co-founding the Valley Yellow Pages more than 20 years
ago, President and CEO Sieg Fischer was recognized for his
service with the 2009 Small Business of the Year award for the
29th Assembly District.
Assemblymember Mike Villines honored Fischer and his wife, Doris, at
a brief ceremony in the Chamber's board room last week.
"Thanks to the efforts
of Sieg and his employees, the Valley Yellow Pages has become an
indispensable source of information for our region," Villines said.
"The active involvement of Sieg and his company in our community has
made the Valley stronger, making them an ideal choice to earn this
year's honor."
Fischer co-founded the
Valley Yellow Pages to provide an alternative in northern
California's phone book industry, which was then controlled by a
huge monopoly. The Valley Yellow Pages quickly grew from a staff of
just 15 employees based in Fresno to the more than 700 employees it
now has scattered throughout California. Fischer's company publishes
more than 7.7 million directories in 46 markets in the central and
northern parts of the state.
At the ceremony,
Villines presented Fischer with a framed resolution honoring him and
his company. Fischer said he was so grateful for everyone who
supported him over the years, especially his wife and the company's
700 employees.
"Without their
patronage, this award would not have been possible," he said.
"I just want to thank them again for helping make our company a true
Valley success story."
May 26, 2009
Better Business Act
A new policy that will
ensure a more thorough review of projects seeking financial
assistance from the city received unanimous support from the Fresno
City Council last week.
Endorsed by the Fresno
Chamber, the Better Business Act will ensure that the city is doing
its due diligence before loaning taxpayer money to developers and
investors.
City Council Member Lee
Brand developed the policy, which he presented to the Chamber's
Government Affairs Council ahead of last week's vote.
Under the policy, each
project will undergo a two-phase review process. City staff, with
the help of outside consultants, will review business plans, equity,
and financial statements. The city manager will provide a
recommendation to the City Council based on the thorough analysis.
The Chamber's GAC felt this policy will ensure taxpayer money is
being invested wisely. The Chamber spoke in favor of the policy at
the City Council meeting.
May 25, 2009
Fresno Chamber Member Wins Statewide
Award
Victoria
Salisch was recently honored by the California Chamber of Commerce
for her outstanding advocacy work in 2008. Victoria, an attorney and
owner of Lang, Richert & Patch law firm in Fresno, was recognized
for her role in the Chamber’s on-going effort to consolidate public
safety services.
“Victoria has proven to
be a valuable asset for the Chamber and a strong representative for
the business community. She has always taken an active role in
leading on issues that are important to the business community, our
region and the state,” stated Al Smith, president and chief
executive officer of the Fresno Chamber.
Salisch has served on the chamber’s board of directors, the
government affairs council, the government outreach committee and
the downtown revitalization committee. In 2008, Salisch served as
chair of the chamber’s political action committee. She helped the
PAC make endorsements in several key races: mayor, city council,
school board and state Assembly. Salisch also has taken a lead role
in the chamber’s effort to convince the city and county to
consolidate public safety services.
Since 2005, Salisch has
served on committees that have examined how the city and county can
keep public safety costs under control merging some functions. She
serves on the Joint Powers Authority — a governance model selected
by city and county officials to help move the consolidation forward.
She also has spent time in Sacramento helping the Greater Fresno
Chamber take an active role in legislation by testifying before
policy committees, writing letters to the editor and sending letters
to legislators.
May 12, 2009
Action Needed:
Urge Senator Dianne Feinstein To Oppose The Employee Free
Choice Act
Senator
Dianne Feinstein is proposing a compromise to the Employee Free
Choice Act that would use mail-in ballots to preserve the secret
ballot.
Her proposal would
replace the card-check provision, which would allow workers to
unionize if a majority signed authorization cards. But the
mail-in ballot is in no way a compromise.
Mail-in ballots
would still subject employees to harassment and intimidation
from union organizers. Because the majority of union organizers
confront workers at their homes, mail-in ballots are not better
than sign-up cards at protecting workers from intimidation.
Congressman Nunes' Efforts on Water
Crisis Gains National Media Attention
As part of Fresno
Congressman Devin Nunes' effort to increase national awareness
concerning our region’s water crisis, he has conducted extensive
outreach to gain the attention of our nation’s leading news outlets.
Sean Hannity of the Fox News Channel outlines in this seven minute
segment a representation of the current situation.
May 7, 2009
Action Needed: Help Defeat Two Anti-Jobs Proposals
AB 1000 mandates
that all employers provide paid sick leave to an employee after
seven days of work in a calendar year to care for the employee’s own
illness, or to provide care to a sick child, spouse, domestic
partner or other relative. The mandate would extend to all employers
and all employees, as specified. There are no exceptions. The
provisions of this bill will impact all employers, large and small,
regardless of the level of sick leave currently provided.
SB 789 will hurt businesses in the Central Valley and
California by driving up costs, making employers less
competitive in a global market. This bill proposes to take away
agricultural employees’ right to a private ballot when deciding
on union representation by replacing the private ballot with a
scheme called “card check” that allows a union to organize the
employees if a majority of them simply sign a card.
Get Out The Vote: May
19th Special Election Will Protect Our Economy
The Fresno Chamber is supporting Propositions 1A, 1D, 1E and 1F on
the May 19 special statewide election ballot. The Chamber supports
these propositions because they will help protect the long-term
economic vitality of California and Fresno.
While the budget compromise reached earlier this year was not the
perfect solution, it did cut government spending and made some
progress toward reducing the deficit. The Fresno Chamber believes
the majority of the state propositions, particularly Proposition 1A,
will decrease the pressure to increase taxes during future economic
downturns.
Proposition 1B did not receive the Chamber’s support because it
takes money out of a “rainy day” fund that the Chamber believes
should be preserved for difficult budget times. The Chamber did not
take a position on Proposition 1C.
The Fresno Chamber urges you to support Propositions 1A, 1D, 1E and
1F. Please share this information with your employees and neighbors.
These propositions will help protect out local economy.
April 21, 2009
Action Needed: Help The Chamber Reform The Meal Period
Law
SB
287 will provide clarity and guidance for compliance with and
enforcement of meal-period laws and regulations. It offers a
comprehensive solution that will serve employers and employees
across all industries regardless of the size or union status of
an employer’s workforce.
It does so by
clarifying an employer’s obligation to provide meal breaks and
the ability to enter into agreements for on-duty meal periods in
appropriate situations, and authorizes labor and management to
negotiate for meal period provisions in collective bargaining
agreements.
A
Special Message From Fresno Area Congressman Devin Nunes
Dear Friends,
As you probably know,
Interior Secretary Salazar was recently in California. During
his visit, he failed to travel south to witness first-hand the
critical water shortages our communities face. In doing so, he
ignored the devastation and human suffering associated with our
present situation.
As President Obama’s
senior official in charge of federal water policy, the Secretary has
either failed to grasp the severity of our situation or chosen not
to acknowledge it. Instead, he used the occasion of his visit
to announce a $260 million giveaway for pork projects throughout the
state– projects that offer us no meaningful assistance.
What we need is water
and I believe it is time for the people of our communities to demand
action. Below is a statement I released today concerning the
Secretary’s action.
Sincerely,
DEVIN NUNES
Member of Congress
No more excuses.
We want action.
“Radical
environmentalists have declared war on the people of the San Joaquin
Valley. Whether we accept the conflict or ignore it, war is
being raged nonetheless. And the enemy is winning, thanks to
the cozy relationship they enjoy with the Democratic Party.
This political
arrangement, whereby green activists control large portions of the
Democratic Party’s agenda, has effectively neutered Democrat
lawmakers when it comes to the California water crisis.
Indeed, it is the reason Democrat Party leaders have refused to
offer immediate solutions to the crisis.
The special relationship
between green activists and the Democratic Party is why Secretary
Salazar’s offer to spend $260 million on useless water projects was
entirely predictable. The Secretary has been boxed-in by
radicals in the environmental movement. For Secretary Salazar
to offer meaningful help, turning on the Delta pumps for example, he
would have to exhibit a level of political courage that no longer
exists in the Democratic Party. Predictably, he didn’t.
Instead, he added insult to injury by flushing hundreds of millions
of dollars into the ocean, along with our precious water.
During his visit to California, the Secretary didn’t even bother to
visit the devastated region of the Southern San Joaquin Valley.
My message to President
Obama, Secretary Salazar, and other leaders at the state and federal
level has been consistent and it has been clear. Meaningful
relief for the people of the San Joaquin Valley means restoring the
flow of water today, not ten years from now. Meaningful relief
means action today, not the promise of action at some distant point
in the future.
As I have said many
times, the solutions are far less complicated than some would have
you believe. Democratic leaders need to take whatever action
is necessary to immediately restore Delta pumping to historic
levels. They must expedite the construction of a canal to
bypass the sensitive Delta eco-system and deliver long-term water
security to our region. And finally, Democrats must re-visit
the San Joaquin River settlement to prevent the Westside crisis from
occurring on the Eastside of the valley.
Don’t let community
activists and Democrat leaders fool you. Ignore what they say
and hold them accountable for what they do. Their words won’t
deliver an ounce of water to our dry region. Only their
actions, through legislation, can do that.”
April 3, 2009
Take Action:
Stop The
Proposed 24% Workers Compensation Rate Increase
he
Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau is recommending a
24% increase in the benchmark rate for workers’ compensation
insurance policies.
Given the current economic climate, it is unreasonable to turn
back the clock on changes made to the workers’ compensation
system in 2004. Those changes saved California employers $40
billion and increase in rates today will have a dramatic
negative impact on our economy making it difficult for
businesses to hire employees.
Employee Free Choice Act Press Conference at the Fresno Chamber.
(Left to Right) Fresno Chamber Government Affairs Council Chair Ruth
Evans, Congressman Devin Nunes, State Senator Dave Cogdill,
Congressman George Radanovich, Fresno Chamber Government Affairs
Council Member Brian Domingos, Fresno City Councilmember Paul
Caprioglio and
Fresno Chamber Government Affairs Council
Vice Chair Rick Whitsell.
The
Fresno Chamber presented more than 125 cards signed by members
opposed to the Employee Free Choice Act to our federal
congressional representatives at a press conference on Friday.
Fresno-area Congressmen Devin Nunes and George Radanovich said
they will take the cards back to Washington D.C. to help in the
fight against the proposed legislation.
They also thanked the Chamber for taking action and encouraged
members to continue its effort.
"This is very serious legislation," Nunes said. "It sounds like
something free, but all it does is allow unions to organize. I
think what the Chamber is doing here today is critical. We have
to continue to get the message out about this legislation."
Senator Dave Cogdill and Fresno
City Council Member Paul Caprioglio also attended Friday's press
conference.
You can help stop this legislation
from moving forward in the House of Representatives and Senate
by click on each of the links below:
City Council
Approves Fresno Chamber Effort To Give Small Business Incentives
Fresno
Chamber’s push to get a small business component included in the
City’s Local Preference Ordinance was embraced by the City Council
on Tuesday. The council unanimously approved giving small businesses
a competitive edge when bidding on city contracts.
Local small businesses will now have “preference” when competing
against out of town companies for procurement opportunities within
the city. This will ensure that tax dollars remain in the local
economy and help struggling businesses stay afloat during these
difficult economic times.
March 25, 2009
Action Needed: Help The Chamber Reform The Meal Period
Law
SB
287 will provide clarity and guidance for compliance with and
enforcement of meal-period laws and regulations. It offers a
comprehensive solution that will serve employers and employees
across all industries regardless of the size or union status of
an employer’s workforce. It does so by clarifying an employer’s
obligation to provide meal breaks and the ability to enter into
agreements for on-duty meal periods in appropriate situations,
and authorizes labor and management to negotiate for meal period
provisions in collective bargaining agreements.
Fresno Chamber-Supported
Independent Police Auditor Gains City Council Approval
The
Chamber's support proved influential today as the Fresno City
Council voted to create the Fresno Chamber-supported Independent
Police Auditor (IPA).
Council
Members Mike Dages and Henry T. Perea cast the only votes against
the IPA. Many of the Council Members, including Mayor Ashley
Swearengin, said they appreciated the Chamber's support for the IPA.
Chamber
President and CEO Al Smith spoke at the meeting and urged the
council to approve the position saying it is a worthwhile venture
backed by Police Chief Jerry Dyer. He also stressed the Chamber's
concerns about the position costing too much and it becoming another
layer of bureaucracy.
March 20, 2009
Action Needed: Protect Secret Ballot Elections for Fresno's
Workers
Two
Federal proposals, H.R. 1409 and S. 560, would undermine
long standing principles of workplace democracy and fairness and
result in employees having less ability to determine if they
wish to be represented by a union. It does so by allowing unions
to collect employee signatures in public-or so-called "card
check" and do away with the secret ballot process.
Fresno Chamber Supports
Mayor's Proposal To Create An Independent Police Auditor
The Chamber’s Government
Affairs Council lent its support to Mayor Ashley Swearengin’s
Independent Police Auditor (IPA) proposal. GAC members felt this was
the right step for the city to take, but still expressed concerns
about the $360,000 annual cost.
Police Chief Jerry Dyer and City Manager Andy Souza attended the
meeting and answered questions. Jacky Parks, president of the Fresno
Police Officers Association, also attended and gave his reasons for
why the city doesn’t need an IPA.
March 18, 2009
Fresno Chamber
Convinces City Council To Move Meetings To Thursdays
After much debate,
the Fresno City Council finally agreed to move its meetings to
Thursdays. The council’s new schedule will start on April 23.
The council voted 5 to 1 in favor of the switch, with Council
Member Mike Dages opposed. Council Member Henry T. Perea was
absent for the vote.
The Chamber has been
advocating for the meeting change because we believe it will
allow the council to better serve their constituents. Council
Members will have more time to review items on the agenda and
the meetings will no longer conflict with the Board of
Supervisors, which also meets on Tuesdays.
March 18, 2009
Fresno Chamber Succeeds
In Efforts To Revitalized Downtown
Efforts to form a
downtown Property-based Improvement District got a major boost last
week after the City Council unanimously voted to continue funding
the process. City Council Member Henry T. Perea was absent for the
vote.
Chamber President &
Chief Executive Officer Al Smith spoke in support of the PBID and
said its a necessary step toward downtown revitalization. The
Chamber has been supporting this issue for the past year.
February 27, 2009
Fresno Chamber
Fights for Business
Announces its 2009 Legislative Priorities for Fresno
Businesses
Each year, the Greater Fresno Area
Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Council develops its
legislative priorities. Each of the legislative priorities serve
as the foundation for the Fresno Chamber's continuing effort to
improve the regional business climate.