Advocating for You - October, 2018

FEDERAL

Transportation innovation, regional mobility needs and moving people to jobs were among the key messages the KC Chamber carried to US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao when she joined Congressman Kevin Yoder for a local business roundtable on regional transportation needs October 15. Chamber representatives, including Big 5 Co-Champion Scott Smith, told the Secretary about the Chamber's work with Google to track regional mobility patterns and our aim to use innovative tools to improve regional access to jobs. Secretary Chao asked her staff to do a sidebar meeting with Chamber representatives following the roundtable where the discussion centered on DOT innovation grant opportunities. The KC Chamber, as part of its Big 5 Initiative, has formed a Transportation Advisory Committee consisting of business leaders from around the region. The committee is working to advance transportation policy initiatives such as testifying in KS during the transportation task force forums and supporting Proposition D in Missouri, collaboration with MARC on the autonomous vehicle work, creating educational programs, and supporting new innovative transportation initiatives.

Advocating for Federal Funds for Streetcar Extension: The KC Streetcar Agency has submitted a Capital Investment grant request to help fund the Main Street Extension under the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) New Starts Program and the Chamber is advocating for broad support from our full bistate congressional delegation urging U.S. Department of Transportation and FTA to fund this important request. The Chamber has called on our members of Congress to support the grant request to help fund a long-planned extension of the starter line to the Country Club Plaza and University of Missouri, Kansas City-Volker Campus, connecting two of the region's major job centers in downtown and the Country Club Plaza. The residents along the Main Street Extension corridor have already voted by a 70/30 margin to approve new local funding necessary to match the federal grant request and make this project a realty. The Main Street Extension project is estimated at $316 million and would be funded by $151 million in New Starts Grant funding and $165 million in newly raised and approved local funding. Learn more >>

 

MISSOURI

University of Missouri MoExcels: The KC Chamber offered its endorsement and support for the University of Missouri System's proposal for MoExcels. "Strengthening our workforce" is one of the five priorities of the KC Chamber's strategic plan and is a reflection of Chamber members' greatest need. As there is a demand for educated workers in the region that exceeds supply, it is critical that our educators have the capacity to prepare students for the workforce to ensure we attract and retain good-paying jobs. The MoExcels proposal will provide online education and support for Missouri residents across the state while also creating a Business and Industry Advisory Board to better define employer needs, develop education programs, and foster strong and sustaining partnerships. The Chamber looks forward to supporting the University of Missouri System in this endeavor to help bridge the business-education divide.

Kansas City-native John Ashford, of the Hawthorne Group, presented his entertaining outlook and predictions for state and federal races for the 2018 mid-terms to the Chamber's Public Policy Council. Ashford offers a unique, inside-the-beltway look at races all over the country by providing real-time insights into fundraising, advertising, polling and focus-groups. The Chamber is thrilled to provide our members with unique opportunities to hear insights directly from Washington on these critical mid-terms less than one week away.

YES on Prop D: The KC Chamber urges its members to vote yes on Proposition D to increase funding for Missouri highways, roads, bridges and streets while also ensuring the State Highway Patrol is adequately funded. Prop D passage will allow for a ten-cent increase in the fuel tax over four years.  Despite having the sixth most roads, by mile, in the country, Missouri ranks 49th in the nation in its fuel tax rate and 46th in the nation in revenue spent per mile. While surrounding states have stayed current with inflation rates by periodically adjusting their fuel tax, Missouri has failed to do so for 22 years. And, Prop D will provide increased funding to local communities. Jackson County, alone, will receive over $12 million a year in additional funds with passage of Prop D. A YES vote on Prop D not only improves the safety of the millions of drivers that use Missouri's roads every year, but also is critical to the future economic vibrancy of the state. 

 

MID-TERM ELECTIONS DEBRIEF

Renowned political strategist Jeff Roe of Axiom Strategies will be speaking at the upcoming KC Chamber-Polsinelli Public Policy Speakers Series on Tuesday, November 13, 7:30-9 a.m. at the InterContinental Hotel. Hear directly from the front lines of the mid-term campaigns to get the scoop on why the outcome ended the way it did, what worked and what didn't work in the campaigns, and Jeff's insights into the 2020 presidential race. For information and registration, click here. Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight will be the keynote speaker at this year's 131st KC Chamber Annual Dinner on Tuesday, November 20 in Kay Barnes Ballroom in the Kansas City Convention Center. Although starting his career in economics and baseball Sabermetrics, Silver has become a world-renowned statistician and political analyst who correctly predicted 49 of the 50 states in the 2008 election and all 50 states in the 2012 election. For tickets, click here. 

 

LOCAL

Pre-KC Presentations: The KC Chamber's President & CEO Joe Reardon has completed nearly 20 Pre-KC presentations to date (since beginning in early August). Joe has presented to various organizations, committees and nonprofits to raise awareness of the critical importance of quality early childhood education and to offer school readiness resources to local families and caregivers. If you are interested in scheduling a presentation, please contact Pam Ronfeldt.

Kansas City's Libraries serve as vital anchor institutions that provide critical resources to over 4 million patrons a week. This month, the Chamber's Executive Committee unanimously voted to support the Library Levy Question, calling for an 8-cent increase in the property-tax based operating levy. The money would be used to maintain and modernize facilities and to sustain and enhance library services. Voting YES on the Library Levy Question on November 6 will help ensure expanding vital services for children, students, families, and seniors; extending hours of operation of branches; modernizing computers and other digital resources; and renovating or replacing aging Library branches. If this 8-cent levy increase passes, it would provide an estimated additional $2.8 million annually for the city's libraries. The 8-cent increased levy would generally increase a total tax bill by less than 1 percent. The Chamber asks that you consider the importance of adequately funding our libraries when heading to the polls.