Trouble viewing this email OR on a mobile device? click here
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
||
 |
January 29, 2010
Kennedy said Morgan was chosen after a national search for a new chamber executive. He said Morgan’s legislative experience and contacts made him stand out among applicants. “When it came down to it, Fred Morgan’s legislative background and knowledge of the state made the difference,” Kennedy said. Chamber members say having an impact at the Legislature is still a top issue, Kennedy said.
Stand Up And Be Counted, The Importance Of Cooperating With The 2010 U.S. Census - The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, and is required by the U.S. Constitution to take place every 10 years. They can’t move forward until you mail it back. That's why it's so important that you fill in the form and promptly mail it back. With just 10 questions, the 2010 census questionnaire will take the average household about 10 minutes to complete. Census information affects the number of seats Oklahoma occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives. And people from many walks of life use census data to advocate for causes, rescue disaster victims, prevent diseases, research markets, locate pools of skilled workers and more. In fact, the information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services like hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels and other public works projects as well as emergency services. Click here for more information on the Census Bureau. Join The State Chamber's ESP Program – As a member of The State Chamber, we want to invite you to become a participant in the 2010 State Chamber Event Sponsorship Program (ESP). We are delighted to again offer a multi-event plan for 2010:
Fifth Annual Summit On The High Cost Of Health Insurance Scheduled – Businesses and health care stakeholders now have the opportunity to register for the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s fifth-annual “Summit on the High Cost of Health Insurance” scheduled for Friday, February 12th at the Oklahoma History Center located at 2401 N. Laird Avenue in Oklahoma City. The first half of this year’s event will focus on the obstacles associated with implementing the “health insurance exchanges,” which are likely to be included in any federal health care reform bill. The second half of the event will expand on how federal health reform efforts are aimed at containing health care costs. The conference is open to the public at a cost of $20. Eight hours of continuing education (CE) credit is available for licensed producers and adjusters for a cost of $40. Lunch is included in the registration fee for all attendees. For more information, click here or contact Jennie Kleese at 405.522.1769.
Manufacturers’ Day At The Capitol Set For Tuesday, February 16th - With more than 131,000 Oklahomans working for manufacturers in Oklahoma, we know that manufacturing contributes more than $15.5 billion to our gross state product – more than 11 percent of Oklahoma’s total gross product. We also know that manufacturing jobs pay better than other sectors and create more jobs than other sectors of our economy. The State Chamber, serving as Oklahoma’s Manufacturers’ Association, is encouraging all manufacturers to come to the Governor’s large conference room – 2nd floor of the State Capitol, on Tuesday February 16th, pick up some materials and go visit with their legislators about their key issues. Click here for more details and registration information. Small Business Council Meeting Scheduled – The State Chamber of Oklahoma’s Small Business Council has scheduled a luncheon meeting for Friday, February 26th from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm at The State Chamber’s offices (330 NE 10th Street in Oklahoma City). This meeting, featuring a roundtable discussion with The State Chamber’s lobby team, will occur the day after the deadline whereby bills will have been heard in their respective committees. We NEED the Council’s input into those measures (such as workers’ compensation reform, taxation and healthcare) which are important to the small business community and the impact they may have on economic growth and business prosperity. To register for this meeting, click here. SAVE THE DATE - March 25, 2010 - An evening Salute to Dick Rush, President/CEO of The State Chamber of Oklahoma for the last 23 years. Details forthcoming!
|
CHAMPION INVESTORS Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Granite Advisor |
|
|
|
||
|
|||
New President/CEO Announced – Phil Kennedy, Chairman of the Board for The State Chamber of Oklahoma, announced Tuesday that Fred Morgan has been hired to replace long-time president and CEO, Dick Rush. Morgan is a former twelve-year member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives who has recently worked as an adviser in the first Republican-led Senate in state history.
Workers’ Compensation Identified As Key To Jobs – With almost fifty separate workers’ compensation bills filed, Oklahoma legislators have recognized the importance of this issue to the future of jobs in our state. From a 286-page bill to restructure the entire system (HB 2639 – Representatives Mark McCullough & Lewis Moore) to a state question which would mandate binding arbitration on workers’ compensation claims (SJR 61 – Senator Glenn Coffee), the proposed legislation represents one of the larger number of suggested changes seen in recent years. The State Chamber’s Workers’ Compensation Committee will meet next week to review all of the bills.
Court Reaffirms Free Speech – The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed the First Amendment last week. In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (08-205), the court made it clear that corporations may advocate the election or defeat of political candidates, overruling prior case law and portions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. The ruling allows companies and labor unions to make independent expenditures freely in support of or in opposition to candidates and is not limited to federal elections. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is in the process of drafting an amendment that would conform Oklahoma’s ethics rules to the court’s ruling. 
Poll Shows Americans Favor Smaller Government – A recent Washington Post – ABC News poll indicates that most Americans want less government intrusion in their lives. Fifty-eight percent of poll respondents favored smaller government, while only 38 percent wanted a larger government and more services. The numbers represent a 4 percent increase in the smaller government preference since the question was asked in a June poll, the Post said. The general preference for a smaller government dates back to 1992, when the question was first asked. In the first year of the Clinton administration, 55 percent wanted a smaller government, and 38 percent preferred a bigger one. 
Oklahoma Nanotechnology Applications Program (ONAP) Solicitation Open - OCAST (Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology) has announced the solicitation for 2010 ONAP Proposals which is now available at 
OCPA Names President – Effective immediately, Michael Carnuccio will take over as President of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA). “I am extremely passionate about this organization’s mission to educate Oklahomans consistent with the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and individual initiative,” said Carnuccio. “Across this nation - from Cordell, Oklahoma to states like Massachusetts and New Jersey - the message has been loud and clear: It is time to put government on a diet.”
