CEO to CEO Briefing

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	June 26, 2009 Congress Continues Health Care Reform Discussion – As Congress continues to discuss methods of national health care reform, The State Chamber’s recently adopted policy opposes any Congressional effort to: 1. create a government sponsored public health plan which would compete with the private sector; 2. create a system which reduces options and competition, and therefore, quality; or 3. tax employer-provided health care benefits. Please feel free to contact the President and your Congressional representatives through the Oklahoma Prosperity Project. Also, please feel free to sign the attached petition and request protection to your rights to physician choice and patient-centered health care. Contact Matt Robison. U.S. Chamber Opposes "Cap and Trade" Bill – In a letter this week to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, The United States Chamber of Commerce expressed its opposition to HR 2998 (formerly HR 2454), the “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.” The nearly four-page letter touched on many aspects of the legislation, calling for balanced environmental objectives with the need for economic growth and job creation, and specifically pointing out the following as among realities that need to be considered and the bill modified accordingly: Carbon-based fuels are, and will remain for decades to come, the backbone of the U.S. energy system. HR 2998 must be conditional on an international treaty that sets binding commitments for all major emitters – from both the developed and developing world – while ensuring that every nation retains the flexibility to attain those commitments however it chooses. Tariffs on carbon-intensive imports should be rejected because they would likely be deemed to violate U.S. obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization and could spark a trade war. The bill should include nuclear as an “other qualifying energy resource.” Remove provisions in HR 2998 applying the Davis-Bacon Act, a law that in no way furthers the United States’ ability to reduce climate emissions, and would result in diminished competition, shutting out many qualified minority, small and non-union businesses from the entire market. Dangerous provisions that could lead to widespread lawsuit abuse should be removed or mitigated. Contact Ronn Cupp. Minimum Wage Increase Reminder – The federal minimum wage increase, enacted in 2007, mandated the increase take place in three steps beginning in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The third step (and final) increase goes into effect July 24th, bringing the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour. Contact Mike Seney. Karsten Creek to Host Golf Classic – The 2009 State Chamber Golf Classic is scheduled for Thursday, September 3rd at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, OK. This year’s outing will again feature fabulous door prizes, hole-in-one prizes and gifts for ALL participants! Since only 144 player slots are available on a first come first serve basis, player slots are reserved for those who are either Event Sponsorship Program participants (already determined) OR Hole Sponsors (now available). This is your chance to participate in this enjoyable event by becoming a door prize contributor or hole sponsor! If you are interested in doing so, click here. The deadline for becoming a hole sponsor is July 24th. More details will be coming to our sponsors soon thereafter. Contact Matt Robison. Dear Mr. Rush: I am the principal of Wells Law Firm, an Oklahoma City law firm with a practice emphasis on defending Oklahoma employers in labor and employment litigation. “…I have first-hand knowledge of a myriad of circumstances in which the State Chamber has secured significant victories for Oklahoma business that occurred outside of the media spotlight…” “…What have I learned in my experiences in working with the State Chamber? The State Chamber is the invaluable first line of defense in keeping anti-business legislation from becoming law in the first instance…” READ MORE	State Chamber Business Resource Partners Affinity services and products for our members CHAMPION INVESTORS Platinum BlueCross/BlueShield of Oklahoma ConocoPhillips Devon Energy Corporation Gold American Fidelity Assurance Company Chesapeake Energy Corporation INTEGRIS Health OGE Energy Corporation Silver AT&T - Oklahoma The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Oklahoma Publishing Company Public Service Company of Oklahoma Bronze The Bama Companies, Inc. BancFirst Bank of America Cherokee Nation Chickasaw Nation Georgia-Pacific Corporation Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc. OU Medical Center Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. Scott Rice The Williams Companies, Inc. Granite AAON, Inc. American Justice Partnership Arby's/US Beef Corporation Assurant, Inc. AVL Systems Design, LLC BIPAC The Boeing Company Case & Associates Properties, Inc. The Charles Machine Works, Inc. Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma CompCHOICE Crowe & Dunlevy, A Professional Corp. Express Employment Professionals Gabbard & Company The Journal Record JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Lafarge Building Materials McElroy Manufacturing, Inc. Oklahoma City RedHawks Oklahoma Hospital Association Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Oral Roberts University RXMedical, LLC SandRidge Energy Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. Sunoco, Inc. T.D. Williamson, Inc. University of Tulsa UPS The Worx Company Xerox Corporation Advisor Advancia Corporation Andrews Davis Callidus Technologies, LLC CenterPoint Energy Comanche Home Center Énye Media Fleming Building Company, Inc. Johnson & Johnson Johnston Enterprises, Inc. Mathis Brothers Furniture McAfee & Taft National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Oklahoma Osteopathic Association ORS Nasco, Inc. Presenting Matters, LLC The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City Stillwater National Bank & Trust Co. Investor Alltel Wireless Ameristar Fence Products APSCO, Inc. ARL BioPharma, Inc. Balliet's, LLC Blackshare Environmental Solutions Cameron University Canadian State Bank Carlos E. Johnson, PLLC CDBL, Inc. City National Bank & Trust Co. Cole & Reed, P.C. Community Hospital Coronado Resources, LLC Crawford Investments, LLC The Crosby Group Duncan Industrial Solutions El Paso Corporation Emrick's Van and Storage Event 1 The Flintco Companies, Inc. Fred Jones Companies, Inc. Freymiller, Inc. Genzyme Gilbert C. Gibson Glass Operating Group, LLC GlaxoSmithKline Globe Construction Co. Hitch Enterprises, Inc. Infinite Business Solutions Lawton-Ft. Sill Cavalry Lawton-Ft. Sill Chamber of Commerce Majors Investments MedEncentive, LLC Medtronic, Inc. Merck & Co., Inc. Mills Machine Company, Inc. mobiManage, LLC Moran Oil Enterprises Neurosurgery Specialists Oklahoma Bankers Association OKC Metropolitan Association of REALTORS Oklahoma Society of CPAs Panhandle Oil and Gas, Inc. Perimeter Technology Center, LLC Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, Inc. PSA Consulting Engineers, Inc. Quail Creek Bank, N.A. RAM Energy Resources, Inc. R.L. Hudson & Company Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. Saxum\|PR Schnake Turnbo Frank\|PR Signal Mountain Associates, Inc. SpiritBank - Bristow St. John Health System Stanley, Inc. The Stock Exchange Bank Stolhand Heating & Air Summit Consolidated Group, Inc. Terry Neese Personnel Services Topographic, Inc. Valley National Bank Vortex, Inc. Ward Petroleum Corporation WEBCO Industries, Inc.