CVC Congressional Atrium To Be Site Of Congressional Reception - The Congressional Visitor Center Congressional Atrium will be the site of the State Chamber’s annual Congressional Reception, September 14th in Washington, D.C.  The reception is the highlight of the annual Washington Fly-in.  The atrium features a dramatic view of the Capitol dome. The Fly-in, set for September 13-14, also includes a program featuring national experts on issues  critical to Oklahoma, and the annual Congressional Breakfast.  This year’s headquarters hotel is the Liaison Hotel Capitol Hill.  For reservations, call (866) 233-4642.  Be sure to tell them you are with the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce group or provide the following reservation ID:  TSCO12.  Email reservations can be made directly at reservations@affinia.com.  You will need to reference the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce group, confirm dates and provide payment information.  You may also want to reference the ID above. Room Reservation Deadline is August 16th. 
Contact Ronn Cupp or Karen Cagle.

Commissioner Holland Challenges 1% Health Insurance Claims Processing Fee – Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland has filed a petition to the Oklahoma Supreme Court to block the collection of a 1% Claims Processing Fee that was passed this legislative session in an effort to generate revenue for the state’s Medicaid program.  Her assertion is that the fee is unconstitutional on the basis that the revenue measure (HB 2437) violates the provisions of State Question 640, which passed in 1992 and requires all revenue raising measures to pass the legislature by a 75% vote in the House and Senate or be sent to a vote of the people.  The revenue raising bill was passed during the last five days of session which is alsoc currently prohibited. In addition to the fact that the measure creates an additional burden on the business community by increasing health insurance costs, The State Chamber agrees with the Commissioner Holland’s assertion and believes the measure is un-constitutional. To see a copy of the Commissioner’s press release, click here.  To see a copy of The State Chamber press release, click here.
Contact Fred Morgan.

Primary Elections Next Tuesday! Early Voting Starts Today, Be Informed Before You Go To The Polls - You can vote early today, tomorrow and Monday. Also, let Candidates’ positions on the economy guide your election decisions. Click for info on Early Voting and Voters’ Guides.
Contact Kris Rush.

Good News - Is the Building Crane our new state bird?  Downtown Oklahoma City skyline boasts seven cranes as high-rise construction booms for Devon Energy, OU’s Children’s Hospital and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. 

Senate To Consider Oil Spill Response Legislation - Just a week after U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced the Senate would take up a comprehensive energy and climate package, he announced yesterday that the Senate would instead consider a package including oil spill response measures and several energy provisions.  According to our Washington, D.C., source, the bill will not include a utility-only cap on carbon emissions or provisions that would mandate a certain percentage of the nation’s electricity come from renewable sources.  The Senate may still consider a more comprehensive energy bill in the fall.
Contact Ronn Cupp.

Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act Reported From Committee - The House Energy and Commerce Committee has reported favorably H.R. 4678, the Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act.  The legislation would harm domestic manufacturing of both U.S. and foreign headquartered companies by adding costly and burdensome customs requirements and substantially altering product liability laws at the state and federal levels.  The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is opposing the legislation in its current form.  The full U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the bill next week.
Contact Mike Seney.

Voters Divided On Spending Measures - This week’s Zogby Interactive Poll indicates that voters are divided about the importance of not increasing the federal deficit relative to spending measures and tax cuts.  The poll found that 53 percent of likely voters agreed that federal spending on jobs is more  important than the deficit.  When respondents were given a list of budget items that may increase the federal budget and asked to choose which are justified, infrastructure projects had the most support (50 percent), followed by unemployment benefits and business tax breaks (48 percent each). 
Contact Ronn Cupp.

Champions Of Health Nominations Now Being Accepted – Do you know a health Champion? Individuals and organizations around the state champion efforts to improve the health of Oklahomans every day, using limited resources and without recognition. The Champions of Health Awards seek to shine a light on those profound efforts to improve Oklahoma’s health. The 2010 Champions of Health awards program invites nominations of those who are making a significant difference in the health of Oklahomans. Proceeds from the Champions of Health awards program benefit the Oklahoma Caring Foundation, Inc., a 501(C)(3) organization, providing basic health care needs to Oklahoma children. The 2010 Champions of Health awards ceremony will be held this fall in the Oklahoma City metro area. For more information about the Champions of Health event and nominations process, click here.
Contact Matt Robison.

Fred Morgan Speaks At Rotary Club 29 – State Chamber President and CEO, Fred Morgan, was the guest speaker for the Club 29 Rotary Club this week.  As indicated in the title, Club 29 is the 29th Rotary Club ever established and currently has third largest membership in the world!  Held at the Petroleum Club in downtown Oklahoma City, Fred spoke to the membership about the mission of The State Chamber and the current development of a strategic plan for our state.  To see the video of his presentation, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Gubernatorial Candidate Forum Scheduled – The State Chamber and our Small Business Council is presenting a gubernatorial candidate forum luncheon on Tuesday, October 26th, at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.  This event, moderated by Dick Pryor, host of the Oklahoma Forum on OETA-TV, will feature the final candidates for Oklahoma’s Governor and is scheduled exactly one week before the election.  More details will come soon!
Contact Matt Robison.