Top Priorities

These are the issues that will be the top priorities our Legislative Committee will work on during the 2007 Legislative Session.

Regulatory Reform

§        Require all state agencies to rely on explicit rule-making authority consistent with legislative intent.

§        Prevent agencies from imposing rules on private employers that are not also imposed on public employers.

§        Support measures by the legislature to “sunset” and review substantive laws, agency rules and programs, and to extend regulatory reform requirements to all agencies.

Transportation

§        Support new transportation projects that will improve traffic flow, enhance access to retail businesses and improve industrial job creation.

§        Dedicate funds for ongoing maintenance and operations of all state highways in the Longview-Kelso area as the first priority of transportation.

Health Care

§        Promote fiscally responsible and appropriate budget and policy measures for state-supported health plans; opposing costly mandated health benefit requirements and retaining managed care.

§        Advocate policies that promote and protect the private-sector health care delivery system and provide appropriate incentives to deliver high-quality, effective care, products and services in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

§        Advocate private, market-based solutions for access to, and adequate reimbursement for, health care goods and services.

Taxes

§        Further reduce the negative impact of the Business and Occupation tax on the state’s economy and the onerous burden it places on business.

§        Support a uniform and equitable system of property taxation that avoids shifting property tax burdens from one class of taxpayer to another.

§        Preserve the concept of valuing property and 100% of true and fair values.