Legislative Advocacy

In recent years, the Chamber has stepped up its legislative advocacy by taking pro-business policy positions during sessions of the Kentucky General Assembly and building relationships with legislators and members of the state’s Congressional delegation. The Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee spearheads these efforts. The Chamber has also hired the lobbying firm of Capitol Solutions LLC to represent its interests in Frankfort. Rallying our collective voices for local business interests in Frankfort and Washington D.C. is Chamber advocacy!

Major initiatives:

Legislative policy positions: Each year, the Chamber surveys its members on a variety of issues. Results from the survey are then used by the Governmental Affairs Committee to craft legislative policy positions, which promote a pro-business environment. Issues include healthcare, Worker’s Compensation, expanded gaming and more. The Chamber’s positions are communicated to all legislators and the Office of the Governor.

Advanced Technology Center funding: The Chamber has rallied the community to support state funding of the Advanced Technology Center at Owensboro Community & Technical College. This included the development of a website that allowed local residents and businesses to send more than 16,000 emails of support to lawmakers. Ten years after first being proposed, Phase I of the center was funded during the 2005 General Assembly and is now under construction. The Chamber is now rallying for Phase II, which will provide a new home for Western Kentucky University’s local campus. The third largest city in Kentucky cannot be satisfied with a large state appropriation every so often. We must act like the third largest city in the state and expect to see a return on the $72 million deficit on tax dollars that Owensboro and Daviess County sends to Frankfort every two years.

GO VOTE! campaign: In the past three general elections, the Chamber has led a “get out the vote” drive that has seen increased turnout. Daviess County’s voter turnout now eclipses the average of all Kentucky counties and that of all surrounding counties.

Legislative Committee Meeting: In September of 2006, the Chamber and RiverPark Center hosted 32 legislators from the Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development & Tourism. The legislators traveled to Owensboro from across the state to see the best of our community. The Chamber worked with its lobbying firm for six months to arrange for the meeting to be held locally. It was attended by leaders from both the House and Senate as well as staff from other statewide elected officials.

Washington D.C. fly-in: In June of 2006, the Chamber took a delegation to D.C. to build rapport with Kentucky Congressmen and lobby for regional projects, including the upgrading of the Audubon and Natcher parkways to Interstate spurs. The group met with several leaders, including Senator Mitch McConnell, pictured. The Chamber is planning another D.C. trip in May of 2007.

Legislative forums: During sessions of the Kentucky General Assembly, the Chamber holds Saturday morning forums with local legislators. These forums “bring Frankfort to Owensboro” and allow Chamber members to talk with legislators and learn first-hand about policy and issues being discussed in the state capitol.

Transportation advocacy: The Chamber focuses much of its advocacy on area transportation improvements. Click here to see the Chamber’s gotransportation.net website.