Advocacy Information

Throughout the year, The Jefferson Chamber meets regularly with its local, state and federal legislators. In preparation for these meetings, the Chamber surveys its membership to help identify and prioritize legislative issues on the horizon that will affect Jefferson Parish and holds a series of planning meetings with its government committee to define its legislative agenda. The resulting document outlines the issues that are important to the business community in Jefferson Parish. Our legislative agenda is shared with elected officials and the public.

Our Legislative agenda is very simple – to promote and protect a pro-business environment in Jefferson Parish.

LOCAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

• Education
  • Support a Jefferson Parish Support a Jefferson Parish Public School Superintendent who will defend and strengthen K-12 accountability and standards
  • Support a comprehensive plan for teacher pay raises and upgraded learning facilities with the ultimate goal of an improved education product
• Technology       
  • Support the deployment of small cell technology which will enhance Jefferson Parish’s high speed connectivity for businesses and residents
• Transportation
  • Support securing funding for the airport flyover and ensure that construction progresses
  • Support the fair and equal regulation of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft to create additional means of convenient and safe transportation in Jefferson Parish

STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

• Healthcare
  • Oppose efforts that would increase employers’ health care costs and restrict choice in the type of coverage needed
  • Support efforts to strengthen accountability for improving health, outcomes, and cost, and to reward value.
• Budget Reform
  • Support efforts to increase fiscal transparency of state and local government operations.
  • Support sunsets and review process for statutory dedications
• Tax Reform
  • Support the review of incentives and exemptions
  • Support reducing the tax burden borne by businesses
• Education and Workforce Development
  • Early Childhood Education
    • Support funding for quality early childhood care and education
  • Public School K-12
    • Support and advocate for measures that advance standards, accountability, assessments, transparency, and alternative school choices
  • Workforce Development
    • Support ex-offender re-entry programs that enhance workforce development efforts
    • Support programs in high school that offers training and workforce skills development
  • Post-Secondary Education
    • Support tuition and fee autonomy.
• Economic Development Incentives
  • Support and streamline economic development incentives and initiatives that improve and benefit the state’s business climate.
• Infrastructure
  • Support the integrity, adequacy and solvency of the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF).
  • Support the gas tax initiative for funding towards infrastructure provided projects are specified and dedicated.
• Coastal Restoration
  • Oppose any action that diverts or threatens coastal funding in various fashions.
  • Support the notion that science should dictate spending, not politics
• Transportation
  • Support a statewide regulation for Transportation Networking Companies (TNC).
• Internet Fairness
  • Support efforts to close the online sales tax loophole and level the playing field for retailers.

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

• Flood Insurance
  • Support the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance (CSFI)
  • Support securing long term reauthorization and adopting pro-policyholder reforms
• Costal Restoration
  • Support policies that would expedite and provide additional funding for coastal restoration
• Healthcare
  • Support a cost-effective, competitive health care market as an incentive to economic growth and development while assuring that consumers in Louisiana continue to receive high quality, accessible and affordable health care.

Each year, Chamber members travel to Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C. to promote and discuss the Chamber’s legislative agenda. During these visits, Chamber members meet directly with elected officials and key staff members to share their feedback and make recommendations for improvements in Jefferson Parish.

The Chamber’s Day at the Legislature is held in the Spring during the legislative session. The day includes a legislative briefing and lunch with the legislative delegation and an opportunity to learn about the legislative process and receive information on the status of key legislation critical to Jefferson Parish and the business community.

Our DC Fly-In, which takes place in the Fall, hosts business leaders and local elected officials in the nation’s capital for meetings with the Louisiana Congressional Delegation, key departmental staff and representatives of the U.S. Chamber to discuss and promote the Chamber’s federal legislative agenda.

The Jefferson Chamber encourages its members to contact their local legislator on issues affecting their community.

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