What Has Lenexa Chamber Government Affairs Done For Your Business Lately?

Many bills the Chamber has recently worked hard to pass are now saving
your business time and money, restoring fairness to the workplace, and
promoting investment that will ensure our state’s economic health!

• Repealed personal property taxes on newly-acquired business
  machinery and equipment, saving you money each year and providing
  an economic incentive to replace or upgrade the equipment at your place
  of business.
  
  
• Made positive alcohol/drug test results more easily admissible in
  workers compensation cases to help keep premiums under control and
  make sure you aren’t unfairly paying for claims.
  
  
• Provided additional state and local spending on K-12 education to
  preserve an important economic development asset in attracting new
  businesses and ensure our children are prepared to compete and succeed in
  the workplace.
  
  
• Phased down the state estate tax over three years until it sunsets in 2010
  to help ensure the long-term survival of small businesses.
  
  
• Authorized the expanded use of state funds to retain existing Kansas
  companies to protect our valuable job and tax base and to recognize longterm
  investment in our state.
  
  
• Expanded misconduct that may bar eligibility for unemployment
  compensation benefits to help keep premiums under control and make
  sure you aren’t unfairly paying for claims.
  
  
• Expanded a program by which certain small businesses may receive
  income tax credits for contributions to employee health insurance or
  health savings accounts because spiraling health care costs are one of the
  biggest challenges facing the business community today!
  

And don’t forget -- many of the Chamber’s biggest victories are costly bills we made sure DIDN’T become law!

Some of What Else We’ve Been Up to the Past Few Months!

• Hosted a seven-way Republican primary gubernatorial candidate
  meet-and-greet event.
  
  
• Created online Candidate Profile Guides for the primary and general
  elections.
  
  
• Hosted candidate interviews with Republican primary candidates for
  the 30th House District seat.
  
  
• Hosted a private meeting between members and Governor Kathleen
  Sebelius.
  
  
• Hosted a private meeting between members and gubernatorial candidate
  Sen. Jim Barnett.
  
  
• Co-hosted a candidate forum with general election candidates for the
  U.S. Third Congressional District seat.
  
  
• Co-hosted a candidate forum with candidates for Chairman of the
  Johnson County Commission.
  
  
• Publicly supported the ballot question on the DeSoto School District’s
  proposed $105 million bond issue for school facilities, land acquisition,
  and technology.
  
  
• Attended legislative interim committee meetings at the Capitol on such
  topics as tax policy and workers compensation.
  
  
• Updated the Governmental Affairs section on the Chamber website
  www.lenexa.org, which includes information about the Chamber’s
  governmental affairs program; a directory of local, state, and federal
  elected officials; election information; tips for communicating effectively
  with elected officials; and a library of legislative links!