By Garrett Wagley
You’ve heard a lot from the Chamber about education. The organization has held meetings, published articles and reports and generally shared the scary statistics about where the American education system stands in comparison to other countries. Mike Edwards has also repeatedly said that if we do not improve our education system and produce students with the advanced skills needed for a more technical workplace, then our economic future is in peril. That’s all true.
It is also true that ultimately making these changes in the educational system is a public policy issue. In order to transform the system, the business community must convince elected leaders to support and vote for the necessary changes. In short, businesses must make their collective voices heard.
A lot of the issues that affect businesses are discussed and decided in the public policy arena. Things like tax rates, transportation infrastructure, labor relations, insurance requirements, and many other issues are ultimately public policy issues. And that’s why every businessperson needs to be engaged and vocal. Now is the time to do just that, because the Tennessee General Assembly is back in session.
Please contact your legislators and ask them to support the Knoxville Chamber’s 2008 Legislative Agenda. Also ask them to look out for business and make it a priority to strengthen the state’s pro-business environment. This year that is doubly important.
The Legislature’s primary concern this year will be balancing the budget. Revenue projections for the FY 2007-2008 state budget turned out to be overly optimistic. As a result, state revenue collections are $150-200 million under budget, and that shortfall must be addressed in this legislative session. The lower revenue collections also have implications for the budget the Legislature is charged with approving for FY 2008-2009. There will be less to spend and priorities will have to be established. There may be efforts to identify new sources of revenue – which could mean identifying ways to extend business taxes. This is another area where business needs to have a voice.
The business community must advocate for its priorities and stress that economic growth can get the state through the revenue crunch. Policies that support job growth will support the growth of the Tennessee economy.
To contact your legislators please visit www.knoxvillechamber.com/legislators for a list of the members of the Knox County delegation of the Tennessee General Assembly. I also encourage you to join the Chamber as it travels to Nashville on February 25-26.
Garrett Wagley is the Chamber’s Director of Communications and Government Relations. He leads the Chamber’s advocacy efforts, staffs the Government Relations and Public Policy Committee and serves as the organization’s lobbyist.
