BIA Outlines Policy Priorities for 2012

Advocating for efforts that enhance outcomes and slow the growth of health care costs for employers, a business-friendly state regulatory and tax structure, and policies that foster economic growth top the list of the Business and Industry Association's public policy priorities. The organization released its 2012 priorities, which also include issues related to workforce housing, infrastructure development, labor law, environmental regulations, energy costs and telecommunications.

Our focus will be on policies and initiatives that encourage New Hampshire businesses to expand and hire more workers, and businesses elsewhere to relocate to New Hampshire, said BIA President Jim Roche. Although we weathered the recession better than most states and our unemployment rate is relatively low, we still face many challenges and must continue to work to make New Hampshire business friendly. Businesses need stability and predictability when it comes to operating effectively and efficiently. We will continue to work to address cost drivers, such as health care costs, energy costs, regulatory fees and state taxes, that burden business owners and affect whether or not they grow their business and hire New Hampshire residents.

BIA develops its public policy priorities through an annual four-step policy development process. First, in partnership with local and regional chambers of commerce and trade associations, the BIA holds roundtable discussions throughout the state in June asking business leaders to name their top business challenges. Next, BIA members have the opportunity to refine and further prioritize key concerns through an online survey conducted in July.

In August, BIA's five policy committees, comprised of volunteers from member companies of all sizes, vet the preliminary list of concerns and recommend specific policy priorities to the organization's board of directors. Finally, at an autumn planning meeting, the board selects and approves the final list of top public policy issues for the coming year.

BIA's 2012 public policy priorities include:

FISCAL POLICY

Priority: The BIA believes fiscally conservative state budgets with a business-friendly regulatory and tax structure are an important part of the New Hampshire Advantage. Action steps include:

• Oppose an income or sales tax
• Oppose any increase in the BET or BPT
• Support efforts to pass a constitutional amendment to allow the state to target education aid
• Continued support for efforts to reform New Hampshire's public employee retirement system that address and reduce the significant unfunded liability of the fund
• Support efforts to reform and improve New Hampshire's business regulatory environment
• Encourage business leaders to identify and share opportunities for improving efficiencies in the state

Priority: The BIA supports business tax policies that foster economic growth. Action steps include:

• Oppose a reduction in, repeal of or suspension of the BET credit against the BPT
• Strengthen and improve New Hampshire's research and development tax credit
• Support efforts to improve net operating loss carry-forward provisions
• Monitor Department of Revenue Administration implementation of new reasonable compensation law to ensure conformity with legislative intent
• Support continued state investment in community development tax credits

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Priority: The BIA supports efforts that increase the availability and affordability of housing for working people. Action steps include:

Oppose any efforts to roll back or repeal core principles of SB 342 (2008 workforce housing legislation)
Increase awareness of the issue and encourage BIA members and chamber partners to become more engaged in workforce housing issues at the local level

Priority: The BIA supports infrastructure development. Action steps include:

Transportation-Advocate for investment in public transportation systems, including rail and air travel, as well as New Hampshire's road and bridge network, and support efforts to increase federal transportation aid to the state
Water/Sewer-Educate policy leaders and the public about water and wastewater treatment systems that are at the end of their design life and/or exceeding capacity
HUMAN RESOURCES, HEALTH CARE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Priority: The BIA supports pro-business labor rules and regulations that consider the rights and responsibilities of workers and management. Action step:

The BIA opposes National Labor Relations Board rulemaking or congressional proposals that favor organized labor interests over those of business

Priority: The BIA supports efforts to develop New Hampshire's future workforce. Action steps:

Support initiatives to improve job readiness skills for a multi-generational workforce; recruit, retain and train younger workers; recognize the abilities and talents of legal immigrants and refugees; and to prepare the labor force for 21st-century occupations
Support efforts that foster closer connections between business and education focused on work-readiness skills

Priority: The BIA supports efforts that enhance outcomes and reduce/slow the growth of total healthcare costs for employers and the state. Action steps include:

• Oppose new or expanded health care benefit mandates
• Support adequate funding to health care providers for Medicaid and other publicly supported healthcare programs to reduce cost-shifting to the business community
• Review and evaluate cost-effective ways to provide health care to the uninsured and underinsured to reduce cost-shifting to the business community from uncompensated care
• Support educational efforts to promote better health in the workplace that focus on wellness and chronic disease management
• Support healthcare reforms that lower costs, improve access and result in better outcomes

ENVIRONMENTAL

Priority: The BIA will continue to support environmental policies, legislation and administrative rules that balance economic development with the long-term viability of the state's natural resources. Action steps include: Advocate for initiatives to streamline and expedite the permitting process

• Foster discussions on how the Department of Environmental Services (DES) is funded, focusing on the appropriate allocation of the state's fees and taxes
• Support only balanced environmental fees to fund necessary state programs that do not inappropriately target any one sector of the population or economy
• Advocate for increased transparency and effective use of state environmental fees and cost recovery policies
• Support policies that promote private sector environmental stewardship and sustainability
• Support balanced state and federal policies regarding wetlands protection, as well as storm water and wastewater discharge
• Focus on the state's role in balancing the availability and use of water resources
• Promote efforts to ensure that New Hampshire's environmental regulations and statutes are not more burdensome than federal environmental regulations

ENERGY AND REGULATED UTILITIES

Priority: The BIA will continue to work towards mitigating the long- and short-term costs of energy. Action steps include: Oppose diversions of dedicated funds that are aimed at energy efficiency, conservation and sustainable energy resources

• Support proportional disbursements of energy efficiency and sustainable energy funds to all energy consumers, based on energy usage and the amount each consumer sector pays into the fund
• Support initiatives and policies that leverage state and regional strengths, including the development of affordable renewable energy resources
• Lead and support efforts to educate businesses, elected officials and consumers about energy policy issues
• Support state policies that enable small and large businesses to continue to access competitive supply options
• Participate in state proceedings focusing on long-term energy planning and advocate for greater affordability, reliability, fuel diversification and energy efficiency
• Support efforts to update the New Hampshire Energy Plan

Priority: The BIA will support efforts to reform the state's telecommunications regulations to ensure fairness and equal competition among all service providers. Action steps include: Support efforts to expand telecommunications infrastructure throughout the state to improve access and reliability

• Participate in state proceedings that focus on the further development of telecommunications infrastructure
• Lead and support efforts to educate businesses, elected officials and consumers about the state's telecommunications regulatory structure

The Business and Industry Association is New Hampshire's statewide chamber of commerce and leading business advocate. The BIA represents more than 400 members in a variety of industries, including advanced manufacturing, high technology, professional services, financial services, health care, hospitality and tourism, public utilities, higher education and insurance. Member firms employ 86,000 people throughout the state and contribute $4.5 billion annually to the state's economy. Through advocacy with state legislators and regulators, the BIA works to promote a healthy business climate and robust economic future for NH.