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In
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SURVEY
OF MEMBERSHIP |
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The Governmental Affairs Committee needs to know what is on your
mind. Periodically during this year, we will ask you to complete a survey. These
surveys help us to develop positions that allow us to represent the Chamber
membership to local, state, and federal officials.
Please  take
just a moment to share your opinions with us: click
here or on the checkmark to take the survey.
An excellent example of the impact of the survey was the
retention of the area 706 area code for Columbus. In response to last summer's
survey, Chamber membership strongly supported keeping 706 even though it would
require 10 digit dialing. Through the survey, you told us you did not want the
hassle and expense of changing your letterhead, your business cards, your
customer literature, and other material. We carried your survey results to the
Public Service Commission and were successful in our efforts to keep 706 in
Columbus. That is just one reason it is important for you to respond!
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Useful
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About
This Newsletter |
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Thank
you for subscribing to the Governmental Issues Update. You are
receiving this e-mail as a member benefit of the Greater
Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Please forward any
comments, suggestions, or requests to unsubscribe, to Harold
Bryant at 706-327-1566, ext. 35.
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Other
Chamber Newsletters |
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Chamber
Express
What is going on with the Chamber and it's members.
CCAA
Marquee Flash
Articles and information from the Columbus Cultural Arts
Alliance
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2006
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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The 2006 Georgia General Assembly was a good session for the
Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. With the exception of funding
for the Health Science Building for Columbus Technical College, our agenda
was successfully addressed. Highlights of the session were:
Budget-$11 million in funding for the Columbus
Convention and Trade Center. Chamber position-Support. Passed
House Bill 1121-Excludes the Infantry Museum from sales tax on
construction materials saving between $1.5 and 2 million. Chamber
position-Support. Passed
House Bill 1291- Removed "Auto Service Clubs" from the
insurance code. This bill was passed at the request of Road America as it is
building a service center here in Columbus. Chamber
position-Support. Passed
House Bill 1313-Requires any exercise of eminent domain by housing
and development authorities to be for public use. This prevents the taking
of private property from one person and transferring it to another for
private use. Chamber position-Support. Passed
House Bill 43-Required health insurance policies to cover treatment
of morbid obesity. It has long been the Chamber's policy to oppose mandated
benefits on the basis that benefits is an employer's decision. Chamber
position-Oppose. Failed
House Bill 1359-Required Georgia businesses to fund an insurance pool
for uninsured with preexisting conditions. Chamber position-Oppose. Failed
All of last year's tort reform gains were protected from
attempts to change or weaken them. In addition, no bills were passed that
jeopardize the quantity or quality of downstream Chattahoochee River cities
and counties.
For additional information on bills of interest to you or
concern your business, contact Harold Bryant at 706-327-1566 or hbryant@columbusgachamber.com.
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Columbus leaders visit the Capitol
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Columbus Day at the Capitol provides Chamber leadership a
chance to visit the Georgia Capitol and make or renew acquaintances with our
elected officials. It also affords us the opportunity to personally speak with
most of the 235 House and Senate members and give them a gift from the Greater
Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. This year's gift was a set of mugs with
the state seal and "2006 General Assembly" on one side and the Chamber
logo on the other.
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| (L-R) Russ Carreker, president, Bytewise
Measurement Systems, Frank Bullard, vice president Public Relations, Bill
Heard Enterprises, Gov. Sonny Perdue, Governmental Affairs Chairman Colin
Martin, Mike Gaymon, president and CEO, Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber
of Commerce and Tom Scott, executive vice president, Chamber, participated
in Columbus Day at the Capitol March 16. |
"The Columbus Region's delegation over the years has been
known for its ability to work together for the good of the Region,"
according to Mike Gaymon, president and CEO, Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of
Commerce. "Columbus Day gives us an opportunity to say thanks and recognize
elected officials, especially for what they do to meet our region's needs and
concerns. The dean of our delegation is Representative Calvin Smyre who has
served in the House for 32 years."
Representing the Chamber were Governmental Affairs Chairman
Colin Martin, Frank Bullard, Russ Carreker, Mike Gaymon, and Tom Scott. The
group was recognized on the floor of both the House of Representatives and the
Senate. Gaymon expressed greetings from Columbus and appreciation for the work
our elected officials do to help Columbus and the Valley Partnership Region. The
trip concluded with a visit with Governor Perdue in his office.
Sponsors for the event were Aflac, Bill Heard, Columbus
Convention and Visitors Bureau, Columbus Technical College, Columbus Water
Works, Rob Doll Nissan, TIC Federal Credit Union and Winship Clinic P.C. Thank
you for your strong support for the Chamber's Governmental Affairs program.
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GOVERNMENTAL
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
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The Governmental Affairs Committee has a busy
agenda for the remainder of 2006. The committee will host the Eye
Opener Breakfast on May 25 and October 25. The programs on these
dates will be candidate forums for those running in the primaries
(May 25) and the General Election (October 25).
Also mark your calendars for September 21. That
is the date of the Legislative Express-an event to recognize and
thank our local, state, and federal elected officials for their
service. Sponsorships for this event are available. Contact
Jennifer Majors at jmajors@columbusgachamber.com
or 706-327-1566 to learn more.
The 2006 Governmental Affairs Committee invites
you to share your issues and concerns. Members of the committee
are:
Chairman, Colin Martin-Winship Clinic
Ann McNeer, Master Tax Solutions
Bob Jones, Columbus Technical College
Bob Tant, Columbus Water Works
Brian Hercules, Atmos Energy
Frank Bullard, Bill Heard Enterprises
Georgia Brown, Columbus State University
Harland Price, Architectural Design Group, LLC
Tripp Layfield, Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Mark McCollum, Consolidated Columbus Government
Murray Solomon, Raymond James Financial Services
Marta Trueax, Chattahoochee River Club
Clint Perkins, TIC Federal Credit Union
Robert Watkins, Georgia Power Company
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