Chamber members deliver requests
BOISE – Chambers of commerce from across Idaho pulled together Monday to ask lawmakers and Gov. Butch Otter to back local-option sales taxes to pay for public transportation, more state investments into science and technology, and an expanded community college system.
At a luncheon crowded with chamber members from throughout the state and much of the state Legislature, and headlined by a talk from the governor, the chambers pressed the point that they have a voice to add to the public policy process.
“We represent over 9,000 Idaho businesses. They employ … literally hundreds of thousands of Idahoans,” Jonathan Coe, head of the Coeur d’Alene Area Chamber of Commerce and the president of the new Idaho Chamber Alliance, told the crowd of more than 300. The chambers, Coe said, “bring to the dialogue a very important perspective, and we hope we can do a little better job of delivering it than in the past.”
The chambers formed the alliance and hired a lobbyist this year, after splitting off from another business lobby, the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, which now is focusing on its core business members. Those include some of the largest businesses in the state, mostly based in Boise.
Chambers, Coe said, represent businesses in every community. The alliance, he said, wants to send “a single, unified message … that businesses across the state can support.”
The group also backed tougher math and science requirements for high-school graduation, which lawmakers have supported this year.
But lawmakers haven’t been supportive, historically, of local-option taxes to fund transit.
That taxing ability, Coe said, “is one of those tools that would be very valuable for us to be able to give to our local communities.”
Otter said Coe had stolen his thunder somewhat by talking about community colleges. The governor has made the issue a top priority.
“I believe most people in this room will agree that Idaho needs an expanded community college system,” Otter said.
He repeated his call for lowering the supermajority needed to form a new community college district from two-thirds to 60 percent, if the vote takes place at a primary or general election, and to give $5 million in seed money to a newly formed community college district.
“With your help, I think the Legislature is seriously considering the $5 million, and is seriously considering the 60 percent,” Otter told the group.
He also offered a strong defense of his targeted grocery tax credit proposal – something that didn’t make the chamber group’s list of top issues.
Otter also stressed his interest in economic development and helping Idaho businesses, saying, “I’m going to be your general sales office here in Boise. … If you hear of a business lead, tell us.”