Legislative Agenda 2015 - Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce

Making Government More Efficient
• Reduce the economic burden of regulation, bureaucratic red tape and costly
mandates on private employers.
• Modernizing pension/retirement-benefit systems to create fiscally stable
state and local governments.
• Improving government efficiencies and limiting excessive costs being
passed down to employers and employees.
Preparing Florida’s Infrastructure for Smart Growth &
Development
• Clarifying and streamlining permitting and regulatory processes to help
manage our state’s growth.
• Creating long-term, science-based water policies that will address water
needs in a fiscally responsible way and help protect our precious natural
resources.
• Providing families with reliable and cost-effective energy options by
championing energy policies that focus on the long-term needs of our state.
Championing Florida’s Unique Quality of Life
• Supporting an innovative and proactive healthcare system that provides
greater access to quality care, controls costs and promotes a healthy
population.
• Support legislation that would extend coverage to nearly a million or
more working, uninsured Floridians by lowering costs, creating additional
competition and taking advantage of all federal funds being made available
to the state in a manner that makes Florida’s business climate more
competitive.
• Creating a medical liability environment that will attract world-class
Federal Issues
• Support legislation that works to lessen the burden of the government health
care law while promoting strategies and solutions to help businesses get costs
under control, improve quality, and increase coverage of the uninsured.
• Support an immigration policy that encourages employment-based and
national security immigration reform as well as job protections for US citizens.
• Support a national effort to encourage pro-growth energy action that increases
diverse energy supplies, improves efficiency, and promotes environmental
stewardship while putting Americans back to work.
• Oppose tax increases that reduce businesses’ ability to grow, invest, and
create jobs.
• Support fair workplace rules that protect workers and promote employer
flexibility and economic growth, while opposing harmful proposals and
burdensome regulations that will generate litigation instead of jobs.
• Support work to strengthen the nation’s educational standards and promote
effective workforce training programs.
• Support legislation to end lawsuit abuse and to ensure that businesses receive
the fair, efficient, and consistent justice system they deserve.
• Support the charge to modernize and expand our nation’s transportation,
telecommunications, energy and water networks.
Elected Officials
UNITED STATES
SENATE
Marco Rubio
8669 NW 36th Street, #110
Miami, FL 33166
305-418-8553
B40A Dirksen Senate Office
Building
Washington, D.C., 20510
202-224-3041
UNITED STATES
Bill Nelson 413 Clematis Street, # 210 HOUSE OF
West Palm Beach, FL 33401 REPRESENTIVES
Phone: 561-514-0189
Ted Deutch, District 21
Fax: 561-514-4078
8177 West Glades Road,
716 Senate Hart Office
Suite 211
Building
Boca Raton, FL 33434
Washington, DC 20510
561-470-5540
202-224-5274
1024 Longworth House
Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-3001
www.deutch.house.gov
Lois Frankel, District 22
2500 N. Military Trail, Suite 490
West Palm Beach, Florida
33431
Phone: 561-998-9045
1037 Longworth House Office
Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3026
www.frankel.house.gov
Alcee L. Hastings, District 20
2701 West Oakland Park Blvd.,
Suite 200
561-676-7911
2353 Rayburn Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
202-225-1313
www.alceehastings.house.gov
Patrick Murphy, District 18
2000 PGA Blvd., Suite A3220
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
33408
561-253-8433
1517 Longworth House Office
Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-3026
www.patrickmurphy.house.gov
STATE OFFICIALS
FLORIDA CABINET
STATE OFFICIALS
Rick Scott
Governor, State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
850-488-7146
www.flgov.com
Ken Detzner
Secretary of State
R.A. Gray Building
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
850-245-6500
www.dos.state.fl.us
Adam Putnam
Commissioner of
Agriculture
Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
850-488-3022
www.doacs.state.fl.us
STATE SENATE
www.flsenate.gov
Joseph Abruzzo,
District 25
12300 West Forest Hill
Blvd., Suite 200
Wellington, FL 33414
561-791-4774
abruzzo.joseph.web@
flsenate.gov
Maria Sachs,
District 34
955 N.W. 17th Avenue, Suite E
Delray Beach, FL 33445
561-279-1427
sachs.maria.web@flsenate.
gov
Local Officials
COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
www.pbcgov.com
301 N. Olive Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Steven L. Abrams,
District 4
561-276-1220
sabrams@pbcgov.org
Priscilla A. Taylor, Mayor,
District 7
561-276-1350
ptaylor@pbcgov.org
Hal Valeche,
District 1
561-355-2201
hvaleche@pbcgov.org
Paulette Burdick, Vice Chair,
District 2
561-355-2202
pburdick@pbcgov.com
Shelley Vana,
District 3
561-355-2203
svana@pbcgov.org
FLORIDA HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Mary Lou Berger, District 5
561-355-2205
mberger@pbcgov.com
Lori Berman,
District 90
2300 High Ridge Road,
Suite 161
Boynton Beach, FL 33426
561-374-7850
lori.berman@myfloridahouse.gov
Jess R. Santamaria,
District 6
561-355-6300
jsantama@pbcgov.org
www.myfloridahouse.gov
Bill Hager,
District 87
301 Yamato Rd., Ste. 1240
Boca Raton, FL 33431
561-470-6607
bill.hager@myfloridahouse.
gov
Jeff Atwater
Chief Financial Officer
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0300
850-413-2850
www.fldfs.com
Kevin Rader,
District 81
9045 LaFontana Blvd., Suite
117
Boca Raton, FL 33434
561-218-5010
kevin.rader@myfloridahouse.gov
Pam Bondi
Attorney General
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
850-414-3300
www.myfloridalegal.com
Irving L. “Irv” Slosberg,
District 91
7499 W. Atlantic Avenue,
Suite 200
Delray Beach, FL 33446
561-496-5940
irving.slosberg@myfloridahouse.gov
2016 South Palm Beach County
Business Legislative Agenda
CITY OF BOCA
RATON
COUNCIL
www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us
201 W. Palmetto Park Road
Boca Raton, FL 33432
561.393.7708
Mayor Susan Haynie
shaynie@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Deputy Mayor Robert
Weinroth
rweinroth@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Councilman Michael
Mullaugh
mmullaugh@ci.boca-raton.
fl.us
Councilman Jeremy
Rodgers
jrodgers@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Councilman Scott Singer
ssinger@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Protecting Business
City Issues
The objective of the Boca Chamber’s Legislative Agenda is to advocate
for our members as it relates to Federal, State and local government
agendas.
MISSION
To Promote and Sustain Economic Prosperity in Boca Raton
and South Palm Beach County.
OFFICERS
Jerry Fedele, Boca Raton Regional Hospital Chair
Ethel Isaacs Williams, Florida Power and Light, Chair Elect
Michael Kaufman, Kaufman Lynn Construction, Treasurer
Troy M. McLellan, CCE, FCCP, Boca
Chamber, President & CEO/Secretary
Randy Nobles, Croskey Lanni PC, Immediate Past Chair
DIRECTORS
Vic Beninate, AT&T
Eric Brown, Aliant Payment Systems Inc.
Michael Daszkal, Daszkal Bolton LLP
Charles Deyo, Cendyn
Melanie Dickinson, South Florida Business Journal
Jim Dunn, JM Lexus
Mark Edoff, The ADT Corporation
Mitch Feldman, West Boca Medical Center
Peter Gallo, Ph.D., Saint Andrew’s School
Elisa Garcia, Office Depot, Inc.
Larry Katz, Wells Fargo
John W. Kelly, Ph. D., Florida Atlantic University
Richard Pollock, YMCA of South Palm Beach County
Jackie Reeves, Bell Rock Capital
Rocki Rockingham, Jarden Consumer Solutions
Kevin Ross, Ed.D., Lynn University
Sal Saldana, Town Center at Boca Raton
Susan Saturday, Bluegreen Vacations
Chuck Stout, CBIZ Meridian Insurance Group
• Streamline and enhance the City of Boca Raton’s building permit issuance
procedures, Individual Development Approvals and approve and fully implement
the pattern book and IDG . Fully implement all Planned-Mobility (“PM”) districts
and ensure sufficient housing units are contained therein
• Support an ordinance that allows a local preference positive adjustment in the bid
process when the company holds a Business Tax Receipt issued by the City of
Boca Raton.
• Support Florida Atlantic University’s efforts to work in collaboration with the City
of Boca Raton on the reinvention of the 20th St. district and the development
of an ongoing comprehensive “Town and Gown” relationship. In addition,
the Chamber supports the University as it seeks to achieve these goals by
creating a steering committee of partners, which include representatives
from the University’s administration, student body, faculty, and police and
fire departments; representatives from City of Boca Raton’s leadership; and
community representation, including Chamber leaders, local business owners,
and residents.
• Monetize the City-owned former Wildflower property for purposes of increasing
City revenue to improve infrastructure and the downtown while creating a sense
of place.
• Create an Independent CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Director to
enhance the CRA district and create a sense of place in Downtown Boca Raton.
• Create additional parking and transportation opportunities that meet the
demands of sustainable growth to include the construction of a parking garage,
establishment of a Downtown and FAU circulator.
• Support targeted and timely annexation of those areas that provide opportunity
to enhance the City of Boca Raton and increase its tax base tax and revenue,
create jobs and support economic development.
• Support the BID (Business Improvement District) Steering Committee and its
activities to provide a funding mechanism to enhance and improve the Downtown
infrastructure, parking, transportation and marketing.Support the BID (Business
Improvement District) Steering Committee and its activities to provide a funding
mechanism to enhance and improve the Downtown.
• Support the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University’s efforts to further
integrate its activities with those of the wider business community and Florida
Atlantic University in order to ensure a viable environment for technology
entrepreneurs to develop and grow successful companies that create jobs and
improve the quality of place in Boca Raton.
• Support a Foreign Trade Zone (“FTZ”) encompassing the airport, the Research
Park at FAU and adjoining commercial areas.
• Advocate for the use of public/private partnerships to deliver capital and
infrastructure improvements in the City of Boca Raton.
• Support pension and other benefit reforms to sustain the City of Boca Raton and
mitigate financial risk to the city.
• Support those public policies which sustain Boca Raton’s quality of life as a place
to live, work, learn and play.
County Issues
• Support an ordinance that allows a local preference positive adjustment in
the bid process when company holds a Business Tax Receipt issued by Palm
Beach County.
• Encourage Palm Tran to further serve Boca Raton and contribute to Boca’s
efforts to improve and coordinate public transportation circulation between
downtown, the train station and FAU campus.
• Advocate for Palm Beach County School Board to find efficiencies in cost and
services and enhance educational and management performance.
• Support Florida Atlantic University’s leveraging of its resources and strategic
partnerships to enhance and/or develop programs that foster entrepreneurship
and expand the region’s high tech workforce.
• Support the research and enhancement for alternative water resources on the
east coast of Florida.
• Advocate for the use of public/private partnerships to deliver capital and
infrastructure improvements in the County.
• Support a regional approach for beach re-nourishment projects by the Palm
Beach County Commission.
State Issues
• Support the elimination of the statewide sales tax on commercial leases.
Building the Perfect Business Climate
• Support the elimination of the sales tax on machinery and equipment
• Remove burdensome property taxes on machinery and equipment for a
period of time after purchase, and encourage businesses to expand by
exempting property taxes on improvements for 10 years.
• Ensure fair and consistent private-sector wage regulations.
• Continuing efforts that will create competitive and stable private-sector
insurance markets.
• Lowering the burden of unemployment compensation taxes on employers.
• Work with the lending community and venture funds to ensure small
businesses have appropriate access to capital while ensuring Florida’s share
of venture capital dollars increases significantly.
Improving Education for a Better Workforce
• Support Florida Atlantic University as it pursues, the intention of becoming the
country’s fastest-improving public research university. Specifically, support
FAU as it implements initiatives and measures designed to achieve continued
success within the framework of the State University System Performance
Funding Model.
• Support legislation and/or regulation that provide universities and colleges
greater flexibility to engage in public/private partnerships.
• Continuing to champion quality school choice options so parents can take the
lead on choosing the best learning environment for their children.
• Expanding the use of cost-effective digital learning throughout Florida’s
education system and establish digital technology standards.
• Support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics)
and entrepreneurial initiatives that fuel competitiveness and advance the
“knowledge economy” in our region.
• Strengthening Florida’s innovation economy by advocating for programs that
attract and retain world-class talent in targeted industries like healthcare,
technology, research and development, and engineering.
Diversifying Florida’s Economy and Growing Jobs
• Significantly increase investments in research and development to leverage
and grow businesses in emerging technology sectors as well as increase the
total amount of research and development tax credits available.
• Incentivizing businesses to create high-wage, high-skills jobs in our state.
• Championing the defense industry by opposing cuts that provide valuable
jobs and grow Florida’s economy.
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