In order to effectively meet the needs and concerns of businesses and citizens, government must operate with a business-minded focus on efficiency, responsiveness and strategic vision that enable adjustment to rapidly changing economic and political landscapes. The Chamber supports a regulatory framework that emphasizes the importance of strong economic growth while ensuring rules are cost effective and based on valid scientific and technical data. In particular, the Chamber supports:

� A Constitutional amendment to allow the Commonwealth’s Governor to serve two consecutive terms. � Regular comprehensive reviews of the continued usefulness and necessity for state and local boards and

commissions as well as the qualifications and technical expertise requisite to serve as an appointee. � Regular, reliable cost-benefit analyses of all proposed regulations at all levels of government. � Efforts to make systematic legal reforms that will lower the cost of litigation, improve the legal environment

and encourage business confidence and investment. � Efforts to examine the role of all levels of government in providing goods and services in order to

determine those which might be provided for efficiently and economically by the private sector or nonprofit organizations.

The Chamber also opposes: � The imposition of unfunded mandates or policy positions, particularly those that would require businesses

and other taxpayers to fund the long-term costs. � Diminution of the Dillon Rule. � Regulations and policies that unnecessarily restrict private property rights, and believes that private

property owners should be justly compensated for any reductions in the value of their property caused by government actions.

The Chamber believes the grant of regulatory authority to government agencies should not place undue burden on business and any resulting regulations should be fully reviewed for their impact on business prior to implementation.

Land Use

Healthcare The Chamber encourages business collaboration and

innovation in a time of limited resources and significant healthcare challenges, supporting the needs of our many diverse businesses and other stakeholders to include healthcare providers, insurers, employers, nonprofits and employees and their families. The Prince William Chamber promotes an all around healthy community to live, work and play.

The Chamber supports: � Collaborative efforts between healthcare stakeholders including state and private sector providers, purchasers, insurers and consumers to ensure continued innovation, transparency and creativity in the private marketplace, as well as quality, safety, efficiency of systems, improved health outcomes and decreased costs.

� Providing employers with choice and flexibility in negotiating premiums and transparency in price and quality when buying health insurance.

� Providing employers and employees with information, transparency and choice around providers and services.

� Promoting business health and wellness initiatives and incentives for a healthier workforce.

� Implementing Medicare reforms integral to preserving the system's long-term viability.

� Ensuring that any reform to the medical tort system is based on evidence-based measures to promote fairness and good business practices.

� Continued review of government regulations to reduce business uncertainty and prevent unnecessarily adding to health insurance costs or prohibition of cost-saving measures.

The Prince William Chamber believes that economic growth and environmental progress go hand in hand, and that responsible business and environmental leaders can work together to grow our economy while maintaining a sustainable environment.

The Chamber’s policy on land use is guided by the following principles: � All land use and planning activities of the local governing bodies should be guided by a consistent and pervasive drive to foster and to not impede, quality development, particularly in the commercial sector.

� Local land use planning should be closely coordinated with transportation and other infrastructure planning. � Local governing bodies should maintain flexibility in their Comprehensive Land Use Plans to allow and welcome innovative proposals, sending the message to potential investors that “we are open for business.”.

� Local land use planning should apply research-based, rather than “one size fits all,” solutions based upon sound science from recognized sources that consider the latest technological innovations and efficiency gains to protect the region’s environment and water quality.

� Economic impact should be a primary consideration in evaluation of land use proposals, and the local governing bodies should consider regulatory and financial incentives including strategic relaxation of requested proffers for those projects that generate a significant influx of revenue to the commercial tax base.

� Negotiated proffers should be flexible in application, reasonable in amount and should have a direct nexus to the affected development and surrounding communities.

The Chamber supports: � Incentives for mixed-use development. � Strategies to redevelop aging commercial areas within the community. � Innovative regulatory and financial incentives such as tax increment financing and strategic infrastructure investments to serve as an impetus and attract private investment in designated redevelopment areas.

The Chamber opposes: � The inclusion of regulatory measures in the Comprehensive Plan. � Impact fees, adequate public facilities ordinances or mandatory levels of service.

View the *full 2013 Policy Priorities of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce by

visiting the Advocacy page at www.PWChamber.org

*The 2013 Priorities shown have been condensed for printing purposes.

Governance

Legislative Publication Sponsor:

Public Policy Priorities2 0 1 3

The Prince William Chamber of Commerce is the "voice of business" on behalf of our more than 2,100 member businesses. The Chamber holds that the top priority of its federal, state and locally elected representatives must be to promote economic development and progress in the Prince William region by guaranteeing a fiscally stable, pro-business environment that is conducive to creating jobs, wealth, investment, tourism and a high quality of life.

Public Policy Priorities2 0 1 3

www.PWChamber.org703.368.6600

703.368.6600 | www.PWchamber.orgHeadquarters: 9720 Capital Court, Suite 203 | Manassas, VA 20110

Branch Offices: 7410 Heritage Village Plaza, Suite 201 | Gainesville, VA 2015514059 Crown Court |Woodbridge, VA 22192

Transportation Government inability to prioritize transportation investment puts Virginia’s placement

as a prime location in which to do business at severe risk. Continued failure to achieve significant, new, dedicated, reliable transportation funding at the state level, coupled with the uncertainty of future federal transportation dollars, results in uncertainty for existing businesses. A state’s transportation infrastructure and spending is factored by companies considering a new location. All businesses depend on a reliable transportation network that can efficiently connect consumers with goods and services.

The continued improvement of our regional transportation system is a primary economic development goal of the Prince William Chamber. Transportation infrastructure is a crucial element in supporting area growth and development, as well as providing an efficient means of evacuating the Nation’s Capital in the event of an emergency. The region’s transportation needs are anticipated to continue to grow, and the Chamber urges all elected officials to work towards providing the consistent funding resources necessary to ensure the region’s ability to effectively and efficiently move people and improve commerce.

The Chamber encourages partnerships between local, state and federal entities that will maximize available dollars. In particular, we urge greater recognition for innovative use of technology, such as internet video conferencing, and support for telework, that allows people to perform work without travel. Such methods offer a cost effective alternative to building roads and infrastructure.

The Chamber supports: � Securing significant, new, dedicated, reliable state transportation revenues drawing on a balanced, equitable distribution of funding sources to address Northern Virginia’s transportation infrastructure construction needs, eliminating the ongoing diversion of construction funding to maintenances. Fiscal and political realities dictate that the Commonwealth’s transportation needs cannot be met without new, reliable revenues in the form of dedicated taxes and/or fees to erase the Commonwealth’s crippling transportation deficit threatening Virginia’s long-term prosperity and competitiveness.

� The use of bonds, public-private partnerships, general funds, allocation formula changes, tolls, telecommuting, the new Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank and other funding mechanisms are inadequate individually and collectively to address well documented construction and maintenance needs. With regards to toll road projects, the Chamber believes sufficient public resources must be invested to keep tolls reasonable and maximize the use of such facilities.

� Creating a state “legislative lock box” to prevent transportation dollars from being used for non-transportation purposes as well as measures to prevent the diversion of transportation construction funds to support mainte-nance.

� A formal telework program should be integrated into national, state and local transportation strategies to reduce commuter traffic.

� The restructuring of the Commonwealth Transportation Board representative districts to better reflect the current population.

The Chamber opposes the devolving of state transportation responsibilities to lo-cal government, unless such a policy shift is coupled with a commensurate revenue stream for local governments.

Visit the “Advocacy” page of www.PWchamber.org for a list of specific projects supported.

Recognizing that tourism plays an important role in any economic development plan, the Prince William Chamber supports efforts to:

� Secure funding to provide engineering and design services for the Prince William Museum at Rippon Lodge to feature information on all of the region’s historic properties.

� Develop the Americans in Wartime Museum and a new baseball stadium complex in Prince William.

� Develop the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s Conference & Hotel facility. � Increase the Government Services Association (GSA) per diem rate in Prince William. � Build a convention center in Prince William. � Ensure that the percentage of Transient Occupancy Tax collected in Prince William

pursuant to Virginia Code 58.1-3819 is spent solely for marketing of tourism or initiatives that, attract travelers to the locality, increase occupancy at lodging properties and generate tourism revenues in the locality.

Tourism Development

Transportation

The Prince William Chamber believes that future economic prosperity will rely on a broad range of energy sources. It is essential that these sources be safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable. The Chamber supports a national and state energy policy that is comprehensive, long-term and lessens our dependence on traditional fossil fuels. All forms of available energy should be considered in order to meet the needs of the new economy and growing demand. The Chamber supports the use of incentives to encourage the research, development and implementation of new energy sources, and to promote conservation, new technologies and the increased efficiency of existing technologies. Consideration of Virginia offshore drilling and wind power should also be given, both to increase energy supplies and provide possible new state revenue sources.

The Chamber strongly opposes all policies and regulations that unnecessarily drive up the cost of doing business.

The Chamber’s positions are developed from the priorities presented by our membership and based on principles that we believe are critical for economic success: � Laws, regulations and tax policies should be considered in a way that maintains a strong, pro-business environment that enhances economic competitiveness and protects the ability of business to create jobs and economic opportunity. � The tax base should be grown through expanded economic development, and any efforts to increase taxes on existing businesses should be considered judiciously. � Revenue targets should be driven by conservative fiscal principles at all levels of government, recognizing that how revenue is spent drives taxes. � Forward looking policies should recognize the impact of technology and evolving business trends on the conduct and nature of business.

The following outlines the Chamber’s specific public policy positions on the priority issues for our members.

The Prince William Chamber is committed to conservative, pro-growth tax and fiscal policies that enhance our region’s national and global competitiveness. The Chamber opposes tax increases that reduce the ability of businesses to grow, invest and create jobs. We believe a successful economy depends on a tax code that rewards achievement, encourages investment, promotes growth and reflects current and future economic realities. We urge that consideration be given to the development of system-wide, fundamental reforms to modernize fiscal policy to align with the economy of today.Additionally, as the economy continues its recovery, a guarded approach to expenditures is necessary. Government at all levels must continue to employ a combination of fiscal restraint, program cuts, competitive outsourcing, program efficiencies and prioritization among investment areas to maintain the integrity of their respective budgets.

Across all levels of government, The Chamber supports: � Proposals that simplify the tax code and reduce the cost of compliance on businesses and individuals. � Tax incentives to promote business expansion and economic growth, as well as to achieve other desirable objectives, such as protection of the environment or conservation of energy.

� The use of performance-based budgeting and long-range planning to anticipate future needs and accomplish long-range goals and policy objectives, regularly evaluating measurable outcomes for program effectiveness against service delivery, and appropriately aligning recurring and one-time revenues and expenses.

Federal Government: � Responsible federal budgets which require budget offsets for government spending increases and to add annual deficit targets, enforced by across-the-board spending reductions on both entitlement and discretionary spending.

State Government: � A Constitutional amendment to prevent including fees and taxes in state appropriations legislation. � Uniform real estate tax rates for residential and commercial properties, without additional exemptions or deferrals, and the elimination of differential real estate taxing authority for transportation authorized to localities by 2007 H.B. 3202 for Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

� Reform and/or elimination of business taxes including Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) and Machinery &Tools taxes, which present an impediment and a competitive disadvantage for new and small businesses.

Local Government: � Reform and/or elimination of business taxes including BPOL and Machinery &Tools taxes. � A responsible approach to adjusting local real estate tax rates while continuing to provide the governmental infrastructure necessary for economic growth and ensuring consistency and predictability in businesses’ annual tax bills.

� Increasing local investment in economic development by establishing a minimum target of the real estate tax base by value to be attributable to commercial operations, and developing a working plan to achieve this target over a reasonable timeframe by growing the commercial tax base. At a minimum, budgets of local economic development functions for business attraction and retention should be held harmless in fiscal year 2013.

� Continued local funding, to help supplement lacking state funding, for critically important infrastructure projects and prioritization of funding and protection of right-of-ways of approved transportation projects based on their contribution to economic development.

Energy

Tax & Fiscal Policy

The Prince William Chamber supports legislative and regulatory policies that encourage economic growth and enhance job creation by allowing businesses to operate without undue governmental or regulatory intervention. The Chamber believes free market conditions should determine all business issues, including compensation and employment, while strongly advocating that employers meet all legal and ethical obligations to their employees and government. The Chamber strongly opposes all policies and regulations that unnecessarily drive up the cost of doing business. In particular, the Chamber:

� Opposes any laws or regulations that undermine Virginia’s Right To Work laws, which historically have played a significant role in the state’s nationally recognized economic and employment growth, including proposals that undermine the right of workers to secret ballot elections to decide whether to form a union.

� Opposes legislative or regulatory proposals to authorize federal government officials to impose workplace rules, such as wage levels and work hours, in the absence of an agreement between management and employees.

� Opposes increases in the minimum wage, which fall disproportionately on small businesses, who are often the least able to absorb increases in labor costs.

� Opposes Living Wage proposals and other government mandates that establish wage and benefits levels as a condition for obtaining contracts with that government.

� Supports reforms to Virginia’s workers’ compensation system to address the high cost of medial services, developing a balanced system that provides fair benefits and good access to care for injured workers at affordable costs to employers.

� Supports the outright repeal of the Davis-Bacon Ac. � Believes government should always consider outsourcing to the private sector

to accomplish internal operations and service citizens, recognizing that the private sector is an efficient provider of services.

The Chamber recognizes that a competitive, world-class education system is critical to our community’s continued economic development. Quality schools with competitive educational programs and curriculums that are aligned with high demand fields are essential incentives to attract targeted businesses that will fulfill our economic development goals, enhance the Prince William region’s reputation and provide an educated workforce to support our existing and future businesses. To foster excellence in education and maintain the region’s competitive economy, the Chamber supports:

Higher Education Initiatives: � Continued robust funding of higher education facilities and programs in the greater Prince William region, to include the area’s Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) and George Mason University (GMU) campuses.

� Continued support of GMU as the leader of the Virginia Bio-Sciences Health Research Corporation for regional life sciences initiatives.

� NVCC’s professional and technical programs providing essential workforce training and programs to expand Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education through initiatives such as SySTEMic Solutions.

� Progress of healthcare academics through education and training programs that position the Prince William region to meet the near-term needs of our healthcare workforce and market.

K-12 Education Initiatives: � Adequate and realistic state funding of mandates for K-12 public schools, particularly the Standards of Quality (SOQs) and those for Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

� Full state funding of Cost of Competing Adjustment funds for Northern Virginia school districts to help offset the region’s higher labor costs compared to the rest of the state.

� Providing all local school districts the option to set their own school year calendar and opening date, while meeting all state requirements.

� Efforts to place a greater emphasis on STEM education including programs and curricula designed to improve student performance in STEM areas.

� Encouraging strategic and multiyear planning and budgeting to be undertaken jointly by the Board of County Supervisors, City and Town Councils and local School Boards.

� Responsible policies which provide measurable outcomes against which program effectiveness and service delivery may be regularly evaluated and which appropriately align reoccurring and one-time revenues and expenses, such as merit-based pay and value-added assessments.

Workforce & Education

Economic Competitiveness