Adkisson presents Kentucky Chamber’s 2017 legislative priorities to Hardin Co. Chamber members
ELIZABETHTOWN, KY. – Kentucky Chamber President & CEO Dave Adkisson spoke to members of the Hardin County Chamber on Wednesday, outlining the Kentucky business community’s goals for the 2017 session of the Kentucky General Assembly. Adkisson discussed the Kentucky Chamber’s 2017 Legislative Agenda, which places special emphasis on the need for pension transparency and tax reform.
The visit to Elizabethtown is the first visit of a 12-city tour across the state aimed at familiarizing members of local chambers of commerce with the priorities of the Kentucky Chamber.
“As we head into the 2017 General Assembly, there are a number of issues that could have a significant impact on the health of the business community,” said Adkisson. “Our goal with this tour is to ensure our members and local chamber members are not only educated on those issues, but stay looped in as those issues continue to evolve during the session.”
The 12 issues that the Chamber will place significant emphasis on are:
- Pension transparency
- Tax reform
- Right to Work
- Repealing prevailing wage
- Protecting Kentucky’s academic standards
- Enabling charter schools
- Workforce investment transparency
- Creating medical review panels
- Enabling smoke-free workplaces
- Increasing the cigarette tax
- Reforming the criminal justice system
- Protecting low cost energy
“We’re in a pretty deep hole in terms of the state’s public pension problem,” said Adkisson. “Some progress was made in the last legislative session, but to make the entire system sustainable, we must focus more on other issues such as transparency.”
He also said the need for tax reform and the state’s workforce issues will play significant roles in the 2017 legislative session, saying “we’re still several months away from the session, and a lot of meetings are happening in the interim period that will determine the tone during the non-budget session.”
“Clearly, our agenda is a full one, and we know that additional issues will emerge as the session progresses,” said Adkisson. “As always, we look forward to the opportunity to represent the interests of Kentucky’s employers as we work together to build a stronger future for our Commonwealth.”
Adkisson and other Chamber leaders will be touring the state through December. To download a PDF of the Kentucky Chamber’s 2017 Legislative Priorities, visit kychamber.com/2017priorities.
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