Florida Chamber Unveils 2017 Competitiveness Agenda

“Florida business leaders are optimistic about the changes taking place at the national level, but we also remain realistic that the road ahead is challenging”

The Florida Chamber of Commerce this week unveiled its 2017 Competitiveness Agenda – #MakeFLMoreCompetitive – a step-by-step legislative roadmap that focuses resources and expertise to advance jobs, competitiveness and economic opportunity for Floridians.

The Florida Legislature can take steps now to help ensure a stronger business climate that will grow jobs and the economy now and into the future. Chief among the Florida Chamber’s recommendations to #MakeFLMoreCompetitive are:

• Fixing Florida’s broken workers’ comp system, and stopping the $1.5 billion jobs tax,
• Improving Florida’s Bottom 10 legal climate, which creates a $3,400 tax for a family of four each year,
• Resolving Florida’s increasing Homeowners Fraud Tax that results from Assignment of Benefits abuse, which increases homeowners insurance premiums for families,
• Protecting Florida’s family-friendly brand from expanded Las Vegas-style casino gambling,
• Insuring Florida continues to attract and retain jobs, and
• Preparing Florida’s workforce through continued improvements to our K-12 system, increasing educational opportunities in higher education and 21st century vocational trades – all to help ensure a talented workforce is Florida’s best long-term economic development strategy.

Based on input from Florida Chamber members, local chambers of commerce, partner associations, research, and unfinished business from 2016, the Florida Chamber’s 2017 Competitiveness Agenda is a blueprint of legislative priorities that it will lobby, track and score this Legislative Session.

Thank you to those who stood with us this week:

• Senator Dennis Baxley
• Senator Jeff Brandes
• Senator Doug Broxson
• Senator Bill Galvano
• Senator Bill Montford
• Senator Kathleen Passidomo
• Senator Bobby Powell
• Senator Wilton Simpson
• Senator Kelli Stargel
• Representative Ben Albritton
• Representative Jason Brodeur
• Representative Matt Caldwell
• Representative Clay Ingram
• Representative Larry Lee
• Representative Larry Metz
• Representative Jeanette Nunez
• Cissy Proctor, Executive Director, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
• Kevin Bowyer, Partner, Warren Averett
• Husein Cumber, Executive Vice President – Corporate Development, Florida East Coast Industries
• Susan Connelly, Senior Vice President – Communications and Public Affairs, Darden Restaurants, Inc.
• Bob Grammig, Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP
• Debra Harvey, President, Chief Operating Officer, Ron Jon Surf Shop of Florida, Inc.
• Leerie Jenkins, Chairman and CEO, Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc.
• Nancy Keefer, President, Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Belinda Keiser, Vice Chancellor Community Relations, Keiser University
• Syd Kitson, Chair, Florida Chamber and CEO of Kitson and Partners,
• Steve Knopik, Chief Executive Officer, Beall’s, Inc.
• Darrick McGhee, Vice President of Government Relations, Johnson & Blanton
• Allen McGlynn, Counsel, State Farm Insurance Companies
• Trey Paris, U.S. Manager of State Government Relations, General Electric Company
• Eric Silagy, Past Chair, Florida Chamber and President and CEO of Florida Power & Light
• Will Weatherford, Former Speaker of the Florida House, and Managing Partner of Weatherford Partners
• Mark Wilson, President and CEO, Florida Chamber of Commerce