Government Affairs

Legislative Agenda & Priorities

2010 Legislative Priorities

The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce supports the following 2010 legislative initiatives:

Economic Development

Advocate for tax structure review to encourage capital investment and job creation in the state.
Tax credit program to incent Minnesota Companies to invest in research and development taking place at Minnesota Universities and Research institutions such as Mayo Clinic.
Tax credit program to incent Minnesota Businesses and individuals who invest in venture capital funds formed for the specific purpose of investing in Minnesota businesses.

Education & Workforce Development

Repealing maintenance of effort law allowing ISD 535 to make equitable staffing decisions.
Integration aid formula should reflect demographic changes occurring in districts. Changes in funding formula should reflect growing diversity and should reward those districts that follow the intent of the law.
Expand state incentives to provide performance pay for teachers and replacing traditional steps and lanes salary schedule.
Give every high school student a career and post-secondary plan. (Every learner – no later than 9th grade – will have a plan reviewed at least annually, to guide him/her through high school and beyond into competitive employment and post-secondary education).

Energy

Remove the outdated ban on issuing a Certificate of Need for a new nuclear power facility.
The CAPX 2020 project will strengthen regional and state transmission capacity to enable continued economic growth, increase reliability of the electric system, and provide access to wind energy from SW Minnesota.
Where new generation is needed to continue economic growth, support generating electricity from a variety of fuel sources, technologies and power producers as long as there is no reduction in reliability and the retail price is competitive. Increase base load energy supply in SE Minnesota.

Fiscal Policy

The budget deficit should be addressed by enacting spending reforms and reviewing the major cost drivers of the state’s budget rather than just increasing taxes. Spending and revenue should be reviewed to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Health Care

Reward doctors and hospitals for value rather than volume. Our health care system should pay based on results and outcomes, not just the number of procedures performed.
Oppose an increase in the hospital Medicaid surcharge to finance health care programs.
No increase in the provider tax to reduce the state budget deficit. Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center are presently paying millions of dollars per year in provider tax fees.
Oppose state mandatory hospital nursing staffing ratios.
Download "Health Care Reform: Did Congress Cure Our System's Ailments?(Power Point). This presentation was given to the Chamber of Commerce at an Eggs & Issues event on June 10th, 2010, by Katie Hays, Executive Director, Congressional and Public Affairs, Health Care and Health Reform, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Download & Learn more about the "Critical Employer Issues in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act".

Transportation

Advocate for a bill mandating MnDOT to allow the city of Rochester to finance an interchange at 65th street NW.
Support naming Rochester/Olmsted County as Minnesota’s designated route for High Speed Rail between Chicago and the Twin Cities and the construction of a freight route which meets current and future freight demand while safely routing potentially harmful freight traffic around a sensitive Rochester downtown area.

2010 Bonding Projects

The Chamber supports the following 2010 bonding projects to enhance our community’s economic development:

Southern Rail Corridor

The Olmsted County Rail Authority is seeking $8 million in bonding funds to prepare design and engineering documents to construct a new rail line around the city of Rochester.

Mayo Civic Center Expansion

Bonding in the amount of $34 million is being considered for constructing additional ballroom/event space at the Mayo Civic Center. Under this proposal, the City of Rochester would contribute 50% of the total construction cost and the state would contribute the other 50%. Currently, several out of state organizations are interested in bringing their events to Rochester, but the space does not meet their event planning needs. Upgrading this facility would result in out of state dollars being brought to Minnesota.

Renovations at Rochester Community & Technical College

Additional classroom space is needed at RCTC. In addition, funds are being requested to upgrade heating and ventilation systems and perform general repair and maintenance to the aging facilities. In total, $6.8 million is needed to complete.

Co-Location of Workforce Development Center at RCTC

Construct an addition on RCTC’s Heintz Center to house a co-located Rochester Workforce Center; resulting in a one-stop approach for career planning, job placement services and learning opportunities. The $8.5 million project would also provide infrastructure upgrades to the existing building’s cooling systems.

Multipurpose Corridor Acquisition

The City of Rochester is seeking $1.5 million in funding to purchase an abandoned rail bed that would connect the Douglas trailhead to the pedestrian bridge being constructed over Hwy 14 near the intersection of Hwy 52/Hwy 14.

Lake Zumbro Restoration

The Lake Zumbro Improvement Association is seeking $5 million in funding to dredge portions of Lake Zumbro that have been filling in with sediment. This will increase the longevity of the lake’s purpose of providing hydroelectric power and improve accessibility to areas of the lake that have filled with sediment.

Rochester Mn/DOT Facility Upgrade

The district Mn/DOT maintenance facility located in Rochester is beginning to meet the maximum capacity threshold for personnel space and equipment. This $26.43 million project would include construction of additional office space and equipment maintenance and storage space.

National Volleyball Center

Bonding funds of $5 million are being sought to construct additional locker room, bathroom and volleyball court space at the National Volleyball Center that is attached to Century High School.

Staff Contact: John Eckerman

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