Policy Issues

Policy Issues

Promoting Innovation
The steady flow of new ideas depend on financial backing, growing domestic and international markets, and the opportunity for innovators to share in the rewards of their work. The Chamber's innovation agenda includes:

Encouraging life sciences development. Knowledge-based industries continue to drive the Massachusetts economic engine and create high-paying jobs. The Chamber will team up with members of the development and life sciences communities and work closely with state leaders to make the permitting process more conducive to facilities development.

Increasing federal research funding. Through its National Business Coalition for Federal Research, the Chamber will continue to work for increases in funds to support the important fields of computer science, engineering, mathematics, and medical research.

Advancing a state innovation policy. More than ever, state governments around the country are working to promote innovation throughout their economies. The Chamber will work to advance legal, fiscal, and regulatory policies in state government that promote innovation.

Expanding international trade. The Chamber will build support for trade agreements that lower trade barriers and open international markets to our region's businesses.

Improving Business Costs & Competitiveness
Business costs are critical to Greater Boston's competitiveness. When Greater Boston's highly-skilled workforce is combined with a competitive environment, the region's economy can experience exceptional growth. The Chamber's business cost and competitiveness agenda includes:

Increasing the housing supply. Greater Boston's high housing costs pose a significant challenge in the recruitment and retention of workers. The Chamber will continue to work to increase the housing supply and control escalating costs by promoting a variety of smart growth and transit-oriented initiatives.

Reducing unemployment insurance rates. Massachusetts unemployment insurance rates are among the highest in the nation. The Chamber will work with legislative and business leaders to enact structural reforms that enhance the system's competitiveness while maintaining trust fund solvency.

Mandating a rainy day fund. In 2004, the Chamber issued a report calling for a constitutionally-mandated rainy day fund. The Chamber and other business groups then worked with legislative leaders to secure initial approval of the amendment. Two more approvals are required by the Legislature and by voters. The Chamber will continue its advocacy for those approvals going forwards.

Managing energy costs. The Chamber will continue to promote the development of competitive energy markets. When fully implemented, energy deregulation will mean more locally generated power and greater competition, which will stimulate innovation and energy production.

Maintaining workers compensation reforms. The Chamber will work to ensure that proposed changes in workers compensation are evaluated in terms of their impact on the system's ability to deliver benefits promptly while keeping costs under control. The system has done well in meeting these goals in recent years, a track record that much be continued.

Controlling health care costs. The challenge is to keep costs under control, while maintaining the quality of our health care system. The Chamber's efforts will focus on preventing the enactment of bills that would dramatically increase health care costs, and improving the system's ability to control costs by linking technology-based

Growing & Retaining a Skilled Workforce
To help meet the critical shortage of skilled workers, the Chamber works to attract talented professionals to Greater Boston, improve the skills of those now unable to compete, and retain recent college graduates. The Chamber's workforce agenda includes:

Retaining a talented workforce. The Chamber is working to implement the recommendations of its talent retention study, "Preventing a Brain Drain: Talent Retention in Greater Boston." The Chamber has joined forces with the region's colleges and universities and business community to help improve connections between college students and the business sector.

Increasing skilled worker training. The Chamber has offered two proposals in the Massachusetts legislature that will encourage workforce development at the region's colleges and universities and allow Chamber member companies to recruit and retain talented students. The Chamber will work closely with key legislators and officials from both the public and private higher education systems to advance these policy initiatives in the legislature.

Advancing minority professional development. The Chamber and The Partnership will continue to advance a joint minority professional development initiative, begun in 2000, to promote the placement, retention, and career development of minority professionals.

Strengthen K-12 education. The Chamber will work to increase support for statewide education reform that builds upon the gains of the last 10 years and raises student skills to new levels.

Support women's professional development. Through its Women's Network, the Chamber will promote economic opportunities for women in business by providing programs that foster business relationships and that develop career enhancement strategies and practical tools for building better business skills.

Advancing Development & Transportation
Development and infrastructure projects are critical to the region's economic competitiveness. The Chamber's development agenda includes:

Support Logan Airport & regional transportation modernization. The Chamber will work to improve the region's air travel system, including strengthening Logan's position as on of America's safest and most secure airports and other initiatives that expand the role of regional airports.

Developing the South Boston waterfront district. The Chamber will continue to work closely with city and state officials in the years to advance the development of the South Boston Waterfront District. The goal is to create a mixed-use district that blends residential, commercial, hotel, and retail establishments.

Foster convention center and hotel growth. The Chamber will continue to work with leaders in the visitor industry, city government, state government, and advocacy sector to advance the development of new hotels in Greater Boston. Increased hotel development will help grow Boston's convention bookings, and will stimulate additional economic development throughout the city.

Completing the MBTA Silver Line. The Chamber will continue to work with business, government, and civic leaders to gain support and secure federal funding for Phase 3 of the Silver Line. Completion of the Silver Line, a critical link in the city's transportation chain, will improve commuter options an boost the local economy.

Establishing a Mass Pike turnaround. In its 2003 "Total Access" study, the Chamber proposed the construction of a Mass Pike turnaround ramp at the Allston toll plaza, which would make it possible for vehicles to use the Mass Pike for travel between Back Bay hotels and the South Boston Waterfront as well as Logan Airport. The Chamber will continue to work with the appropriate public officials to secure the turnaround's implementation.