2015 Richardson Chamber of Commerce Legislative Agenda • •
The Richardson Chamber represents more than 900 member organizations and is credited with bringing some of the world’s largest corporations to North Texas, and for helping brand Richardson as the Telecom Corridor. The Richardson Chamber has been awarded a 5-star accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; only the top 1 percent of chambers in the U.S. receives this accreditation.
Legislative Priorities for the 84th Texas Legislative Session Higher Education • Increase funding for the Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP) to generate more Tier One universities by matching and leveraging private donations that support research in higher education institutions. • Enact a tuition revenue bond program to support increased enrollment and research growth at higher education and healthrelated institutions.
Transportation • Increase funding for the Texas Department of Transportation by $5 billion per year to maintain state roads and highways by creating sustainable funding sources and using Proposition 1 funding.
Local Government • Support local control, where local elected officials are tasked with raising funds and providing services to respond to the individual needs of the Richardson community.
Water • Support legislation to accelerate the state permitting process for the development of new water resources in Texas.
Electric Generation •
Oppose “capacity” market tariffs.
Economic Development Public Education • Provide adequate, equitable and efficient funding for primary and secondary education. • Oppose measures that weaken the current education accountability system.
• Maintain funding for the Texas Enterprise Fund and Texas Emerging Technology Fund to encourage economic growth and foster innovation through financial incentives. • Support continued funding for the Skills Development Fund to improve workforce training and produce skilled Texas workers.
Richardson Chamber Public Policy Committee Ronda Moreland, RKM LLC (Lead Tri-Chair) Celina Cardenas, Atmos Energy (Tri-Chair) Brad Tucker, BCBS of Texas (Tri-Chair) Mary Bedosky, ViewPoint Bank David Blanchard, Blanchard & Associates Celina Cardenas, Atmos Energy Kim Caston, RISD Sable Coleman, Representative Van Taylor John Fast, John Brian Fast, CPA Randy Ford, National Write Your Congressman Stephen Harris, Stephen L. Harris, CLU Austin Hood, Representative Angie Chen Button Scott Jessen, Citadel Partners, LLC. Eron Linn, DART Clem Maddox, Time Warner Fred Maldonado, AT&T Inc. Gray Mayes, Texas Instruments Mary McClure, Representative Jeff Leach George McKearin, George McKearin, Attorney Martin Molloy, Halff Associates Ronda Moreland, RKM LLC David Morgan, City of Richardson Hank Mulvihill, Jr., Mulvihill Asset Management Matthew Myers, State Farm Shawn Parker, TXU Energy Taylor Paton, City of Richardson Ernest Randall, Vantage Companies Cristal Retana, Representative Stefani Carter Debbi Richards, Richland College Amanda Rockow, UT Dallas Mark Solomon, Assurnet Insurance Agency Barry Young, Oncor Chance Watson, Congressman Sam Johnson
To receive legislative alerts, join the Public Policy Committee or find more information, please visit RichardsonChamberAdvocacy.com.
Richardson Chamber of Commerce • 411 Belle Grove Drive, Richardson, Texas 75080 • (972) 792-2800 •
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