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(*denotes new
items for 2006)
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:
St. Louis is fortunate to have several nationally-recognized research
institutions of higher learning—Saint Louis University, Southern
Illinois University Edwardsville, University of Missouri-St. Louis,
and Washington University. Additionally, a large number of companies
involved in research and development call the St. Louis region home.
Cutting edge research occur everyday at these institutions, resulting
in a number of patents waiting for approval. Very often, this research
generates new products that are ready for the marketplace; thus,
creating new businesses and new job opportunities for our region.
Support increased federal funding in research and development
at the National Institutes for Health (NIH), National Science Foundation
(NSF) and the Department of Energy. Support initiatives to improve
math and science education in the St. Louis region, necessary to
maintain a high-quality workforce for research and development activities.
Support the re-authorization of the federal Research and Development
Tax Credit.
St. Louis
is fortunate to have several nationally-recognized research
institutions of higher learning—Saint Louis University (shown
above), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, University
of Missouri-St. Louis, and Washington University.
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COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT:
The RCGA strongly believes that for the St. Louis region as a whole
to flourish, our economically distressed areas must be revitalized.
The business sector must take a leadership role in achieving this
goal and work in partnership with the public sector. Strategic public
policies can foster public/private partnerships to successfully
leverage private investment in these areas.
Support the following initiatives to spur redevelopment efforts
in the center city and economically distressed areas:
• Federal Historic Tax Credit – Raise the value of this tax credit
to allow a 25 percent tax credit against the costs of rehabilitating
an historic building or a building within an historic district.
Extend the tax credit availability for use in the construction of
owner-occupied units.
• Federal New Markets Tax Credits – Support efforts to renew
the New Markets Tax Credit program, which encourages the flow of
private capital to businesses in low-income communities. The last
round of allocations under the current program will be made in 2007.
• Brownfield Redevelopment – Increase direct funding and tax credits
for brownfield cleanup. Enact meaningful liability reform for brownfield
sites to encourage their turnover to a productive use.
CHOUTEAU LAKE DISTRICT AND TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS:
While the renovation of Cupples Station and the new Ballpark Village
will revive the district immediately north of I-64/U.S 40, there
are plans to expand downtown’s renaissance by reintroducing a major
water feature to the blighted area to the south. The Chouteau Lake
District and Technology Campus will become the anchor for a series
of redeveloped downtown “neighborhoods” and would generate more
than $15 billion in private investment activities. The Lake District,
featuring waterfront plazas, a variety of housing choices, museum
and park spaces, will connect the near Southside neighborhoods to
the historic core and the newly developed regional riverfront trail
system.
Support the concept of Chouteau Lake and Technology Campus and
support the Army Corps of Engineers study. Support the Water Resource
Development Act to include authorization for the St. Louis Regional
Greenways plan and the Chouteau Lake District.
DEFENSE INDUSTRY*:
The defense industry employs over 15,000 people across the St. Louis
region, with companies ranging from large prime contractors to small
business sub-contractors. Sustaining and expanding this industry
will greatly strengthen our regional economy and support thousands
of other jobs in retail and service industries. The $10 billion
Defense Authorization and Appropriation bill will bring opportunities
to St. Louis-area companies. The St. Louis RCGA has participated
with other regional organizations to help area businesses access
those contracting opportunities and to attract new contractors to
the St. Louis region.
Support increased authorization for research in defense-related
businesses. Support continued appropriation for the Future Combat
Systems effort. Support increased opportunities for small and medium-sized
defense contractors.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE:
Many RCGA member companies trade their goods and services all over
the world. Their ability to increase exports directly benefits our
region by creating jobs and economic development activity. The United
States leads the world economy and has the ability to compete with
any country because of its workforce, creativity and ingenuity.
The United States, therefore, can only benefit from fewer trade
barriers and more trading partners. Trade agreements for Central
America (CAFTA-DR) and North America (NAFTA), Normal Trade Relations
(NTR) with China, and bi-lateral trade agreements all create greater
access to markets and to goods and services for St. Louis area companies.
Support and promote fair trade legislation or agreements that
enhance our member companies’ ability to compete in the global economy
by breaking down barriers and by increasing export trading.
More
than 50 percent of the U.S. grain exports reach world markets
via the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers, contributing
$14 to $18 billion per year in international trade.
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RIVER LOCK AND DAMS:
The Port of Metropolitan St. Louis is the 2nd busiest inland port
in the United States, spanning 71 miles between Illinois and Missouri.
More than 50 percent of the U.S. grain exports reach world markets
via the upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, contributing $14
to $18 billion per year in international trade. The St. Louis port
ships and receives over 32 million tons of freight a year —worth
over $5 billion. A modal transfer of this tonnage would require
an additional 1,260,533 trucks through the metropolitan St. Louis
area alone, increasing road traffic, noise and air pollution. Building
materials, gasoline and road salt are just a few commodities that
would cost hundreds of millions of dollars more to consumers in
the St. Louis metropolitan area, if the river locks and dams were
closed. Our river lock and dam system must be upgraded to maintain
the volume of shipments along the Mississippi and to keep St. Louis’
prominence in freight movement. Construction at the five proposed
lock sites along the Mississippi from St. Louis to Hannibal/Quincy
would produce an estimated 6,000 jobs annually over 10 to 15 years.
In addition to modernizing the lock and dam system, the levees and
floodwalls must be repaired and secured to protect the ports from
flooding catastrophes. A failure at the Wood River levee could cause
$3 billion in economic and environmental damage to the region.
Support passage of the Water Resources Development Act to include
upgrading seven locations with 1200-foot lock capacity and five
locations with 1200-foot guidewall extensions located on the upper
Mississippi and the Illinois Rivers. Support funding to the Army
Corps of Engineers to repair levees at city of St. Louis ($16 million)
and at Wood River ($24 million).
MISSOURI RIVER WATER LEVEL:
The 2,341 mile Missouri River, the nation’s longest river, provides
over half the water for the Mississippi River. The river’s water
level directly impacts commerce along the Mississippi and across
the nation. Sixty percent of all U.S. grain moves through the middle
Mississippi and the Port of Metropolitan St. Louis. The U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers issued a new operating plan for the Missouri
River which implemented drought conservation measures to retain
more water in upstream reservoirs and to shorten the length of the
navigation. This plan significantly shortened the summer commercial
barge navigation season in order to raise the water level in recreational
reservoirs in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. A shorter
navigation season translates into higher transportation costs for
coal and grain and endangers power plants that use river water for
cooling. The water flow of the Missouri must be maintained at a
level suitable for commercial transport.
Oppose changes to the river management plan that raise transportation
costs of goods and natural resources and that negatively impact
economic development.
The “River
Ring Map” shows the River Ring along the Mississippi, Missouri,
Meramec and Cuivre rivers.
The Al
Foster Trail in Wildwood provides a relaxing experience
along the Meramec River. |
CONFLUENCE GREENWAY:
Open space, heritage and recreation attractions enhance our communities’
quality of life, attract new residents and businesses, and increase
tourism to our region. The Confluence Greenway, a 200-square mile
network of conservation, heritage and recreation attractions, is
developing along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The Greenway
plan emphasizes open space conservation, habitat restoration, and
a linked system of multi-use trails, recreation facilities, historic
and heritage sites, and public art spanning from St. Charles to
the Gateway Arch to Grafton. The Confluence Greenway is exploring
a national designation for this bi-state river corridor under the
National Heritage Areas program. Designated Heritage Areas are eligible
to receive up to $1 million annually for 10 years which can support
work within the area and leverage other public and private funds.
The funding for the Confluence Greenway is nearly half complete
with $110 million already spent or committed. The projected funding
mix is 80 percent from public sources and 20 percent from corporations,
individuals and foundations.
Support a National Heritage Area designation for the Confluence
Greenway.
HIGER EDUCATION:
Affordable access to higher education is the key to continued economic
prosperity for all sectors of our community. The reauthorization
of the Higher Education Funding Act will provide funding for the
federal government’s major student aid programs such as Pell Grants.
All major universities and colleges in the St. Louis region participate
in the student aid programs funded by the Higher Education Act.
In addition to providing financial aid to students, this Act helps
students to complete high school and enter postsecondary education,
and it provides aid to improve K-12 teacher training at postsecondary
institutions. Another important education bill up for reauthorization
is the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act. The
Perkins Act develops the academic, vocational and technical skills
of students necessary to enter the workforce. Funds from the Perkins
Act are used to hire vocational counselors, placement specialists
and other vocational education services. Without adequate funding
to vocational and technical programs, the workforce needs of our
region will not be met. It is projected that in the next five years,
employment in occupations requiring a vocational associate degree
will grow by 30 percent.
Support reauthorization of the Higher Education Act with emphasis
on meeting the financial aid needs of a diverse student population.
Support reauthorization of the Perkins Act at current funding levels
in order to raise the region’s workforce capabilities. Support accountability
measures while eliminating burdensome and unnecessary administrative
requirements.
CIVIL JUSTICE REFORM:
When properly used, class-action lawsuits permit the efficient resolution
of suits involving multiple parties. Originally designed to benefit
consumers by allowing them to more easily join together and seek
legal relief as a group or "class", these types of liability lawsuits
have become more frequent and very expensive for the business community.
In recent years, however, the class action system has become severely
abused. There has been an explosion in the practice of "forum shopping",
in which plaintiffs' lawyers bring numerous national class actions
in friendly state courts that often have little or no connection
with the controversy. The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, signed
into law by President Bush, will help curb forum shopping by moving
many large class actions out of state courts and into the federal
court system. It will also help ensure that settlements are in the
best interest of the class members—not attorneys. Even with the
Class Action Fairness Act, enterprising plaintiff lawyers will continue
to aggressively pursue medical liability, asbestos litigation, and
obesity lawsuits.
Support responsible and common sense tort and civil justice reform.
SMALL BUSINESS REGULATIONS:
Small businesses are the fastest growing job-creating sector of
the U.S. economy, but barriers still exist for these companies to
grow and prosper. Employees of small businesses adopting the “simple”
401-K tax deferred saving plan cannot defer the same amount of savings
as a ‘large company’ plan, a difference of several thousands of
dollars per year. The simple plans were devised to avoid the cumbersome
paperwork of large employee plans, but should not penalize participants
by a lower deductible amount. Small businesses are further hampered
in offering various tax-deferred benefits opportunities because
of the costs of administering individual types of benefit plans.
A Simplified Benefits Plan would permit the IRS to establish a national
prototype plan, similar to a SEP, as an umbrella for small businesses
to offer tax deferrals for health savings accounts, long-term care
insurance, child care expenses and tuition plans.
Support passage of legislation to permit equivalent tax deferrals
for Simple 401-K savings plans. Support passage of legislation to
provide a Simplified Small Benefits Plan for small businesses.
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE:
Nearly two-thirds of Americans receive their health insurance coverage
from their employer. However, in the last three years employers
have experienced double- digit increases in their health care costs,
and small businesses have been hit the hardest. More and more small
businesses are opting not to offer health insurance to their employees,
a significant reason why one in seven Americans are without insurance
coverage.
Support pooled-purchasing associations to offer self-insured
coverage under ERISA to small businesses, individuals and the self-employed.
Support above the line deductions for individuals who pay their
own health insurance premiums. Reform the medical malpractice liability
system. Oppose the unreasonable expansion of liability to employers.
Oppose new mandates that undermine employers’ abilities to provide
high-quality health insurance at a reasonable cost to employees.
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