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Chamber Supports Multimedia Bill

 

The Chamber of Commerce supports HB2127. This support was helpful in passing the bill through the State Senate last week and this message was sent to the AZ House of Representatives today:

 

Greetings from Lake Havasu City:

 

Film and multimedia projects are crucial to the growth and stability of our local and state economy. Arizona is at risk of losing projects if HB2127 fails. We can tell you from personal experience that films and other multimedia projects made in our local communities have a huge economic impact. Not so long ago a major motion film resulted in $18 million in revenue for our local businesses. Several of our own chamber members told me at that time, the moneys they were able to earn in dry cleaning, transportation, hotel room nights, food and beverage, etc., kept them in business during these very difficult economic times.

 

Over 40 states have legislation that welcomes multimedia activity within their borders. HB2127 = jobs and millions in income. This bill will even the playing field for Arizona. The bill is fiscally responsible and accountability is mandated. New jobs and revenue will begin immediately. Our unemployment rate is 9.9% (in Lake Havasu City-Kingman statistical area). Your support of this bill can help our communities grow jobs, not kill jobs.

 

Things you should know:

 

The tax credit is not transferable; it is refundable to offset production costs and enable more capital spending. Also, refundable credits are becoming the standard for states offering these incentives (ex. New Mexico, Utah, North Carolina, New York and others).

 

The Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce urges you to pass this bill.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns.

Lisa Krueger, IOM, ACE
President/CEO
Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce

 

928-855-4115

www.havasuchamber.com

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The Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce has published its policy for issue and candidate endorsements. Click here to read the policy. Read More

Action Alert
Congress to Vote on 3% Withholding Tax Repeal

Thank you for your continued support for repeal of the 3% Withholding Tax. With your help, our efforts are gaining momentum, and  the House is expected to vote early this week. 

While it sounds small, the 3% Withholding Tax is anything but.  As you may recall, this tax mandates the IRS to hold 3% of the revenue from nearly all transactions between the private and public sector — favoring the growth of government over the growth of our small businesses.

Unless repealed before it takes effect, the 3% Withholding Tax will have a dramatic, negative impact on millions of honest taxpaying businesses as well as state and local governments, health care providers, farmers and colleges and universities.

It's yet another obstacle for these businesses owners when they should be focused on growing and creating new jobs.

Your efforts to this point have raised public awareness and built a grassroots movement to stop this dangerous mandate.

Email your members of Congress today again and encourage their vote in favor of repeal of the 3% Withholding Tax this week.

For any member of Congress who supports the creation of American jobs, repeal of this onerous tax is a no-brainer.

Sincerely,


Rob Engstrom
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

 

 

 

This week our FEQ dives into an energy issue when Robert from Florida asked us, “What’s the status of the Keystone XL Pipeline?”

The proposed TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline would provide the United States with the opportunity to access safe, reliable, and affordable energy supplies from Canada, and reduce our need to import crude oil from less stable countries and regions of the world. 

The construction of the Pipeline is an investment in energy independence, national security and 250,000 American jobs in the long-term. 

So what’s the status of the project?  Matthew Koch, the Chamber’s Vice President at the Institute for 21st Century Energy gives us an update in this week’s video.

The U.S. Chamber is taking the lead in ensuring this important project is authorized by utilizing the Administration’s recently launched “We the People” site.  As “a tool [that] provides you with a new way to petition the Obama Administration,” we’re petitioning the President and State Department to approve this project immediately.

Help us by signing on to reach 5,000 signatures in 30 days.  By reaching our goal the issue will receive a response from the Administration, and in this case, the national attention the XL Pipeline deserves.