Business Participation in the Government Process is Essential
Government plays an extremely important role, because collectively, through government, citizens can provide services that benefit many.
However, government can also have an adverse impact on our local, state and national competitiveness. The power to impose taxes, fees, establish regulations and pass laws, when overdone, can damage the business climate and quality of life.
Therefore, it is important that the business perspective is heard and understood by public officials. To that end, the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce is an aggressive and unapologetic advocate for business in the public arena.
How the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Program Works
The Chamber has a very active government affairs program. The Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for setting policy at the Chamber, which is contained in a policy document titled “Where We Stand.” The “Where We Stand” policies are a general statement of beliefs about important public issues that affect business.
To carry out those policies and monitor and lobby government, the Chamber has two board-appointed committees: the Local Legislative Affairs Committee or LLAC and the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance or NCLA.
The LLAC focuses on issues before the Fort Collins City Council, the Larimer County Board of Commissioners and the Poudre School District Board of Education.
The NCLA is a joint committee of the chambers of commerce in Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland and the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation. NCLA focuses on state and federal issues.
Why does the Chamber get involved lobbying government?
Government action or inaction can have a significant impact on specific businesses, entire business sectors and the overall business climate. To assume that government understands how its policies affect business is folly. Business people, expressing their views through their local chamber, help government officials understand and appreciate how legislation impacts business.
By lobbying government, does that mean the Chamber is anti-government or anti-tax?
Government is us and is one means that Americans use to organize themselves to work on matters of mutual benefit or concern. So, the answer is no. Nor is the Chamber anti-tax. A reasonable level of taxation is the price we pay for key public services that benefit us all. As tax measures are proposed, the Chamber reviews each on its merits and considers factors such as transparency, the rate, how broad the base is, its relative impact on business, its stability and whether it is being applied retroactively.
Keeping Up on the City of Fort Collins
Local government in Fort Collins is very active with City Council meetings almost every week and other boards and commissions meeting on a frequent basis. You can monitor the City several ways including watching Council meetings on television, reviewing City Council agendas and meeting packets, reviewing the six-month planning calendar, signing up for various City e-newsletters and monitoring the City calendar.
Additionally, the Chamber closely monitors city government. You can review updates here and sign-up for the Chamber's City Council Update.
Recent Chamber Advocacy Activities
2011 Local Issue Priorities