In an effort to maintain the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's policy for all of its committee members, the board of governors is studying a draft policy on subjects ranging from taxes to the environment.
R. Don Cash, board chairman, said the board probably will be asked to vote on the policy during the Jan. 14 meeting.The policy was presented by David Bird, chairman of the chamber's Legislative Action Committee, who said the committee feels writing a policy for the chamber is necessary so when new people are appointed to committees they know what the chamber supports or opposes.
He said as new issues arise, the policy can be changed. Here are some of the positions the committee is asking the board to adopt:
TAXES
- Taxing entities must be held accountable for the taxes they impose and for the way the revenue is spent.
- Oppose efforts to eliminate the deduction from state income tax for federal income tax paid.
- Support a lower capital gains tax rate that would reduce the cost of capital and create incentives for investment in the long-term productive capacity of industries.
- The sharing of taxes, except sales taxes, between governmental agencies should not occur. Excess local taxes should be returned to local citizens.
- Truth in taxation should apply to every kind of tax and should foster full disclosure to the voting public.
- Oppose measures allowing the county the ability, through business license fees, franchise taxes and other user fees, to raise revenues above those needed to regulate the payor.
PRIVATIZATION
- Oppose government entities providing goods and services that can be provided by private industry at competitive prices.
ENVIRONMENT
- Support the current Utah law that regulates and limits the number of commercial hazardous waste facilities and vigorously oppose any amendments to Utah law that would be detrimental to these proposed facilities.
- Support standardizing automobile emission inspections between counties required to have such programs.
- Those who contribute to environmental problems should bear part of the regulatory and cost burdens of their solutions.
EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND BENEFITS
- Oppose mandated benefits, including those in health insurance, workers compensation and rehabilitation.
- Oppose efforts to change the collective bargaining system in labor relations.
- Support having fair representation on boards that make decisions regarding employer and employee interests.
NATURAL RESOURCES
- Support the multiple-use concept of public lands to allow balanced use for resource development, recreation and livestock grazing.
- There should be a domestic energy policy that addresses energy independence and its impact on the U.S. balance of trade.
- The development of domestic energy resources is vital to a reliable and continuing fuel supply.
EDUCATION
- Educated children are one of the state's great natural resources and state school and institutional trust lands should be used for the support of the schools.
- State land holdings within federal parks, wilderness areas, Indian reservations and military areas should be made available for development or traded for federal land that can raise revenue.
QUALITY OF LIFE
- Support continuation and development of Utah's cultural organizations, acknowledging the work must be done within the limited fiscal resources of the state.
- Support the development of recreation and tourism facilities that enhance the quality of life for all Utahns.