Category: Public Policy News
Here you’ll find out who’s making the decisions shaping our community: Policy-makers are always busy creating new ways to advance the Madison region. Stay informed on the latest policies that may impact the way you do business.
Photo by Richard Hurd
Chamber, Building Trades Align on Endorsements for Madison Common Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Feb. 25, 2021)
Contact: Erik Greenfield, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)
Jaclyn Weitzel, Building Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin, 608-256-3161
Chamber, Building Trades Align on Endorsements for Madison Common Council
Business and labor focused on backing candidates that will help accelerate Greater Madison’s economic recovery
MADISON – Today the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, alongside the Building Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin, announced their endorsements in the April 6 elections for Madison Common Council.
The endorsement of the 49-member Chamber board signals a candidate’s strength on business and economic issues and is based on several factors, including alignment with the Chamber’s NEXUS and Recovery legislative agendas. The Chamber and the Building Trades are both focused on growing jobs and tax base to enhance the health and vitality of our communities.
“At this challenging and critical moment, we need leadership on the Madison Common Council with a commitment to inclusive economic growth and the collaborative experience to get it done,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “The alignment of business and labor in this election highlights that there are clear choices to help lead Madison through this pandemic and accelerate our economic recovery.”
“The priorities of our endorsed candidates for Madison Common Council match those of our hardworking union members, such as safe workplaces, buying and hiring local, and promoting the union trades as an exceptional career choice,” said Scott Bartz, President of the Building Trades Council.
“We are excited to partner with the Greater Madison Chamber in announcing our joint list of endorsed candidates for Madison Common Council,” said Jaclyn Weitzel, Executive Director of the Building Trades Council. “After many interviews and discussions, we believe these candidates will be strong voices on the issues that affect working people and their families in Madison.”
The Chamber and Building Trades jointly endorsed the following candidates for Madison Common Council:
District 1: Barbara Harrington-McKinney
District 3: Lindsay Lemmer
District 5: Regina Vidaver
District 7: Nasra Wehelie
District 11: Arvina Martin
District 12: Syed Abbas
District 14: Sheri Carter
District 16: Jael Currie
District 17: Gary Halverson
District 18: Charles Myadze
District 20: Christian Albouras
About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with more than 1,200 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.
About the Building Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin:
The Building Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin is made up of 17 International Building Trades Unions. The Building Trades represent over 4,000 members who live and work in the greater Madison area. Building Trades members work for contractors that utilize the skilled labor pool available through local union affiliates.
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Photo by Richard Hurd
Common Council Rejects Resolution Opposing F-35A Basing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Sept. 17, 2019)
Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)
MADISON – Tonight the Madison Common Council rejected a resolution that opposed the basing of the next-generation F-35A jet at Madison’s Truax Field. In response to tonight’s vote, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce President Zach Brandon released the following statement:
“We are pleased that the council sent a message of support to the 115th Fighter Wing by voting to oppose this resolution. The long-term health of the 115th is vital to our economy and our community, and basing the F-35A at Truax Field will protect the livelihoods of the 1,200 Airmen – our friends, neighbors and guardians – who currently work there.
“We appreciate the mayor and council’s focus on ensuring a high quality of life for our residents, and those concerns can be balanced with maintaining Greater Madison’s economic momentum. This community has resolved similar challenges many times before, whether it is the interstate, major thoroughfare reconstruction like Verona Road or our railroad crossings.
“We will continue to support this new mission to ensure the benefits of the base – including supporting 1,264 permanent jobs and 400 construction jobs, generating $100 million in annual economic impact, providing emergency services for the airport and giving tuition support to area students who serve in the Guard – remain in Greater Madison for decades to come.”
About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The
Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300
organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than
10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full
potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From
cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and
products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s
entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.
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Photo by Richard Hurd
Chamber Calls on Congress to Protect DREAMers, TPS Holders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 30, 2019)
Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)
MADISON – In partnership with New American Economy’s Global Talent Chamber Network, the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is one of 60 chambers from 26 states calling on Congress to pass the Dream and Promise Act, bipartisan legislation that would create permanent protections for DREAMers and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
“The Chamber supports federal immigration reforms that will encourage entrepreneurship, support our growing workforce needs and ensure homegrown talent remains in our community,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “The individuals who would benefit from this legislation are pursuing their education here, starting careers and businesses, and contributing to our tax base. Protecting them is the right thing to do for our young people and for our economy.”
There are 1.25 million DREAMers (undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children) eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and 318,000 immigrants hold TPS protections allowing them to work in the United States. There are approximately 10,500 DACA-eligible individuals in Wisconsin who earn $204.3 million in total income annually and contribute $31.7 million in total taxes annually, $15.3 million of which goes to state and local tax revenue.
See the full letter to congressional leadership here.
About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.
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Photo by Richard Hurd
Chamber Unveils NEXUS: The New OS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 30, 2019)
Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)
MADISON – Today the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce unveiled NEXUS: The New OS, its new two-year policy roadmap at the local, state and federal level. The agenda is designed to achieve inclusive growth for Greater Madison through investments in transportation and infrastructure, education, research, entrepreneurial and technology equity, and other important issues.
“Greater Madison is experiencing a surge of economic momentum, yet disparities still exist for many in our community,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “NEXUS is focused on taking coordinated action at all levels of government to build a new operating system (OS) where anyone, and everyone, profits from our momentum.”
View the full NEXUS agenda at madisonbiz.com/nexus
About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.
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Photo by Richard Hurd
Chamber, Building Trades Align on Endorsements for Madison Common Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (March 6, 2019)
Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)
MADISON – Today the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors announced its endorsements in the April 2 elections for Madison Common Council. The endorsement of the 44-member Chamber board signals a candidate’s strength on business and economic issues and is based on several factors, including alignment with the Chamber’s two-year Access Agenda.
Once again, the Chamber’s endorsement decisions mirror candidates endorsed by the Building Trades of South Central Wisconsin. Both organizations are focused on building a vibrant, prosperous economy in Greater Madison.
“These candidates are the clear choice of both business and labor because they are entrepreneurs, small business owners and community leaders who understand the value of a healthy business community and a strong, talented workforce,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “From growing our advanced industries to fighting for a more inclusive economy to supporting the basing of the next-generation F-35A jets at Truax Field, each of these individuals has demonstrated their commitment to building and accelerating Greater Madison’s economic momentum.”
The Chamber endorsed the following candidates for Madison Common Council:
District 1: Barbara Harrington-McKinney
District 3: Lindsay Lemmer
District 5: Shiva Bidar-Sielaff
District 7: Donna Moreland
District 8: Avra Reddy
District 9: Paul Skidmore
District 10: Kristin Johnson
District 11: Arvina Martin
District 12: Syed Abbas
District 13: David Hoffert
District 14: Sheri Carter
District 16: Michael Tierney
District 19: Keith Furman
District 20: Christian Albouras
The release from the Building and Construction Trades Council regarding their candidate endorsements is attached here. Candidate responses to the Chamber’s endorsement questionnaire can be found at madisonbiz.com/advocacy/elections.
About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.
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