The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce works, on behalf of its members, to maintain a healthy business climate. The Chamber takes an active role in attempting to influence government in support or opposition of business legislation that will impact its members. The Chamber represents its members before local, state and federal governmental entities and provides a forum for its members to develop policy positions that impact the Santa Clarita business community.
The Chamber has a number of committees that meet monthly to develop policy positions. Committees such as the transportation Committee, the Environmental Committee and the Government Affairs Committee meet to review legislative issues that are of importance to the business community. Issues in the areas of taxation, healthcare, transportation and economic development are targets of committee discussions each month. The Chamber’s
board of directors also endorses candidates in certain local races, such as City Council, Board of Education and Water Boards. The organization will generally support candidates who are recognized as being “business friendly.” The Chamber also works closely with the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee in identifying and recruiting candidates. The Chamber organizes an award winning educational experience for political candidates entitled Candidate
Academy. This two-evening event provides candidates information about the process of running for political office.
In addition to local efforts, the Chamber organizes an annual trip to Washington DC and Sacramento to lobby for critical community projects.
After the development of policy positions are completed, the Chamber uses its significant media resources to educate its members and the community concerning the Chamber’s position on the issue.
SCVCC Government Affairs Guiding Principles
Adopted February 2011
Air Quality
SCVCC supports programs to improve air quality that are centered on market-based incentives and that prioritize mobile source reduction that do not overburden employers and cause job losses.
Education
SCVCC supports structural reforms to bring education closer to the communities served, promote autonomy and entrepreneurship and create a world class education system that serves the needs of employers for a highly skilled workforce.
Employer Mandates
SCVCC supports regulatory conformity among local, state and federal agencies affecting workplace rules, wages and employer conduct – not those that would put local employers at competitive disadvantages and deter job growth and investment.
Energy
SCVCC supports policies that promote safe, clean and reliable sources of energy through conservation, investments in new technologies and new source exploration, market-based fuel efficiency, permit streamlining and infrastructure development for new energy generation and transmission facilities.
Fiscal Stability
SCVCC supports government efficiency; containing the growth of government, minimizing its role in the private sector and making certain that tax fee increase on employers are sought only as a last resort.
Healthcare
SCVCC supports national consistent policies that create more access to quality healthcare through programs that adequately satisfy small business affordability needs while protecting and strengthening California’s public and private safety net of healthcare providers.
Housing
SCVCC supports policies that increase efficient production of housing for all income levels through processes that complement and create new job centers.
Job Creation
SCVCC endorses private sector job creation through policies that address the retention, growth and attraction of growing businesses, which provide meaningful careers and enhance tax revenue streams.
Land Use
SCVCC supports policies that encourage long term planning for the appropriated placement of development without displacing existing commercial and industrial land that are significant to preservation of jobs.
Political Reform
SCVCC supports political reforms that create more participation in the political and legislative processes with increased transparency and disclosure information about who is trying to exert influence
Public Safety
SCVCC considers public safety to be a top taxpayer and business priority, and believes that good management is critical to an efficient system.
Solid Waste
SCVCC supports efforts to reduce waste and dependence on disposal facilities as well as the maximization of existing waste facilities through wider recycling programs and implementation of alternative waste management technologies.
Taxation
SCVCC endorses tax reforms to improve the local, regional and global competitiveness of our businesses through fair allocation of tax burdens.
Transportation
SCVCC supports policies to optimize mobility and relieve congestion on our roads, harbors and airports to maximize the region’s ability to move goods and people.
Water
SCVCC supports programs that efficiently enhance the availability, reliability and safety of the Santa Clarita Valley’s water supply portfolio and cost-effectively develops our water infrastructure reasonably in advance of increased demand due to population growth