The Michigan Chamber of Commerce announced today its legislative priorities for the 2007-2008 legislative session. These priorities were reviewed and approved January 31 by the Michigan Chamber's 87-member Board of Directors, which consists of business leaders from throughout the state.

More than 530 business leaders from across the state were directly involved in establishing the Michigan Chamber's 2007-2008 legislative priorities which address 10 issue areas: education quality; energy; environmental quality; health care; human resources; lawsuit abuse; school reform; taxes; technology & telecommunications; and transportation.

"The Michigan Chamber represents over 7,000 job providers throughout the state who work everyday in their communities to provide good jobs for employees and better products and services for their customers," said Lynn R. Wolgast, Chair of the Michigan Chamber's Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Wolgast Corporation in Saginaw, Michigan. "The Chamber's legislative priorities for 2007-2008 are intended to help lawmakers and administration officials work toward strengthening and diversifying Michigan's economy."

"While the economic challenges facing our state are many, so are the opportunities to encourage job creation and economic growth," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Jim Barrett. "We look forward to working with the legislature and administration to carry out these priorities."

The Michigan Chamber's legislative priorities are not intended to be a catalog of the Chamber's position on every important issue that might come up over the next two years. Rather, they are intended to communicate to businesspeople, the news media, the legislature and administration what state government's top legislative and regulatory priorities should be to encourage job creation and economic growth.

"The voting record of State Senators and State Representatives on these priorities and other key issues that may emerge over the next two years will become the Chamber's 2007-2008 Job Providers Index, the Chamber's main basis for determining legislative campaign endorsements," explained Bob LaBrant, Senior Vice President of Political Affairs and General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber. "Any legislator seeking re-election to the same office who has a 75 percent or better voting record with the Michigan Chamber will be eligible to receive an earned endorsement for election in 2008."

The Michigan Chamber's 2007-2008 legislative priorities are available on the Chamber's web site at: www.michamber.com. A printed booklet of the Michigan Chamber's legislative priorities will be available later this month. For a copy of the booklet, contact Betty McNerney, Director of Communications at (517) 371-7663 or via email at: bmcnerney@michamber.com.

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business advocacy organization representing over 7,000 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be a strong advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process. In addition to business advocacy, the Michigan Chamber provides members with a full range of services and benefits, including insurance, seminars, and publications.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

SOURCE: Michigan Chamber of Commerce

CONTACT: Jim Barrett, Chamber President, or Rich Studley, Executive Vice
President, of Michigan Chamber of Commerce, +1-517-371-2100

Web site: http://www.michamber.com/