* In the Philadelphia region, Harrisburg and Washington, DC, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce strives to promote public policy that will bolster regional economic growth and improve our competitiveness nationally and globally. We urge cooperation and partnership among governments and the business and civic communities to achieve these goals.

In Philadelphia

On February 14, 2008, Mayor Nutter delivered his first budget addresses to City Council. The $4 billion budget included reductions in the wage tax that would drop the tax below four percent for the first time in 30 years. Nutter proposed the elimination of the gross receipts portion of the business privilege tax over the next ten years, and the reduction of the net income portion of the BPT down from 6.5% for the first time ever. The proposed reduction to the net income portion of the BPT is a measure the Chamber has long lobbied for, and is viewed by the business community as a major step in tax reform. There were no planned changes to residents' property taxes, but the parking tax will be raised from 15 to 20 percent to promote sustainable activities including street improvements.

City Council

* Lobbied for continued Business Privilege Tax reductions. City Council passed, and the Mayor signed, bills to reduce the BPT on May 22, 2008.

* On March 6, 2008, City Council approved plans for a one billion dollar, 20-year expansion plan for the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. The Chamber supported this measure for four years, and testified on FCCC's behalf several times before Council stating its economic importance to the city and region by bringing 4,000 new jobs and more than $40 million in additional tax revenue to the city and Pennsylvania.

* The Chamber was pleased to support the Philadelphia Re-Entry Employment Program (PREP) at a public hearing on October 18, 2007. This plan would grant employers a $10,000 tax credit per year for up to three years for hiring an ex-offender. This program is very important to the mayor and represents a concerted effort to stem the high rate of recidivism and increasing prison and population costs.

* City Council approved the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and Mayor Nutter created an Advisory Commission on Construction Industry Diversity to address the lack of minority participation in the building trades.

* The Chamber was successful in holding off several bills that were particularly burdensome on small businesses last year - namely a food labeling bill and bills mandating paid sick leave for employees and several weeks of unpaid leave for victims of sexual or domestic violence.

* The Chamber supported measures for transportation enhancements at Philadelphia International Airport, SEPTA and Amtrak.

* Although the Chamber strongly supports gaming coming to Philadelphia for the economic benefits it brings in both jobs and revenues, the Nutter Administration is still working to finalize sites in Philadelphia.