By Tom Easter
January 31, 2005

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Tom Donohue spoke to the mayors and business community during the 73rd Winter Meeting of the Conference of Mayors on January 19. Donohue emphasized five key issues: tax reform, transportation, telecommunications, environment, and workforce development.

Donohue began by asserting that "the President and Congress passed great tax laws to get us out of this recession by targeting small businesses." However, Donohue commented that he did not foresee a major tax reform bill or any fundamental tax reform in the near future.

Donohue affirmed that the local, state and federal governments are collecting less money on highways, due partially to increased gas mileage of vehicles resulting in less frequent stops at the pumps. "Raising these taxes would help reduce that loss. A major highway bill is desperately needed to improve air quality, achieve higher safety standards and improve connections between the nation's rail system and its ports," Donohue said.

Donohue acknowledged that the telecommunications industry has continually changing technology. One of the key issues this technology brings to the forefront is that land lines are being used less for conversation, and more for high'speed data access. Cable and power companies are now infiltrating this marketplace as well.

Donohue commended the U.S. business community stating that they had spent over $2 trillion dollars over the last 30 years to clean the air, the water, and the land, which he believes was motivated by state, local, and federal legislation.

Donohue said "the workforce is the key to everything else," noting that "demographics are the fundamental reality of what's going on in this country. Demographics and businesses have changed and in order to make that work we must deal with immigration." He stressed the need to get immigrants into our cities and employ them in order to sustain the nation's financial future. "We have to take the risks of mobility to have the benefits of Freedom," stated Donohue.

In closing, Donohue listed his top 3 priorities for the current Administration and Congress: Legal reform (referring to a Class Action Bill and an Asbestos Bill); A new energy bill (to update our legislature to our current energy needs); and finally emphasized, once again, the need to get a Highway Bill passed.