The Salt Lake Chamber, Utah’s largest and longest-standing statewide business association, held the Utah Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit, in partnership with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, to preview the business community’s priorities for the upcoming 2018 General Legislative Session.
The Utah Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit is the state’s premier economic forecasting and public policy event. This year, the Salt Lake Chamber was honored to have Governor Mitt Romney give the keynote address. In addition to learning about the Chamber’s legislative priorities, the nearly 900 business, policy and academic thought leaders in attendance also gained valuable insight on the future of Utah’s economy.
“As Utah’s Business Leader, it’s critical that the Salt Lake Chamber provide a forum like this one to focus on the key issues impacting our economy and what we as a business community can do to keep it moving forward,” said Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “While Utah’s economy is the envy of the nation, it was not without collaboration and purposeful planning, and so, the steps we are taking today will ensure Utah’s economic prosperity now and into the future.”
Prior to Governor Mitt Romney’s keynote address, Chamber leaders unveiled the Salt Lake Chamber’s 2018 Top 10 Legislative Priorities that outlines the business community’s top priorities for the upcoming legislative session including, modernizing Utah’s tax code; meeting Utah’s talent needs by investing in education; keeping Utah moving with continued transportation investments; ensuring Utahns can raise their families in the communities they love at prices they can afford by tackling housing affordability; reducing emissions by 40 percent by 2050, and more.
“This year, we’ve taken the Public Policy Guide to a whole new level,” said Vance Checketts, Salt Lake Chamber public policy chairman and vice president and general manager of Dell EMC. “With the Top 10 Legislative Priorities, we’re being more focused, more intentional and more specific. Business leadership requires more than blanket position statements, it requires direction and that is what the Salt Lake Chamber is providing.”
In releasing the 2018 Top 10 Legislative Priorities, KSL’s Doug Wright moderated a panel with House Speaker Greg Hughes, Executive Appropriations Chair, Senator Jerry Stevenson; House Majority Leader, Representative Brad Wilson; Senate Majority Whip Stuart Adams; and Senate Minority Whip Karen Mayne, to discuss the Chamber’s priorities in relation to other major issues facing the Legislature this next session.
Additionally, the Chamber released Utah’s Next Economic Blueprint. The publication is a result of six months of effort by the Salt Lake Chamber’s board, committees and partners and is meant to develop a forward-looking framework for Utah’s continued economic success. The Blueprint outlines 20 top objectives and 54 key milestones designed to guide Utah’s continued economic success.
To learn more about the Salt Lake Chamber’s public policy efforts visit: slchamber.com/policy
