Core Advocacy Strategies – How We Get Things Done

Beginning in 2007, KAM will fulfill its Mission, achieve its Vision and accomplish all core and specific objectives through four basic strategies:

1. By working with and influencing elected officials (state legislators, governor, Congress, mayors, etc.);
2. By working with and influencing government policymakers, administrative leaders and others involved in writing regulations or interpreting laws passed by elected officials;
3. By working with and influencing chambers of commerce, other associations, the news media, education leaders, economic development officers, other industries and the general public;
4. By taking action ourselves, as appropriate and as needed, to address issues that prevent our members from winning in the global marketplace.

2008-2012 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA & ADVOCACY PROGRAM INITIATIVES

KAM’s 2007-2012 Legislative Agenda and Advocacy Program will be executed through seven exclusive and unique Branded Initiatives, specifically designed to address key issues facing the Kentucky manufacturing industry:

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Keep manufacturers and the industries that support them in Kentucky and attract new manufacturers here to raise the standard of living for all Kentuckians.

• Existing Manufacturer Reinvestment Incentives – Introduce the “Quality Investment Act” to encourage retention and expansion of an aging manufacturing base by offering incentives to help Kentucky manufacturers retool and update their facilities and equipment. ; introduce legislation entitled Quality Investment Act.
• Energy - Work with members and the Office of Energy Policy on policies of the Comprehensive Energy Strategy including energy efficiency, renewable energy, low cost electric, clean coal technology, development of natural gas, and system reliability.
• Worker’s Compensation – Support coalition initiative to amend current Workers’ Compensation program, including subrogation of benefits, medical and prescription costs, pain management, and installing a lifetime cap on benefits.
• Eminent Domain - Following Kelo v. New London U.S. Supreme Court decision, work to assure that Kentucky statutes on eminent domain continue to protect private property from unwarranted government seizure.
• Transportation – Support appropriate funding for the maintenance and development of the transportation infrastructure, which is vital to commerce and economic development.
• Annual Manufacturing “Think-Tank” Summit – Beginning in 2007, hold an annual summit to bring together the state's economic, education and business leaders to develop and implement major initiatives on how to protect and grow manufacturing in Kentucky.
• Public Affairs Forums – Hold regular membership forums to discuss the political process, emerging issues, and provide action updates on legislative and executive affairs.
• Unemployment Compensation – Support laws that maintain a sound, solvent trust fund and assures that benefits go only to those out of work through no fault of their own.
• Unemployment Compensation – Oppose expanding benefits for those who voluntarily terminate employment, those discharged for misconduct or dishonesty, those who refuse to accept suitable work, and those who become unemployable by reason of criminal conviction.
• Budget Deficit – Encourage fiscal discipline and spending reform for curing deficits in the state budget.
• State Employee Benefits – Support the equalization of state-employee benefits with the private sector and urge the General Assembly to eliminate unnecessary programs (regardless of cost) in favor of increased funding for essential programs.

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Train Kentucky manufacturing workers to out-produce workers in low-wage countries like China, India and Mexico.

• Education – Partner with UK Center for Manufacturing and KCTCS to train Kentucky workers in advanced manufacturing techniques.
• High Technology – Lead and encourage the creation and implementation of a nanotechnology initiative that will promote the growth and awareness of nanotechnology’s importance to manufactured products.
• Process Management – Educate and train Kentucky manufacturers in the use of Process Management and other related efficiency-driving practices (such as Lean Six Sigma).

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Free Kentucky manufacturers from high taxes, regulations, and other constraints that prevent them from winning in the global marketplace.

• Strenuously oppose excessive government intervention in the activities of the private sector.
• Business Taxation – Eliminate the “AMC tax” on gross receipts or gross profits.
• Tort (Lawsuit) Reform – Support legislative action to limit non-economic and punitive damages in medical malpractice suits and comprehensive tort reform.
• Unemployment Compensation -- Oppose expansion of benefits for those who voluntarily terminate employment, are discharged for misconduct or dishonesty, refuse to accept suitable work, and who become unemployable by reason of criminal conviction.
• Right-to-Work – Support an organized effort to allow all Kentucky workers the freedom to eliminate mandatory membership in or financial support of labor organizations as a condition of employment. This will eliminate Kentucky’s competitive disadvantage as the only non Right-to-Work state in the South, which discourages other manufacturers from locating here and encourages those already here to leave the state.
• Public Employee Unionization – Oppose the expansion of public employee unionization.
• Prevailing Wage -- Oppose the mandated use of union scale wages in determining worker pay for public projects, resulting in unnecessary higher costs.

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Prepare Kentucky students and adults for well-paying jobs in manufacturing.

• Workforce Development
o Work with secondary and higher education to develop improved skills required by more advanced/higher technology manufacturing processes.
o Gain state adoption of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Assessment (or its equivalent) to develop a better-prepared workforce for manufacturing jobs.
• Education
o Partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies to match manufacturing workers with public and private school students to improve math and science scores and increase graduation rates.
o Partner with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to ensure young people entering the workforce are equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in a manufacturing environment.

HealthyKentucky(sm)
Reduce Kentucky’s health care costs by encouraging our workers to be safe and healthy and promoting a safe, accident-free workplace.

• Lawsuit Protection – Introduce a bill to indemnify companies whose employees are assaulted by other employees who bring firearms into the workplace from their vehicles parked on private company property.
• Wellness – Form partnerships to reduce Kentucky’s smoking and obesity rates, encourage proper nutrition and establish voluntary wellness programs.
o Work with the Kentucky Long-term Policy Research Commission concerning discussions of healthcare policy in Kentucky.
o Support efforts to lower the medical and prescription rise in costs
• Support constraining the cost of health care to allow companies to continue affordable health care coverage for employees.
• Oppose mandated coverages, thus allowing employers and individuals to choose what coverage meets their needs.
• Advocate for a market-oriented strategy, like health insurance tax credits, to improve the affordability of health care coverage for employers and workers.

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Encourage honesty and integrity in the manufacturing workplace to help manufacturers reduce costs so they can compete and win in the global marketplace and keep their facilities and jobs in Kentucky.

• Partner with Kentucky Better Business Bureaus to help Kentucky manufacturers and their workers set a new standard for workplace ethics in America.
• Train and annually certify Kentucky manufacturers and their employees in establishing and maintaining a culture in which ethical and honest behavior is the norm.

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Help our members balance sustainable growth with the environment and their communities.

• Environment – Educate manufacturers on current compliance rules and regulations and address environmental issues through KAM’s Chemical Industry Council.
• Support environmental programs that are based on sound science, consider cost-benefit relationships, and consider technical and economic feasibility.
• Support creation of incentives for voluntarily remediating and restoring vitality to abandoned, idled, and contaminated property (“Brownfields”).