Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce Business Journal Q2 2014 | Page 41

Action & Advocacy

The Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
By: Jodi Levin,
Vice Chairman, Government Affairs
What is the Chamber’s
Action and Advocacy
Committee and why is it
important to you?
The Action and Advocacy Committee
works with city, county, state and federal
entities on matters that impact local
businesses. Whether it’s an ordinance
before city council, a bill being debated
at the state Legislature, or federal
mandates that affect your bottom
line, our committee gives a local
business perspective to these issues.
Our mission is to be a resource to
Chamber members and to help elected
officials understand the practical
implications of their actions on the
business community.
As the Wyoming Legislature just
wrapped up its session, it’s helpful
to reflect on how you can participate
– your voice is important and your
elected officials want to hear from
you. Navigating the Capitol during the
legislative session can be a confusing
process, which is one area where the
Action & Advocacy Committee can
benefit you. We begin by setting a set
of principles that guides our evaluation
process – Our principles are based
on the tenant that business and its
prosperity are the foundation of our

country and that entrepreneurialism
fosters the American Dream. Capitalism
and free enterprise are the bedrock of
a secure economy. A strong nation,
state and community exist through a
strong military, tax policy that is not
discriminative, infrastructure – physical
and social – that meets the local

“As the Wyoming Legislature
just wrapped up its session,
it’s helpful to reflect on how
you can participate- your
voice is important and your
elected officials want to hear
from you.”

to our members. Utilizing our business
principles, we evaluate legislative
proposals and advocate for their passage
or failure. The dialogue is constructive
and is an opportunity to listen to one
another, appreciating that there are often
many aspects to an issue. Legislators
have told us they value the conversation
– knowing how their decisions impact
local business is vital because sometimes
the best intentioned issue can have
unforeseen consequences.

health care.

How can you ensure you are informed
on legislative issues? The Legislature’s
website http://legisweb.state.wy.us/
lsoweb/session/SessionHome.
aspx is a useful tool to find contact
information, state statutes, information
on previous sessions and a calendar of
events. During legislative sessions, bill
information, daily floor calendars and
committee information is all available. If
you have questions, contact us. Action
& Advocacy can help you find this
information and help you determine if new
language is being proposed or if the bill
modifies current law.

Each fall, the Action & Advocacy
Committee meets with our Laramie
County legislative delegation to learn
about the issues they have been working
on and to discuss issues the Chamber
has been following, or that are of interest

Your voice is important. It’s important
for the Action & Advocacy to hear your
issues, ideas and concerns. Equally, it’s
important for our legislators to hear from
businesses. We invite you to join our
process, 307.638.3388.

Jodi Levin
Greater Cheyenne Chamber
of Commerce, Vice Chairman,
Government Affairs

community needs for the present and the
future, an education system that allows
personal advancement and achievement
and the availability and access to

Q1 2014 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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