Two Blockbuster Events Kick Off Georgia Chamber Year

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Taking part in this year's Eggs & Issues Breakfast were (shown above, L-R): George Israel, President & CEO, Georgia Chamber of Commerce; Charles Tarbutton, 2008 Chair, Georgia Chamber; Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle; Gov. Sonny Perdue; Speaker of the Georgia House, Glenn Richardson; and Skin Edge, Chairman of the Georgia Chamber's Government Affairs Committee.

The prospect of a tough year for business in Washington and a trio of challenging issues facing Georgia lawmakers was enough to turn out more than 3,000 Georgians to attend the state chamber's two big January events. What they heard confirmed something everyone in the room already believed: now, more than ever, the business community must make its collective voice heard.

On Monday evening, January 14th, Tom Donohue, President & CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, told state business leaders that they should be watching Congress closely. "We are on the brink of some major problems and I fear the answers they provide will not be solutions, " Donohue said. "Making matters worse are the sharp partisan divisions, approaching gridlock, that characterizes the U.S. House and Senate right now," he added. Donohue, who is in his tenth year as the leader of the giant business organization, rattled off a long list of challenges, any one of which, he said, should cause concern in the business community. "But, taken as a whole," he added, "how they are resolved or even if they are resolved, should stimulate the business community to get involved in the political process," Donohue said. He concurred with the prevailing opinion among business leaders, both in Georgia and nationally, that what happens in Washington in 2008 could have historic significance.

And, if the situation inside the beltway is not worrisome enough, Georgia legislators are facing a number of daunting issues as they convene for their annual session under the Gold Dome. Topping the agenda are water, transportation and taxes. On the podium at the annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast, were the state's top three elected officials, Gov. Perdue, Lt. Gov. Cagle and House Speaker Richardson. Each outlined his agenda for the session and, while there are clear differences among the three, there was no disagreement on the overall objective, to make Georgia a stronger, safer, healthier place to live, work and raise families.

The session should see resolution on all of the major issues faced by the legislators. There was consensus that there will be a water plan, that some tough decisions will be made on transportation funding and that a close look at Georgia's tax plan is warranted. There was also agreement that the state must plan for and fund a statewide trauma system.

For business and community leaders, both events were instructive and revealing. There is little doubt that all three speakers hold strong pro-business beliefs and this seemed to please the sell-out crowd. Both events took place in the Murphy Ballroom at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.