Virginia’s major business lobbies appear to have modest legislative agendas as the 2008 General Assembly nears, and most items at the top of their lists are defensive.
Businesses are bracing for a rash of legislation relating to illegal immigration, reports Greg Edwards with the Times-Dispatch. The big three associations — the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Manufacturers Association and the Virginia Retail Merchants Association — are united in opposing efforts by lawmakers to solve the illegal immigration problem at the state or local level.
Immigration, they contend, is an issue that properly falls within the scope of the federal government. A patchwork of local and state immigration laws — some penalizing businesses who hire illegals — would lead to headaches. Said Brett Vassey, president of the VMA: “We don’t need employers to become [immigration] agents.”
Other business-related issues expected to arise in the 2008 session:
- Indoor smoking restrictions — the clean lung people will be active again this year, and business will be on the butt end of their initiatives.
- Workforce training — the business lobby is responding favorably to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s plan to consolidated diverse and fragmented training programs under the Virginia Community College System.
- Transportation — while most legislators are exhausted with the subject, a handful are proposing additional tax increases. Business still would like to see sustainable, long-term funding for new construction.