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The State Chamber is at the
Heart of Nebraska Business
 For over 96 years, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has been at the heart of Nebraska’s economic and political history. The State Chamber is today at its strongest level, with record membership, major legislative accomplishments, and an outstanding level of service to the business community.
Governor Heineman and Chairman Glenn have already mentioned how much the future of Nebraska will depend on what we do today. A key to bringing better and more jobs to Nebraska will be to seriously examine the state’s taxation policy with very positive steps made last session. We already know that Nebraska does not fare very well in the results of the KPMG Consulting study, “A Comparative Analysis of Nebraska’s Business Climate.” The study showed that for entry-level positions, Nebraska falls in the middle of tax impact when compared to our neighboring states. But, our income tax is so progressive that, as one moves up the income scale, Nebraska ranks high compared to those same states. At the managerial level, which is about $40,000 in income and above, only Iowa and Minnesota have a greater tax burden than Nebraska.
The Tax Foundation ranks Nebraska high for state and local tax burden. Nebraska’s state and local tax burden percentage is estimated at 11.6 percent of income, making our state the sixth-highest, well above the national average of 10.6 percent. Nebraskans pay $4,294 per-capita in state and local taxes. The conclusions that can be drawn are quite evident. Nebraska’s individual tax burden is high, especially above the entry-level position. The effects of the 2007 tax cuts should help reduce the burden. Tax burden does impact the ability to recruit managerial and technical employees. Decision-makers will consider personal financial impact when making business location decisions. We will continue efforts to find ways to reduce that burden during the 2008 session.
 The State Chamber has stood for you and your business for over 96 years! We’re in a global economy, where changing technology and ever-improving communication make it imperative for business to move quickly. Business cannot afford to be bogged down with intrusive regulation and taxation. The State Chamber historically stands strong against such burdens, positioning the organization as the only statewide group that truly represents the business point of view. Past accomplishments in the Legislature and at the ballot boxes have shown that your State Chamber is a major force in Nebraska to ensure that a strong economy continues. With legislative term limits in place, your State Chamber-PAC will be involved in the key legislative races, supporting pro-business legislators and helping pro-business candidates!
The State Chamber will continue to build on past success in preparation for the future – a future that will more than ever depend on Nebraska business to be competitive on a global basis. To that end, the State Chamber remains committed as the leading voice of the Nebraska business community in promoting, encouraging, and protecting free enterprise in the state.
As the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry looks to the future, we will be seeking new ways to promote investment by Nebraska companies in all parts of our state. In addition, legislation that promotes larger investments in Nebraska and addresses our tax issues are needed. The state must also seek businesses that diversify our economy and support the efforts of existing businesses to expand. It is also extremely important that we create incentives that promote job training and retraining as we move from an industrial 20th-century into a more high-tech 21st-century economy. Promotion of Nebraska as a business-friendly state is not new for the State Chamber.
 The State Chamber’s history began 96 years ago in 1912 with the founding of the Nebraska Manufacturers Association. In 1937, the membership was broadened and the name was changed to Associated Industries of Nebraska (AIN). In 1960, the organization helped organize the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce. Six years later, the two groups merged to become the Nebraska Association of Commerce & Industry (NACI).
The NACI acronym was used for more than 20 years. At the organization’s 76th Annual Meeting in February of 1988, members ratified the name change to the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, which had been recommended by the Board of Directors in 1987. The name change was needed to show the organization was clearly the State Chamber of Commerce.
Back in 1938, the Associated Industries of Nebraska ran a series of advertisements in Time magazine, extolling the benefits of doing business in Nebraska. While the state continues to maintain a balanced budget amendment and maintains its right-to-work status, our low-tax environment is not what it used to be. To that end, we continue to work for an equitable tax system that does not penalize the business community.
Currently, the State Chamber represents thousands of corporate members statewide, with businesses of every variety and size as members. The State Chamber also has more than 60 local chambers of commerce as members, along with more than 75 state-level trade and professional associations.
Located just a half block from the historic Nebraska State Capitol, the State Chamber offices are at 1320 Lincoln Mall. From that location, the professional staff effectively works with Nebraska’s Legislature, as well as state administrative agencies, on issues affecting business, and manages the State Chamber’s many membership programs, services and publications.
What We Do Best
A membership survey noted that the State Chamber’s legislative activity was very important to 90 percent of the members. During the first four to five months of the year when the Nebraska Legislature is in session, the State Chamber’s primary focus is on representing the business community on major issues before the Legislature. Three full-time lobbyists lead the organization’s efforts with the state’s lawmakers.
As each legislative session progresses, the State Chamber keeps its members well informed on day-to-day legislative activities. Primarily, this is done through the weekly Legislative Report, a narrative status summary on major bills of interest to the business community. The report contains specific information on crucial votes by every state senator, a status on every bill before the Legislature, hearing dates, and other pertinent information. Over the past sessions, the State Chamber began to utilize a broadcast email and fax system to quickly alert members to key votes and issues in the Unicameral. We continue to look for timely and cost-effective methods to keep members up to speed on developments, as well as respond in a timely manner to their state senators.
The State Chamber’s Public Affairs Council, made up of registered lobbyists of member companies and associations, meets every week during sessions to coordinate activity and share information vital to the business community. Local chambers of commerce subscribe to a weekly telephone conference call during the legislative session. The State Chamber’s Annual Meeting is always held in Lincoln during the legislative session to allow members to make contacts with their state senators and participate in the Legislative Caucus.
After the session adjourns, members receive a complete summary of the session, a voting record of state senators, and information on key issues.
Each fall, the State Chamber coordinates a series of Legislative Forums with some 25 to 30 local chambers of commerce. In addition to updating members on legislative issues in their hometown, the executive staff conducts an issues survey, invites state senators to participate in the forums, and conducts candidate visitations during election years.
The State Chamber’s lobbying activities are not limited to just the Nebraska Legislature. The executive staff is in close contact with Nebraska’s congressional delegation and the congressional staffs in Nebraska and Washington, D.C. The State Chamber staff works with state and federal agencies, legislative staff, and the governor’s office on regulatory issues of concern to business.
When issues of timely importance arise, the State Chamber has in the past joined with other business groups and associations to form broad-based coalitions that focus on specific issues.
Member Participation
The State Chamber’s history of accomplishments is due to the interest and participation of its members. Either by serving on the Board of Directors, as a member of the ten policy-formulating councils (Manufacturing, Labor Relations, Economic Development, Health Care, Taxation, Transportation, Education, Environmental, Agri-Business, and Small Business), or utilizing State Chamber-sponsored seminars and publications, member participation is a hallmark of the organization. In a survey, 97 percent of the members said they would recommend joining the State Chamber to a non-member business.
State Chamber councils meet throughout the year to develop policies on issues affecting business. The State Chamber-PAC is another council where members can visit with legislative candidates and determine whom the PAC should endorse. Growth of the State Chamber-PAC, and recent success in elections, has helped the State Chamber take a leadership role in Nebraska state politics. With the advent of term limits for the Nebraska Legislature, the PAC and the State Chamber will be focused even more on recruitment of business-friendly candidates and working to help energize the many employees of Nebraska businesses to vote. This past year, members utilized State Chamber-sponsored get-out-the-vote practices.
In addition to participation in the Annual Meeting and Legislative Forums, members can participate in Federal Congressional Receptions, special state conferences, international business development visits, and special conferences and events relating to business issues. In fact, the Foreign Trade Missions and the Fall Forums were named to the Associations Advance America Honor Roll by the American Society of Association Executives.
Cornerstone Project
The State Chamber has initiated a membership category – the Cornerstone member. A member paying a minimum of $5,000 in dues investment, and the company is near the recommended dues schedule, would be eligible to become a Cornerstone member. The immediate past chairman of the State Chamber serves as chairman of the Cornerstone members for a one-year term.
Benefits to becoming a Cornerstone member include costs of seminars covered; all council or board meeting meals complimentary; two full Annual Meeting registrations at the $5,000 level; display and listing of Cornerstone members at various meetings and in membership mailings; email legislative reports and newsletters to top people within Cornerstone company.
The key to this program is the recognition of key State Chamber members doing their fair share, and even more than their fair share (if a smaller company) to help provide additional funding for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry to enhance and expand its services to all State Chamber members.
Current Members
AflacAlltel Wireless
Altria Corporate Services
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
Aquila
Archer Daniels Midland
Baldwin Filters
Becton Dickinson
Behlen Mfg.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of NE
BNSF Railway
C&A Industries
Cabela’s
Cargill – Blair
Cargill Meat Solutions
Chief Industries
Children’s Hospital
ConAgra Foods
Connectivity Solutions Mfg.
Cornerstone Bank
Crete Carrier Corp.
Douglas Manufacturing
Duncan Aviation
Exmark Manufacturing
Farmers Mutual Insurance
Farmland Foods
First Data USA
First National Bank
Great Plains Communications
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Kawasaki Motors
Kellogg Company
LandAmerica Financial Group
Lincoln Benefit Life
Lincoln Industries
MBA Poultry
MDS Pharma Services
Mutual of Omaha – United of Omaha
NEBCO
Nebraska Book Company
Nebraska Cable Communication Assn.
Nelnet
Nebraska Public Power District
Oriental Trading
Paypal
Pinnacle Bank
Qwest Communications
Smeal Fire Apparatus
SourceGas
State Farm Insurance
TD Ameritrade
TierOne Bank
Tyson Foods
Union Pacific Railroad
University of Nebraska
Valmont Industries
Verizon Wireless
Vetter Health Services
Wells Fargo Bank Nebraska
Werner Enterprises
Western Sugar Cooperative
Windstream
Woodmen of the World Life Insurance
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