Delaware's future economic success rests on its current education system. Not only must Delaware's public school graduates be prepared to successfully participate in making Delaware a leader in the global marketplace, but companies are more likely to locate and remain in states with strong public education systems. The Chamber supports Vision 2015 in its goal of making Delaware's schools world-class by 2015. The Chamber will also work to strengthen and leverage partnerships between business and higher education that support the growth of the economy.

The final elements of Delaware's updated workers compensation system are scheduled for implementation at the end of May. While this process is in motion, workers compensation reform remains a key focus for the State Chamber as it makes certain the process proceeds in a timely manner and that the finished product is one that will continue to drive down workers compensation costs. The State Chamber's focus on employee relations issues will center upon keeping Delaware's business competitive, while maintaining high-quality job opportunities for our citizens.

As Delaware's manufacturers continue to compete domestically and internationally for manufacturing facilities and jobs, environmental regulation remains an important consideration for the state's economic development efforts. The State Chamber is focusing its efforts on the following issues: water permitting, abandoned environmentally distressed sites and trash-to-steam incineration.

State revenues are trending downward. The rosy economic climate of the last few years has allowed the General Assembly to increase general fund spending while approving some of the largest capital budgets in state history. However, with a looming recession, challenges to the Delaware video lottery monopoly, potential job losses due to business restructuring, and the turbulent housing market, it becomes evident that the large spending increases of recent years must be reversed. New taxes are not the solution. Instead, we must spend prudently and eliminate ineffective, outdated waste.

Rising health insurance costs remain a key area of concern for business owners and their employees as they struggle to meet bottom-line obligations. Many employers simply cannot afford to offer health insurance to their employees. More than 10 percent of Delawareans, many of them employed, are uninsured. This problem affects all businesses through higher insurance rates and taxes. A healthy economy depends on healthy citizens. Affordable health insurance rates are a must.