Advancing good public policy is a vital part of the Labor-Management Council’s mission to enhance collaboration and trust between labor and management and the community.

In its 35 years, the LMC has taken positions on more than 200 public issues including legislative and ballot measures. The LMC by-laws require that three-fourths of board members from both labor and from management must agree on each position. LMC members request consideration of issues, which are then studied by the Issues Committee and sometimes by the Construction Committee before consideration by the full Board.

The following 2015 Issues Agenda was adopted by the Board last week. Issues may be added or amended by the Board later, as events evolve.

Please let us know if you have questions or suggestions. We look forward to engaging with elected and appointed officials to discuss and advance these positions.

Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City Issues Agenda 2015 

The following issues positions have been adopted by the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City by a unanimous vote of its Board of Directors: 

Federal 

•Support construction of the Keystone pipeline project. 

Note:  we also expressed support for a federal transportation bill, which was passed, based on past positions and current state positions.  An interim bill was passed but a longer-term measure is still needed. 

Watch List:

 •Oppose a benefits tax in  federal health care reform; Any future stimulus funds include significant vertical construction projects. 

Missouri

•The LMC supports reasonable and effective economic development incentives.  While the LMC supports ensuring that tax credits and other incentives are cost effective, we want to preserve those tax credits crucial to economic development such as the historic tax credit, tax increment financing and enact an angel tax credit and data center incentives. 

•The LMC opposes legislation to impose “right-to-work.” 

•The LMC supports maintaining and increasing Medicaid eligibility and adequate provider reimbursement. 

•The LMC supports state funding for a comprehensive transportation plan. 

•The LMC supports Prevailing Wage in its present form.  

•The LMC supports development of a statutory framework for public employee collective bargaining in Missouri to reduce uncertainty for workers and for public employers.  

Watch:  Unemployment Insurance, Workers Compensation, Utility Rates & Energy Capacity, Education/Kansas City School District. 

Kansas

•The LMC supports reasonable and effective economic development incentives. 

•The LMC supports continued funding for the comprehensive transportation plan. 

•The LMC opposes immigration reform proposals that would put the burden of I-9 verification on contractors for subcontractors.  Verification responsibility should fall only on the direct employer of those workers.

Watch:  Kansas “driveway” tax (proposed requirement for impact study if increasing user fees)