DC Chamber Chairmans Club Attends Washington DC Fly-In

By Sara Ray, Douglas County Chamber

As the largest delegation on the DC Fly In, the Douglas County Chamber was recognized by our federal elected officials and able to effectively represent the interests of our community

The Washington Fly-In offers our community leaders the opportunity to meet as a group with their elected officials. During the 48-hour trip, attendees met with U.S. Chamber representatives to discuss recent updates on fiscal, small business and healthcare policy updates including a brief one-on-one with Congressman Phil Gingrey.  The morning was filled with executive briefings with Congressman David Scott and Congressman Lynn Westmoreland. The afternoon session featured U.S Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. In addition, the group heard from U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood which was of particular interest to the DC Chamber attendees in regard to the impending Highway 92 project. 

Topics of conversation varied amongst the speakers however, the message and priorities for the DC Chamber attendees was specific. The DC Chamber supports continued funding of all the major transportation/road projects that are currently on various federal funding lists. This is especially important now that a Chamber supported alternative funding mechanism (Regional T-SPLOST) was rejected by voters in July. It was the sole purpose of the group to discuss alternative options and a federal stance on what is to come.

Attendees on the Washington Fly-In included Commission Chairman, route: {:controller=>"listings", :action=>"show", :id=>"douglas-county-board-of-commissioners"} --> Tom Worthan; Harvey Persons; John Sell, ; Gary Miller, ; Ken Barber, ; Greg Williams, Kaiser Permanente; Craig Owens, ; Dr. Skip Sullivan, West Georgia Technical College; Rosco Sayyar and Sam Ahmed, /; Chris Pumphrey,