Welcome to the Portland Regional Chamber's advocacy home page! Here you'll find all the information you need to learn about legislation and regional issues that affect your business - and also how to make your voice heard.

Policy Update -Our most popular section - New issue 7-20-10. Click to read the complete version of our latest Policy Update email (weekly on Mondays during legislative sessions, periodically in the summer and fall). Policy Updates are a great way to quickly stay current on the hot issues for our region.

From our most recent Update: 

Welcome to mid-summer - and I hope everyone is getting a chance to relax and enjoy it.  But good weather notwithstanding there are metaphorical storm clouds on our economic horizon - troubles detailed by a recent CNBC ranking of state business climates that Tony Payne analyzed last week in the PPH.  Maine didn't fare well.

Now I'm not a huge fan of rankings, but Payne is right about our weaknesses.  I can say that based on several recent reports done by researchers right here in Maine that go way beyond simple rankings, and they all confirm that we've got lots work to do.

Grassroots - A step by step "how-to" guide that lets you effectively contact lawmaker.

Bills Worth Watching -   New 4-30-10!  34 new laws you need to know about!  This section gives you summaries of the most important bills in 2010 - laws that will affect you directly.

Public Policy & Legislative Affairs - New 4-12-10!  Make up your own mind about tax reform - view our tax reform summit from April 12^th where experts on both sides of the issue explain their positions.  Just click here.

Comment and Opinion - What the new state budget means to local officials - more taxes, less service - or consolidation?

Polling - No poll this week.

PRC Speaks Out -   New 4-30-10!  The Portland Regional Chamber's Board of Directors comes out in favor of tax refrom, against its repeal, and in support of the bond questions on the June 8th ballot.

Lobbying Tips - Updated periodically, here you'll find easy tips for dealing with legislators, city officials and other folks in government.

Profiles - Get to know your elected officials, and others, a bit better.

Links - Useful links for legislative, municipal and policy information.

Contact Us About Advocacy - Do you have a problem with laws, rules or politics that you can't solve on your own? We might be able to help. Do you want to sound off on something that's got you pumped up, or upset? We want to hear from you!

Our public policy work is made possible by our Partners for Progress, employers who are providing extraordinary investments so that we can serve you better.