And Members of The KC Chamber Board of Directors

March 28, 2016
The Honorable Todd Richardson

Mr.RonaYircali
Speaker, Missouri House of Representatives
ChairmanoftheBoard
Jefferson
City, MO 65101
WorldChambersFederation
Dear
Speaker Richardson:
c/oInternationalChamberofCommerce
38CoursAlbert1er
On behalf of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, we are writing to express our firm opposition to
75008Paris
Senate Joint Resolution 39, as passed by the Senate. We believe it is discriminatory and will do great damage to
France
March20,2008
both
Kansas City and Missouri businesses and the economy of our
region and the State of Missouri.
In
fact, damage is already being done. We are hearing rumblings from the Big 12 and the NCAA about the
DearChairmanYircali,
effects
passage of this legislation would have on Kansas Citys potential to host their sporting events - a concern
for
our
sports-loving town and its residents. Mere consideration of this legislation has tarnished our reputation,
AspresidentoftheGreaterKansasCityChamberofCommerce,Iwouldliketoendorse
creating the national perception that Missouri is an intolerant place in which to live and do business. Those
thebidoftheAmericanChamberofCommerceExecutivesforthe2011WorldChambersCongress.
messages are completely contrary to the welcoming environment here in Kansas City.
ThecombinationoftheACCEmeetingwiththatoftheWorldChambersCongresswouldcreatean
unprecedented,excitingeventthatnotonlyIwouldplantoattend,butIwouldencouragemystaffand
Our
2000 member companies require a skilled and creative workforce, and are concerned about their ability to
recruit
and retain the talent they need should this bill pass. As the CEO of one of our larger corporations told us,
Boardmemberstoattend.WeintheUnitedStateshavelimitedinteractionwithchambersfromother
if
this legislation passes, it will make it more difficult for us to attract and retain talent in Missouri, we will grow
countries,andthisCongresswouldchangethatforever.WewouldbeenthusiastichostsfortheWorld
our employment in states that are respectful of our diverse associates and our business.
ChambersFederation.
That
CEO is not alone.
LosAngelesisagreatlocation,oneofthelargestandmostglamorouscitiesintheworld.Itsanideal
Just
this past Monday, the governor of Georgia announced his intent to veto that states religious liberty bill,
siteforaconventionthatwillbringtogetherchambersandbusinesspeoplefromallovertheworld.
following
protests from Disney and Marvel Studios, Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines and others. Closer to home, the
ButwhileLosAngelesisyourlocalhost,IhopeyouunderstandthatallofNorthAmericawillbe
NCAA has issued a warning that, It is our expectation that people will be welcomed and treated with respect
welcomingyou.
in cities that host our NCAA championships and events. The Big 12 and SEC have issued similar warnings.
Indiana,
which passed a comparable bill, saw a $40 million business expansion cancelled and a loss of $75
Worldtradeandinvestmentaremoreimportanttoalloureconomiesthanever.Chambersappreciate
million
in tourism and convention business.
this.ByhavingyourmeetingintheUnitedStatesin2011,youwillbeconnectingwithimportantallies
Proponents
of SJR 39 say its unlike other states bills. However, pointing to the fine print in the legislation
inthestruggleforafreerandmoreglobaleconomy.
will have no impact on the national perception of intolerance that is sure to follow passage in Missouri. And
the Missouri General Assembly will be unable to follow Indianas path and quickly amend the bill as this
WeandotherACCEmembersbelieveincommercethatswhyitisinmostofournames!
discriminatory
legislation will be enshrined in the Missouri Constitution.
WepledgetosupportyoureffortsattheWorldChambersFederationtoincreaseinternationalties
For
all those reasons and more the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce strongly opposes SJR 39 as
amongchambers.
passed
by the Senate, and we urge the Missouri House to reject it.
IwanttothankyouforyourconsiderationofthisletterandofLosAngelesbidtohosttheWorld
Sincerely,
ChambersCongressin2011.
Sincerely,
Reardon, President & CEO
Joe
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Terry Bassham, Chair

Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
And members of the KC Chamber Board of Directors:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, GREATER KANSAS CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Matthew
Condon, ARC Physical Therapy +,
Mr.RonaYircali
Bardavon
Health Innovations
ChairmanoftheBoard
Karen Daniel, Black & Veatch Corporation
38CoursAlbert1er
75008Paris
Douglas W. Stockman, El Dorado, Inc.
Maurice
Watson, Husch Blackwell
France
March20,2008
F.thebidoftheAmericanChamberofCommerceExecutivesforthe2011WorldChambersCongress.
Nicholas Franano, MD, FlowForward Medical, Inc.
Craig Kuckelman, Deloitte LLP
and Metactive Medical, Inc.
ChambersFederation.
Dave
Harrison, VanTrust Real Estate
Charlie Shields, Truman Medical Centers
W.
Russell Welsh, Polsinelli
welcomingyou.
Patrick J. McCown, McCownGordon Construction
Mark
Donovan, Kansas City Chiefs
Steve McDowell, BNIM
amongchambers.
John
Murphy, Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Greg Graves, Burns & McDonnell
Sincerely,
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, GREATER KANSAS CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Mr.RonaYircali
Jani Johnson, Saint Lukes Hospital
ChairmanoftheBoard
Mark Larrabee, Arvest Bank
38CoursAlbert1er
75008Paris
France
March20,2008
Michael Hagedorn, UMB Bank
Brad
Sprong, KPMG LLP
thebidoftheAmericanChamberofCommerceExecutivesforthe2011WorldChambersCongress.
Adam Blake, Brightergy
Terrence P. Dunn
ChambersFederation.
Mark James
Marc B. Hahn, Kansas City University
of Medicine and Biosciences
welcomingyou.
Carolyn Watley
Warren Erdman
amongchambers.
Sincerely,

And Members of The KC Chamber Board of Directors

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And Members of The KC Chamber Board of Directors

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March 28, 2016

The Honorable Todd Richardson

Terry Bassham, Chair

And members of the KC Chamber Board of Directors:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, GREATER KANSAS CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Karen Daniel, Black & Veatch Corporation

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, GREATER KANSAS CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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