Florida Chamber of Commerce
104 years — 1916 to 2020
Today, Florida’s economy is rebounding at a pace that has other states looking to us for leadership. Our state is growing by more than 1,000 net new people a day, we are the third most populous state in the nation welcoming more than 105 million visitors each year, nearly one in 10 U.S. jobs in 2015 were created in Florida, education reforms continue to help close achievement gaps, and our unemployment rate — once at historic heights of more than 11 percent — has continued to remain below the national average.
And while many would have you believe our state’s successes come from only our sunshine and beaches, at the Florida Chamber we know firsthand that our state continues to move forward thanks, in part, to a united business community that believes in free enterprise, believes in private-sector job creation and fights for a stronger Florida.
In fact, our efforts to make Florida a global leader continue to be challenged by groups who stand in the way of American competitiveness, free enterprise and economic opportunity for all Floridians.
Environmental extremists continue to deploy regulation after regulation to hurt our efforts to plan for smarter growth and protect our environment as we move toward solving our water challenges. Unions that unabashedly put the interests of their members before the interests of Florida’s students continue to try to take options away from students and their parents and, in turn, limit a child’s opportunity.
Incredibly, some politicians are following the trial lawyer playbook and continue to side with special interests who put themselves ahead of what’s right for Florida. In fact, some politicians have proved their loyalty to billboard trial lawyers who exploit Florida’s legal system by refusing to act on Florida’s worsening lawsuit abuse problem. Insurance abuse, fueled by trial lawyers looking for a payout, continues to cost Florida’s families and businesses hard-earned dollars — an average of $3,400 per family of four.
Yet despite the unlimited resources of special interest groups, their policies of less freedom and less competitiveness have never worked — and they never will. We continue to push back against special interest groups who have and freely use their unlimited resources and national connections to attempt to drown Florida in unnecessary regulations, taxes, government mandates and red tape, but we need your help. Their efforts never tire and neither will ours.
The Florida Chamber, our members and our partners have been fighting for greater economic opportunity and job creation since 1916. And for the past 100 years, the Florida Chamber has stood up for what’s right for Florida in every corner — from the Florida Legislature to the Florida Cabinet, from state to federal agencies, from the court of law to the court of public opinion. When the battle is about what is best for Florida’s future, the Florida Chamber is on the front lines.
At the Florida Chamber, we believe:
- In a robust free enterprise system with limited intrusion by government in the marketplace,
- In a high-quality education and workforce development system that will enable all Floridians to compete in the 21st century global economy,
- In fair and predictable laws and regulations that promote economic development and do not impose unreasonable costs on businesses or their customers,
- In a simple, fair and globally competitive tax structure,
- In fiscal responsibility, public accountability and transparency in government,
- In a reliable and sustainable infrastructure to support the health and prosperity of all Floridians,
- In a constructive and positive labor environment in Florida that generates jobs, and
- In a unified and responsible business community that acts in the long-term interest of our state.
For those interested in fighting against special interests and who believe in Florida’s future — we invite you to join the fight. The battle for free enterprise continues and we welcome your support. For those of you who have already joined us in the arena to fight for free enterprise, we thank you.
We invite you to be a part of our next 100 years and help us secure Florida’s future and remember, when the Florida Chamber wins, Florida wins. When Florida wins, America wins.