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Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009

One Voice group lists priorities for lobbying

Road projects and affordable health care are among priorities.

The Merced County Association of Governments has drafted its legislative lobbying priorities for 2010.

The association's One Voice program, a countywide coalition of business owners, elected officials and government staff, travels to Sacramento and Washington D.C., to present these issues to federal and state legislators.

Their state priorities for the year are:

Funding for the Highway 152 corridor, from Highway 99 to Highway 101;

San Joaquin Valley prevailing wage;

Preserve enterprise zones -- specially zoned areas with tax incentives for businesses -- and tax credits for business incubators, including incentives for green energy;

Full funding and full flexibility for schools;

Make mental and dental health care more accessible; and

Limit cities' and counties' legal liabilities regarding the homeless.

One Voice's federal priorities for the year are:

Los Banos bypass;

Campus Parkway;

Economic disaster declaration to improve access to and provide infrastructure support for business parks and funding for alternative energy;

Update facilities to provide outdoor learning for preschools; and

Expand mental health training for medical providers.

The group wants to meet with Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, to discuss labeling the San Joaquin Valley an economic disaster zone. The delegation also wants to call meetings to promote high-speed rail and Merced Irrigation District's relicensing of the Exchequer Dam.

The group that drew up the priority list came from Gustine, Los Banos, city of Merced, Merced County Office of Education, Merced Union High School District, Merced County Economic Development Corp. and the Merced County Healthcare Coalition.

The Merced County Association of Governments, which organizes the One Voice delegation, is scheduled to approve the final list of priorities at a 3 p.m. meeting Thursday at the County Board of Supervisors chambers.

Reporter Danielle E. Gaines can be reached at (209) 385-2477 or dgaines@mercedsun-star.com.