As you’ve probably heard, we support the effort to make Indiana a right-to-work state. Here is House Speaker Brian Bosma explaining why it’s a good idea in a new ad campaign.

Comments from Indiana Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Brinegar on the announcement today by House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long that right-to-work legislation will take priority in the 2012 session:

“Passing a right-to-work law is the single most important action our lawmakers can take to put more Hoosiers back to work. Currently, we have more than 200,000 people unemployed in Indiana and many more at risk as employers deal with a still unstable economy. A right-to-work law would open the door to attracting new and expanding companies and the numerous jobs they bring.

“Site selection experts from across the country will tell anyone who will listen that between one third and nearly half of the companies that hire them to find a good location won’t even consider non right-to-work states for their business growth and expansion plans. So Indiana is automatically out of the running in far too many instances.

“Other Midwestern states such a Michigan and Kentucky are now looking at passing right-to-work to gain a dramatic competitive advantage for jobs. We cannot afford to fall behind the competition.

“Right-to-work is about creating jobs, economic growth and fairness. Arguments to the contrary are smoke and mirrors. Right-to-work laws do not prohibit labor unions or collective bargaining, but simply protect workers from being forced to join or pay dues and fees to a labor union.  Workers would still have the right to join or support a labor union, only now it would be his or her decision to make. That’s simply fair.

“Case in point, right-to-work legislation was passed more than 15 years ago for Hoosier teachers. It certainly didn’t destroy their unions or collective bargaining rights, and it didn’t result in lower wages for teachers.

“Going forward, the Indiana Chamber will work to help citizens and lawmakers realize that a vote for right-to-work is a vote for job creation and worker freedom. A person shouldn’t have to be forced to join a union in order to get or keep a job. Today was an important step and I applaud legislative leadership for displaying determination with this issue.”

The results of our most recent poll question seem to adequately reflect the current state of the Republican race for president — a lot of choices with little consensus.

We asked your favorite on the GOP side. Mitt Romney (33%) and Herman Cain (25% with more than a few of those votes received prior to his recent difficulties) led the way. Third was "other" with Jon Huntsman, none of the above, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and a few others showing up in that category.

Among remaining choices: Ron Paul (11%), Rick Perry (5%) and Michele Bachmann (3%). In other words, it’s still wait and see on how this one will play out in early 2012.

We keep the focus on Washington with our new question. Vote (upper right) on the following:

What would you most like to receive from Washington as an early (or late) holiday present?

• “Do-over” on health care reform
• Moratoirum on new federal regulations
• Simpler tax process
• Solid plan to reduce debt
• Other

OK, I don’t want to make light of a federal crime here so I’ll agree with the Postal Service: You better return that official USPS pen or mail tub that you swiped from the local branch.

Not only is our mail delivery system in disarray, but we (as in taxpayers) apparently spent nearly $50 million last year replacing stolen necessities. Not that taking advantage of the current amnesty period to return those items with no questions asked will bring financial solvency back. Nevertheless, check out more of the details below.

“We are in a financial crisis and simply cannot afford this type of unnecessary expense,” said David Williams, vice president of USPS network operations. “The equipment is federal property, and we want it back.”

The Postal Service is aggressively cutting costs with plans to close thousands of post offices and hundreds of mail-processing facilities. Observers expect that next week it will announce losses of at least $10 billion for fiscal 2011.

It is a federal crime to steal postal equipment, and doing so can lead to up to three years in prison or up to $250,000 in fines.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said that with more than 32,000 post offices and more than 200 mail-processing facilities nationwide, the USPS uses thousands of pallets (costing $20 each) to move crates of mail, letter trays ($2.75 each) and translucent mail tubs with “United States Postal Service” emblazoned along the side in black letters ($4 each).

The Postal Service said its amnesty program will run until Nov. 26. Customers can drop off equipment at post offices or mail-processing facilities, and organizations with large amounts of equipment can arrange for a one-time pickup.

If you’re one of the many who is seemingly highly frustrated by the lack of positive activity in Washington, you’re joined by Indiana Congressman Marlin Stutzman. The special guest during Friday’s monthly Indiana Chamber Policy Call, Stutzman expressed the following at different times about his first 10-plus months on the job in D.C.

• "What bothers me is there is no sense of urgency."
• "The federal government is so large, so bureaucratic, so over-reaching. It’s the blanket that is suffocating the economy right now."
• "The government is in the way, and we can’t get it out of the way fast enough."

Stutzman described the competing philosophies of government creating jobs by spending money with the preferred approach for him (and many others) of providing the climate to allow the private sector to be the job creator. He also noted the regulatory hurdles, with more than 3,200 rules passed by "unelected bureaucrats" in 2010 and that number already above 4,000 for this year.

On a more positive note, Stutzman did cite recent legislation that increases the tax credit for hiring veterans and a farm bill proposal (in which he teamed with Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar) that delivers a potential $40 billion in savings over 10 years while still protecting those in the agriculture industry.

Like others, Stutzman hopes for some progress out of the "super committee" dealing with debt and deficit recommendations. He notes that tax reform and simplication is generating interest, but will still be difficult to pass in the partisan environment in Washington.

Check out more about Stutzman and his work. The next Policy Call for Chamber members will be Friday, December 9, with the topic being right-to-work.

Indiana Chamber Communications VP Tom Schuman explains why streamlining the tax code and reforming entitlement spending will create a simpler and fairer system for American workers and businesses. The U.S. Congress’ Super Committee should work to make this happen.

Job creation remains a key challenge for American legislators, as well as for President Obama. In an announcement on Tuesday, he contended not enough emphasis is being put on helping start-ups thrive in America. He also promoted his $2 billion Startup America program. What do you think? Beneficial or just government meddling?

President Obama on Tuesday proclaimed November 2011 to be National Entrepreneurship Month, a benign and routine ritual that stroked a favored cause, but nevertheless a timely nod to the heart of the economy’s job creation dilemma.

The president focused his two-page proclamation on business startups (that is, businesses less than a year old) rather than on the innovations of all small businesses, or even the savvy entrepreneurship displayed by the largest, established companies (big companies employ the lion’s share of workers). Why? Because the administration has looked at new studies showing that while small businesses are indeed important for job growth — a canon among politicians — it’s really the startups that are key…

In public policy debates about small businesses and the creation of net new jobs, the question continues to be asked: What works? To spur more startups, does the economy need greater confidence, more capital, more consumers willing to spend, new and innovative ideas, a risk-averse (i.e., younger) population? Yes to all of the above, experts say. But which policies really nurture the dynamics that lead to a net addition of jobs? So far, there are more theories than firm conclusions, and lots of experimentation.

“The world is messy and the data are imperfect, so when you’re trying to create a model . . . there’s so much I can’t control for,” said Brian Headd, a Small Business Administration economist who authored a study in 2010 about hiring and small businesses for the data-centered SBA Office of Advocacy.

“We’re at a point where businesses aren’t expanding at the rate they used to be and startups aren’t occurring at the rate they used to be,” Headd said in an interview. “So some people will say, policy-wise, ‘We need to focus on one or the other — we’ll get a bigger bang for the buck — one or the other.’ I don’t have that answer. I just take the view that we need both, but I don’t know whether throwing $1 billion or $1 million, policy-wise, at one group or another is going to have a big effect. I just don’t know.”

Obama’s proclamation Tuesday listed some of the policies he supports to spur infant businesses, including his $2 billion Startup America program, which he launched in February, designed to improve access to capital, cut paperwork and regulatory burdens, expand business mentoring, and increase information and educational opportunities for entrepreneurs in markets designated as priorities by the government. He also mentioned Startup America collaborations with the private sector and international partners. In Obama’s view, the entire U.S. economy must “become more dynamic and flexible.”