KEEPING ILLINOIS A NATIONWIDE
LEADER IN TECH INNOVATION  
   
On Jan. 25 the Illinois Chamber of Commerce launched its first-ever Technology and Innovation Council. The council will keep you informed and in the conversation in the development of sound public policy. 

Within the last year, the Illinois General Assembly has seen a high amount of introduced regulations aimed at engineering an expansion of liability in the areas of privacy and data security. Because of this, the council seeks to aggressively and proactively promote the interests of the Illinois technology community by advocating for public policy that fosters innovation and promotes economic growth. The mission: Keep Illinois as a nationwide leader in technology innovation. 
 
ILLINOIS READY TO SUCCEED      
 
On Jan. 31, the Illinois Chamber came together with lawmakers and people across Illinois to listen to Governor Bruce Rauner's State of the State address. The Illinois Chamber reacted to the address by discussing some key topics - property tax reform, incarceration, and Medicaid funding - to ensure a path for overall job growth.

Watch here in the latest Two-Minute Drill

On Feb. 2, Maisch also reacted to the address on WTAX Newsradio here. Maisch discusses Illinois' strengths as an economic powerhouse and is optimistic for the state's future.
ZONING IN ON THE OPIOID CRISIS
AND MENTAL HEALTH PARITY  
 
The Illinois Chamber's Healthcare Council led by Executive Director Aaron Winters had its first quarterly meeting of 2018  where Illinois Department of Insurance Director Jennifer Hammer (pictured at left) provided an overview of the department's operations as well as its response to the opioid crisis and mental health parity. Remarks were also heard from U.S. HHS Region V Director Doug O'Brien 
SUPPORTING PRAGMATIC CHANGES TO ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
 
The Illinois Pollution Control Board had a hearing on Jan. 17th to discuss the state's multi-pollutant standard. Every Illinois family, business and manufacturer benefits from access to reliable, efficiently produced power. In an opinion piece on Jan. 15, the Illinois Chamber expressed support in the change in SJ-R. Read here.

  
CHAMBER JOINS TFIC IN DC   

Benjamin Brockschmidt, vice president of policy and executive director of the Infrastructure Council,  joined several of his colleagues from the Transportation for Illinois Coalition (TFIC) in Washington, DC. TFIC undertakes this trip every January to scout the federal landscape and get a sense of what the new year might bring. This year they met with Senator Duckworth, Congressman Lipinski, Congressman Rodney Davis, Senator Durbin's staff, and staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation. While many of the offices were positive about a federal infrastructure program, at that time there were very few details available. We will continue to work with TFIC and provide information to our congressional delegation as President Trump and the U.S. Congress work towards a federal infrastructure investment program. ( Pictured left to right: Benjamin Brockschmidt, Congressman Rodney Davis, Alison Howlett and Mike Sturino, both members of TFIC.)

FEDERAL TAX REFORM TO BENEFIT ILLINOIS

The new year kicked off with a big win - federal tax reform. On Jan. 9 the Illinois Chamber recognized this as  a big win for Illinois' economy and thanked our leaders who made it a priority to make sure our small businesses and agriculture communities got important tax relief. Read more in Illinois Chamber's Letter to
the Editor in the Herald & Review here.

Tax reform was also the main topic of discussion in Maisch's NPR Illinois interview on Jan. 24. Listen here to find out the best things to come from Washington this past year.


 
CHAMBER WELCOMES NEW
TFIC CO-CHAIR ALISON WALTERS

The Transportation for Illinois Coalition is the state's leading organization advocating for the Illinois' vital transportation system. It welcomed a new Co-Chair this week, Alison Walters (pictured at left), Executive Direct or of the Chicago Laborers Labor-Management Cooperation Committee. She will take the place of recently retired Mike Kleinik and will serve alongside the Chamber's President and CEO Todd Maisch in her TFIC role.  Alison was previously General Counsel for the Chicago Laborers and Deputy Chief of Staff for the Illinois Department of the Lottery.

Maisch offered his personal congratulations to both Alison and Mike: "The Chamber has had an outstanding relationship with Mike Kleinik and wish him well in his very active retirement. I look forward to continuing a strong working relationship with Alison as we pursue our mutual goal of maintaining Illinois' vital transportation system"  
GROWING OUR STATE'S POPULATION

Illinois Chamber of Commerce discusses, Medicaid - a three-billion-dollar issue for the state budget, the opioid epidemic, and paid time off in an interview on Effingham radio on Jan. 16. These are all factors that need addressed in order to grow and maintain the state's population.

Listen here for the full interview.   
 




STAY CONNECTED

Like us on Facebook      Follow us on Twitter      View our profile on LinkedIn 


 

Not a member? Find out the benefits  here.

© Illinois Chamber of Commerce