March 2018 Advocacy Report

17TH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD

On Feb. 13, Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Maisch addressed hundreds of business leaders to highlight Illinois' strengths and talk public policy. Maisch addressed issues including NAFTA, Medicaid, workers' compensation, DACA, 5g technology, property taxes, infrastructure and more public policy issues. He reminded the audience why Illinois has so much promise and that we must remember that Illinois is the 17th largest economy in

the world.
You can listen to his full speech here.

CHAMBER BOARD MEMBER
GARY RABINE TALKS TAX REFORM

Small businesses received a 20 percent tax deduction and the ability to immediately expense their business investments under the new federal tax law. The Rabine Group reminds policymakers across the nation in an USA

Today op-ed that while big corporations are reaping the rewards of federal tax reform, we're also seeing "small business optimism like we haven't seen in more than a decade." More here.

DISSECTING ILLINOIS' 2018 BUDGET ADDRESS

On Feb. 14, Governor Bruce Rauner delivered the state's 2018 Budget Address. The Illinois Chamber of

Commerce responded to the address in the Two-Minute Drill here. For the chance of Illinois having a balanced budget, the economy has to grow faster than government spending. The state can't spend more than it brings in for successful economic growth.

LEGISLATION TO WATCH

Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Maisch releases Two-Minute Drill from the Illinois State Archives building that houses millions of state records, some that date back to 1810. Maisch highlights four bills including a Chamber initiative to keep on your radar.
Watch the full video here.

GOVERNOR VISITS GROWMARK: DECLARES AGRICULTURE KEY TO ILLINOIS' ECONOMY

On Feb. 22, Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch accompanied the governor, lawmakers and industry leaders to GROWMARK's headquarters to join a discussion on Illinois' agriculture industry. The leaders gathered to emphasize how critical the industry is to the state's economy and to address the important issues facing our agriculture community.

MESSAGES FROM WASHINGTON

On Feb. 16th, U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13) dropped by the Illinois Chamber's Springfield office to discuss the latest happenings on Capitol Hill. Cong. Davis and Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch

discussed the need to use commonsense approaches to secure the border, the latest in the federal proposed budget, and the need for both Democrats and Republicans to get on board with major infrastructure investment.

Watch here.

TIME TO CHANGE INFRASTRUCTURE
RHETORIC TO POLICY

As the heart of North America's transportation and infrastructure networks, Illinois is in a unique position to benefit from focused federal leadership on infrastructure investment. In February, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and 37 state chambers of commerce from across the country who belong to the Council of State Chambers wrote a letter to the 115th Congress stating that it is time to transform encouraging rhetoric to actual policy proposals and legislative action on the issue. Illinois Chamber's Benjamin Brockschmidt is a co-chair of COSC's Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, as is Seth Millican from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

BUSINESS GROWTH MEETS
SMART ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT

The IEPA released its draft Volkswagen settlement plan on Feb. 28. The Illinois Chamber of C ommerce knows that our state faces many economic and environmental challenges, but supports the balanced approach of policy that encourages business growth with smart environmental investment.

Read the Illinois Chamber's full statement here.

NEW CHAMBER WEBSITE

We've officially launched our new website where you can find the latest information on our membership, government affairs, councils, business services and communications efforts! We encourage you to check it out! Take the tour here.

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