CHAMBER CALLS FOR POLICY PROGRESS        

Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Maisch responds to this question posed by The State Journal-Register: Given the state's financial situation, what agenda would you set for the governor and General Assembly?

"The Illinois Chamber believes in the economic promise of Illinois and its employers. By encouraging policymakers to support pro-growth reforms and reject anti-competitive proposals, Illinois can make important economic progress and generate revenue for long-term budget stability."
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END OF SESSION GAR REPORT
 
The Illinois General Assembly wrapped up its regular scheduled spring session without any cloture on the state's ongoing budget impasse. View Legislative Report

CHAMBER SITS DOWN WITH GOVERNOR RAUNER           

Illinois Governor Bruc e Rauner discussed the remaining weeks of this year's spring legislative session and answered many questions. Check out the Chamber's exclusive interview with the state's 42nd governor in this SPECIAL EDITION Two-Minute Drill.

CHAMBER HELPS DEFEAT TWO MAJOR TECH BILLS 
          
This spring's legislative session saw an influx of legislation that would have heavily regulated small businesses and our state's thriving technology sector.  The Chamber was instrumental in defeating both the "Right to Know" bills and the "Geolocation" bill.  "Right to Know" would have required businesses large and small to keep track of the names of every third party that receives personal information about an Illinois consumer. Along with that list of names, businesses would have to keep a log of all the categories of personal information involved.  

The "Geolocation" bill would have required mobile applications to post complex and confusing prompts written by special interest groups before consumers can use mobile applications. The bill would have put businesses of all sizes at risk of frivolous lawsuits by unfairly voiding terms of service agreements for simply forgetting to include a minor piece of information in a service contract. Illinois Chamber's Director of Legislative Affairs Tyler Diers (pictured above right) testified in opposition to the "Geolocation" bill  along with sponsor, Senator Tom Cullerton (D - Villa Park) (pictured above left).

STAATS TESTIFIES AGAINST 500% TAX INCREASE

Keith Staats o f the Chamber's Tax Institute testified in opposition to SB 1719, an initiative   of the Chicago Teacher's Union that would impose a 500 percent tax increase on partnerships and S corps that engage in investment management services. The intent of the sponsor is to impose a tax of 20 percent to "fix" the lower federal income tax rate on "carried interest."  

IN SUPPORT OF THE ROUTE 53 EXTENSION   

Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Jack Bernhardt (at right), member development, was interviewed by WGN TV on his testifying for movement on the proposed Illinois Route 53 extension after an Illinois Tollway meeting. Potential benefits of extending the route have been examined and identified including reduced travel times and congestion.  Click to View   
       
"It's no secret that traffic congestion is only going to get worse," said Illinois Chamber of Commerce Infrastructure Council Executive Director Ben Brockschmidt, in a statement. "Reducing congestion is not only good for the environment, it's also good for economic development." Read Chicago Tribune article
PROMOTING RURAL ACCESS TO BROADBAND

Infrastructure Council Executive Director Benjamin Brockschmidt (pictured on left) with Rep. Chris Welch testified at a House subject matter hearing on HB 2557, which would make it easier for telecommunications providers to install fiber optic cable throughout rural areas. This bill clarifies that the Illinois Highway Code permits the use of the public right-of-way for the installation of equipment without adjacent landowner consent where the landowner has abandoned rights to the land under the roadway.

BUSINESS GROUPS LABEL 2017 SESSION
"ONE OF THE WORST FOR EMPLOYERS"


On the last day of scheduled session, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce participated in a joint press conference with business leaders including the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and NFIB to speak on the abundance of job-crushing measures recently proposed at the Statehouse. The groups labeled the 2017 session as "one of the worst for employers" due to lawmakers' endless effort to tax, over-regulate, mandate and constrict employers. The persistent effort to pass anti-employer measures coupled with the accompanying rhetoric has exasperated an already hostile business climate. Read Crain's article

CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI
ADDRESSES ILLINOIS ISSUES


Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (on right in photo) addressed area business leaders in Schamburg at a Freshman Forum and shared his priorities for 2017. The event was hosted in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Elgin Area Chamber and the Schamburg Business Association.  The event provided an opportunity for area business leaders to meet with the freshman Congressman and discuss what is happening in Washington D.C. and what he hopes to accomplish in his first term. hostile business climate. Energy Council Executive Director Katie Stonewater (on left in photo)  gave an update on legislative activity in Springfield and the Illinois Chamber's priorities.

CHAMBER HOSTS BREXIT ROUNDTABLE

On May 10, Laura Ortega, Executive Director of the International Business Council (pictured in the center at right) and delegates from the Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and stakeholders from the UK, EU and Illinois participated in an informal discussion about Brexit, the process of withdrawal and post-secession from the EU and the potential impact for Illinois companies with operations in the UK as base for doing business in the EU.

INDONESIA'S GENERAL CONSULATE IN CHICAGO

Laura Ortega, Executive Director of the International Business Council, attended a recent business luncheon hosted by Indonesia's General Consulate in Chicago. The forum hoped to boost investment and relations between Indonesia and U.S. midwest business. As of 2016, U.S. private investment in Indonesia reached $1.162 billion. The forum also serves to share first-hand information of investment processes and procedures in Indonesia. It targeted investors in priority sectors, such as infrastructure, tourism and maritime.  Read entire article here

RECOGNITION FOR SAFE ROADS AMENDMENT

The Transportation for Illinois Coalition (TFIC) nominated and awarded Benjamin Brockschmidt (on left in photo) of the Illinois Chamber and Don Shaefer, Midwest Truckers Association, with the first "Friend of Transportation Grassroots Award" in the coalition's 14-year history. Brockschmidt was nominated for this award due to his efforts for the Safe Roads constitutional amendment in 2016, an Illinois Chamber initiative. His efforts included speaking with municipal leaders, civic organizations and working with his members to educate Illinois voters on the amendment. These efforts were ultimately successful with almost 80 percent of Illinois voters approving the measure in November.

IN THE NEWS

In the month of May, we spoke to radio, television, and print media outlets, delivering pro-business values to audiences across Illinois.

Opinion Pieces
Illinois Chamber of Commerce: Seize the opportunity  (Todd Maisch featured)
Oil pipe line under lake is safe  (Todd Maisch featured)
Guest View: To create jobs and grow economy, Illinois needs modern communications law  (Todd Maisch featured) (also seen in Rockford Register Star)

Minimum Wage
Illinois House approves $15 minimum wage proposal  (Todd Maisch mentioned)
It's just a bill  (Todd Maisch mentioned)

Route 53 Extension
Tollway board Oks $25M study for Route 53 extension   (Jack Bernhardt featured in video)
Illinois Tollway board approves $25 million Route 53 study  (Benjamin Brockschmidt quoted)

"Right to Know"
"Right to Know" will require Illinois businesses to capture more data on you
Critics say online privacy legislation is pro-trial lawyer; advocate says tech industry is 'too loose' with personal data  (Todd Maisch mentioned)
New poll says 76 percent of voters oppose increased data collection legislation
HB 2774/SB 1502 & HB 3449 will hurt Illinois consumers and businesses

Other Issues
Capital One received more than $20 million in tax breaks from Illinois in 2015
Business group wants Illinois income tax hike, spending cuts to fix state finances
Conagra still poised for tax breaks, despite cutting Illinois workforce in half (Todd Maisch mentioned)

Best Places to Work
Rittal named one of the best places to work in Illinois for 2017
First Busey named among best places to work in Illinois
Sevan Multi-Site Solutions, LLC has been named one of the top 25 Best Places to work in Illinois with 100-499 employees
Littelfuse Named One of the Best Places to Work in Illinois

Staff Quoted
Chancellor Susan Koch: Lives transformed by UIS experience (Nathan Hoffman quoted)
Indonesia attracts Illinois investors through business luncheon (Laura Ortega quoted)     
Keefe: A New and Blurring Part of WC Reforms  (Jay Shattuck quoted)

 




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