IL CHAMBER MEETS WITH TOP ADVISOR
GARY COHN AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON TAX REFORM
 Illinois Chamber advocates Keith Staats and Benjamin Brockschmidt, attended a series of meetings in Washington with members from Wintrust Financial Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, John Deere, GROWMARK, Motorola Solutions, The Maschhoffs, and Tate & Lyle, on Sept. 13 to discuss tax reform. The meetings focused on the importance of a simplified tax system for a stronger business environment.
Discussions took place at the United States Capitol with Speaker Paul Ryan's staff, the White House with Gary Cohn the Director of the National Economic Council, and a final meeting at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to improving Illinois' business climate. Our tax system needs to be reformed to ensure it's not damaging our business community. We are continuing to work with state and federal officials on this issue and value all those, including U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (IL-6) and U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13), who have hosted local tax reform roundtables where we joined in on the discussion to keep the need for a better tax system federally and statewide.
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FAIRER LEGAL SYSTEM, BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE
A fairer legal system would help pave the way for a be
 tter business climate. According to a report from the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, Illinois' legal climate is ranked 48th among U.S. states. This is more reason the Illinois Chamber supports Illinois to pass comprehensive legal reform. In order to keep Illinois competitive with other states Illinois must take a multifaceted approach and legal reform is one of those pieces.
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GOV. RAUNER SPEAKS AT ILLINOIS CHAMBER
ANNUAL LUNCHEON
The annual luncheon on Sept. 28 kicked off with a spirited speech by Governor Bruce Rauner encouraging economic growth in Illinois.
Gov. Rauner applauded the entire business community for their effort but noted that "the Chamber has been number one in advocacy."
Shortly after the governor's remarks keynote s
 peaker Al Monaco, president and CEO of Enbridge, gave an inspiring presentation sharing the future of energy, and this year's Edie Award winners - Target Corp., Amazon, Zurich North America, Fuyao North American Glass and Illinois T
 ollway - accepted their awards. The 2017 awards highlighting outstanding economic development projects in Illinois w ere sponsored by Nicor Gas.
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CHAMBER PRESIDENT APPEARS ON
CAPITOL CONNECTION
Sept
 . 22 Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch appeared on Capitol Connection to discuss the governor's trip overseas and Illinois' job climate.
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CHAMBER CEO PUSHES WORKERS' COMP REFORM, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
On Sept. 17 Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch appeared on WGN's
 The Sunday Spin with Rick Pearson. Maisch discussed bettering Illinois' business climate by discussing the need for workers' compensation reform, infrastructure investment, and the opportunity for A mazon's second headquarters.
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ILLINOIS HAS SHOT IN AMAZON HUNT
Sept. 11 Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Maisch was on WTAX Radio discussing Illinois' chances of landing Amazon's second headquarters, a conversation currently sweeping the nation. Illinois is already a location with Amazon jobs that has nine fulfillment centers in the state, and Illinois has a fair chance. There are a lot of factors that go into the decision. This is why the Illinois Chamber is adamant about Illinois remaining focused on economic development.
Listen here
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PROMISES ON REFORMS MUST BE KEPT
The Illinois Chamber finds it unacceptable that a 32 percent tax increase was implemented in early July without some much-needed reforms aimed to help bring jobs to Illinois and maintain the jobs already here. Democratic leadership needs to step up and show they are serious about working together to pass crucial reforms that have been left on the table for months.
The Illinois Chamber called on lawmakers on Sept. 18 to refocus efforts to reform Illinois' workers' compensation system, rework the tax system, advance the state's economic potential and invest in infrastructure.
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ILLINOIS CHAMBER ADVOCATES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
 Chairman of the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee Senator Martin Sandoval was one of several legislators that the Illinois Chamber of Commerce met with earlier this month as part of our efforts toward improving Illinois' infrastructure. These meetings took place across the state with legislators from both parties as a step towards developing legislation that can sustain Illinois' infrastructure needs for the future. Public investment in our infrastructure, including roads, bridges, transit, and water systems, are necessary as many of these systems are past their designed life.
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ORTEGA DISCUSSES INTERNATIONAL TRADE
 Illinois Chamber's Executive Director of the International Business Council, Laura Ortega, joined The 21st Show with Illinois business and agriculture leaders to discuss international trade. Illinois is one of the most diverse and globalized economies in the U.S. 1.7 million jobs are supported by international trade in the state of Illinois. Ortega highlights the importance of international trade for the state's business community and in relation to the governor's eight-day trip to China and Japan.
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BOST, SHIMKUS, DAVIS EARN
PRO-BIZ SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AWARD
 The Illinois Chamber of Commerce partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to present U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12), U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (IL-15), and U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13) with the Spirit of Enterprise Award. The award was presented Sept. 5 at The Boeing Company in Mascoutah, Illinois and Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Illinois after touring each facility. All three congressmen received a 100 percent ranking for their pro-biz voting record from the U.S Chamber of Commerce. The Spirit of Enterprise Award is awarded to members of Congress who support policies that promote job creation and economic growth.
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ENERGY COUNCIL FILED AMICUS BRIEF ON
ZERO EMISSION CREDIT APPEAL
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit earlier September, asking the Court to overturn the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Illinois' dismissal of
Electric Power Supply Association et al. v. Anthony M. Star et al. Also known as the ZEC case. The Court accepted the brief for consideration with the appeal and we anticipate oral arguments, should they be granted, to begin later this fall.
We believe it is important for the Court to fully evaluate and overturn the dismissal for there to be a substantive review of the zero emission credit provisions of the Future Energy Jobs Act. The ZEC program imposes a substantial economic burden on Illinois businesses and disrupts our competitive electricity market. The brief argues those points and
can be read here.
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EMPLOYMENT LAW & LITIGATION
COMMITTEE MEETS WITH IDOL DIRECTOR
In September, the Employment Law & Litigation Committee recently met with the Illinois Department of Labor Acting Director among others where discussions took place on the Department's FAQs for the new Employee Sick Leave Act, the regulations for wage payment and collection, and prevailing wage issues.
Additionally, discussion included key issues likely to be raised in 2018 including, legalization of marijuana, regulation of non-compete agreements and proposals to improve the investigation and adjudication process for claims of employment discrimination.
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CHAMBER APPLAUDS GOVERNOR
FOR SIGNING EDGE LEGISLATION
 Sept. 18 the Illinois Chamber applauded the governor for signing HB 162, legislation that is a long overdue restoration of EDGE. Several provisions in this legislation were first proposed by Illinois Chamber's Executive Director of the Tax Institute Keith Staats and Chamber staff.
This bill contains major improvements including additional support and assistance for distressed communities across the entire state. HB 162 is beneficial for the entire business community. The Illinois Chamber believes this is only the beginning of bipartisan efforts to strengthen Illinois' business climate.
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ILLINOIS CHAMBER SUPPORTS
GOVERNOR'S VETO OF GEOLOCATION BILL
 The Illinois Chamber of Commerce supported Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of HB 3449 on Sept. 22. HB 3449 would have stifled innovation in Illinois' tech industry, burdened app users, and given Illinois a bad reputation in comparison to other states for enacting more regulations on job creators.
"With the governor's veto, the message is clear Illinois is pro-business and welcomes companies of all sizes to invest here," said Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch.
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IN THE NEWS
In the month of September, we spoke to radio, television, and print media outlets, delivering pro-business values to audiences across Illinois.
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