May 2018 Advocacy Report

LOCAL CHAMBERS COME TOGETHER
FOR CHAMBER DAY 2018

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce led an effective advocacy effort, Chamber Day 2018, to connect business leaders with key lawmakers and government officials. This Chamber Day allowed voices to be heard in major policy decisions affecting the state's top-notch employers. The event, which could not have been a success without numerous generous sponsors, was held on April 11 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Hotel in partner with IACCE.

Featured speakers included Governor Bruce Rauner, Managing Director Michael Dembek of True Partners Consulting LLC, Chief Healthcare and Immigration Lobbyist Jeff Lungren of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, attorney general candidates Erika Harold and Senator Kwame Raoul and Chamber staff. Thank you to all of the sponsors who made the day a success.

Top Photo: Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Maisch (left), Governor Bruce Rauner (middle left), IACCE Board Chair Bill Fleming (middle right), IACCE Government Affairs Committee Chair Mike Paone (right) gather together before Governor Bruce Rauner addressed the Chamber Day audience.

Bottom Photo: Republican candidate for attorney general Erika Harold interacts with Chamber Day attendees after her remarks.

BILL STREAMLINES EMPLOYERS' USE OF
BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY FOR
INTERNAL EMPLOYMENT PURPOSES

In April, the Illinois Chamber's Technology and Innovation Council defended SB 3053, a Chamber initiative that would defend small businesses from unfair litigation in regards to biometric data use. The bill would

amend the state's biometric law, established in 2008, to provide employers the ability to use biometric information for internal employment purposes including timekeeping, human resources, fraud prevention, and security purposes, as long as the employer is not using the information for commercial purposes.
Read here.

Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Maisch spoke with News Channel 20 on biometric data saying biometric technology is the way of the future for companies, but those companies also have a responsibility in making sure this data is secure. "A lot of your information is actually safer if it's

safeguarded with biometric data, opposed to something like a password that can be hacked readily," Maisch said. See the interview here.

Additionally, on April 17 Illinois Chamber's Tyler Diers spoke at the ILSHRM/CIC-SHRM Annual Legislative Conference at Memorial Medical Center. Diers discussed biometrics in the workplace and how to be compliant with the state's Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).

GRADUATED INCOME TAX BAD FOR BUSINESS

April 30 Illinois Chamber's Vice President of Policy Benjamin Brockschmidt highlighted strong concerns regarding a graduated income tax. A stable flat tax is one of the few advantages that allows Illinois to compete with other states that have much better overall tax and regulatory systems. When Illinois already leads the nation in outmigration, punishing the job creators we need to restore our economy is a disaster in the making. WTTW interview here.

5G WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY A WIN FOR ILLINOIS

On April 12, Governor Bruce Rauner signed

SB 1451 to bring 5G wireless technology, jobs and economic growth to Illinois. Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Maisch, along with proponents of the legislation attended the bill signing. The bill will standardize and streamline regulation of small wireless cell facilities. Illinois has tremendous potential to lead the nation in tech innovation. By having better network connectivity, SB 1451 will help Illinois businesses attract and retain jobs while also keeping consumers connected.

(Photo captured from
Governor Rauner's Twitter)

KEEPING THE COST OF BUSINESS LOW

Kelly Thompson of Illinois Environmental and Regulatory Group represented the Illinois Chamber on April 3 at a Statehouse press conference standing in opposition to SB 3005. The bill, in regards to Illinois permitting processes, would further increase the cost of doing business in Illinois, hampering the growth and development of businesses throughout Illinois and new businesses looking to locate in Illinois.

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
SIGNIFICANT TO ILLINOIS ECONOMY

April 19 Illinois Chamber's Executive Director of the International Business Council

spoke at SelectChicago's Foreign Direct Investment 201 Workshop at the Illinois Science and Technology Park. Laura Ortega joined a panel "How Money Flows Between US and Foreign Investors...Can We Increase Chicagoland's Share?" Illinois has one of the most diverse economies in the world. Ortega highlighted foreign direct investment and its advantages to Illinois businesses.

INVESTING IN ILLINOIS' BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AND HEAVY INDUSTRY

On April 6 Illinois Chamber's Benjamin Brockschmidt gave testimony at the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee Hearing on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Beneficiary Mitigation Plan for the Volkswagen Settlement. The plan provides an opportunity for businesses of all sizes to move forward and be better stewards of the environment, especially for those in the locomotive and heavy transportation industry. Our state faces many economic and environmental challenges, but we support the balanced approach of policy that encourages business growth with smart environmental investment.

BILL TO INCENTIVIZE CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS GARNERS SUPPORT

Illinois Chamber's Director of Legislative Relations Tyler Diers

spoke at a press conference on April 26 on the Blue Collar Jobs Act, HB 5864. The bill would incentivize construction projects in the state and would be modeled similar to the EDGE tax cr edit program. HB 5864 brought together support from both business and labor.

A SOLUTION TO END GERRYMANDERING

Director of Legislative Relations Tyler Diers represented the Illinois Chamber at a press conference on April 18 to express support for the Fair Maps Amendment, organized by CHANGE Illinois and a number of groups and legislators. The fair maps amendment creates a commission of people and methods that allow for a transparent process to end gerrymandering to return power to the people instead of partisan political leaders.

Download the May 2018 Advocacy here

IN THE NEWS

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

ILLINOIS INFRASTRUCTURE

* Rauner Wants To See Capital Bill
* Should IL Boost Gas Tax To Build Better Bridges?
* Trump's infrastructure plan gets mixed reviews in Illinois
* Ill. loses $16.4 billion a year because of poor roads, traffic jams, report says
* Rauner, lawmakers in showdown over how - and how fast - to spend VW settlement

ILLINOIS ECONOMY

* Business group says environmental group-backed bill will put further burden on economy - INN
   -   Bills Tackle Over Regulation - Alton Daily News
   -   It's just a bill - Capitol Fax
* Farmers say Chinese tariffs could hurt Illinois economy - Peoria Journal Star
   -   Farmers: Chinese tariffs could hurt Illinois economy - SJR
* Big box stores help boost Springfield's economy
* Nine competing proposals aim to change political map-making process - INN
   -   Today is redistricting day - Capitol Fax
   -   Dispute Over IL Political Boundaries - Alton Daily News
* Bill would give tax breaks to construction projects - SJR
   -   Bill would give tax breaks to construction projects - Herald & Review
   -   Illinois introduces blue collar jobs act - Construction Equipment
   -   Labor, business get behind Illinois GOP tax credit plan - INN
   -   Long signs on to Blue Collars Jobs Act - The Times

ILLINOIS TECHNOLOGY

* Rauner signs 5G wireless bill - Capitol Fax
- Rauner signs 5G law that larger Illinois cities opposed - INN
* Privacy debate over biometrics bill - News Channel 20
* As privacy takes center stage, proposal in Springfield would gut law protecting biometric data, opponents say - Chicago Tribune
- Statehouse bill would gut law protecting biometric data, opponents say - Chicago Tribune

OTHER CHAMBER NEWS

* Mattoon Chamber of Commerce provides information on legislation
* MotherG Awarded 2018 Best Places to Work in Illinois
* Porte Brown Named as One of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Illinois
* McShane Construction named one of the Best Places to Work in Illinois
* TradeTec Skyline Named Among Best Places to Work in IL for 3rd Consecutive Year
* Glenview Trustees Expected To Ban Coal Tar Sealant Use
* Illinois Governor Traveling to Germany, Poland Next Week - U.S. News & Report
   -   Illinois governor traveling to Germany, Poland next week - News Channel 20
   -   Rauner traveling to Germany, Poland next week - Chicago Sun-Times
   -   Morning Spin: Rauner off to Poland, Germany next week - Chicago Tribune
   -   Gov. Rauner traveling to Germany and Poland - State Journal-Register
   -   Illinois governor traveling to Germany, Poland next week - Southern Illinoisan
   -   Gov. Rauner Traveling to Germany, Poland Next Week - Peoria Public Radio
   -   Mission Accomplished - Capitol Fax

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