Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I'm busy this weekend looking for anywhere but the mall to bring my daughters for the annual picture with Santa.
Illinois Chamber to Testify Against Proposed Department of Labor Rule
The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) will be holding a virtual public hearing on December 16th at 2:30 pm on its proposed rule regarding joint employment. Earlier this year, the Chamber had submitted its concerns about the proposed rule. This rule will adversely impact those employers, especially general contractors in the construction industry who extensively use independent contractors. The IDOL proposed rule will:
* Create greater uncertainty for both employers and workers;
* Increase the cost of compliance and likelihood of litigation for businesses because of:
- multiple standards that employers must comply with; and
- lack of viable examples to provide guidance to small businesses; and
* Place an additional regulation and cost of doing business that other states are unlikely to impose creating another obstacle for Illinois small businesses to operate successfully.
The Chamber will be providing testimony at the hearing next week.
Marine Transportation System Plan Feedback
IDOT would like your input on its Marine System Transportation Plan. Marine transportation and shipping are vital to the Illinois economy. The industry transports more than 760 million tons a year and generates more than $36 billion in economic output. You can read the full report here:
CMAP Freight Committee Meeting
This week the CMAP Freight Committee had its quarterly meeting. We were provided with a wonderful update of CMAP's plan to transform transportation systems to reduce emissions. The group holds for an 80% reduction from the 1990 emission levels. The transportation sector accounts for approximately 29% of all emissions. The Chamber supports efforts to reduce our harm to the environment so long as they are market driven solutions that factor in economic impacts. For example, the Chamber supports the Governor's goal of increasing the number of electric vehicles on the road but we would be strongly opposed to a California style mandate on their usage.
Please Send Me Your Legislative Agenda
With Veto Session canceled, it's time to look forward to the spring legislative session. Please send us your agenda so that we can work together to develop a strategy. Email any thoughts/concerns/ideas to ckaericher@ilchamber.org Until next time,
