Legislative Advocacy

    Creating a vibrant business environment requires the Chamber's active participation in the legislative process - advocating those issues that will benefit Chamber membership and keeping our membership informed of legislation that will impact their business interests.  The Business Advocacy Committee is charged with this responsibility.  The committee researches and discusses a number of issues each month.  When available, the outcome of those discussions, or additional resources will be listed below.

6/11/08 - The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors adopted the following Position Statement regarding MGP Ingredients Inc., Proposed Solid Fuel Boiler Cogeneration Facility:

MGP Ingredients, Inc. has applied for approvals for the construction of a 330,000 lb/hour high pressure solid fuel boiler cogeneration facility at its Pekin, Illinois plant. The proposed facility will utilize Illinois reclaim coal and Illinois mined coal as the primary fuel. The estimated cost of this project is $100 million dollars.

The facility is proposed to be located on land at the plant's 49-acre site located on the southwest side of Pekin. It will be utilized to produce steam, which MGP would purchase to power their distillery, wheat gluten (protein) and wheat starch production processes. In addition, a portion of the steam generated would be used to supply plant electrical needs.

The Pekin plant currently employs 140 highly skilled men and women, with an annual payroll of more than $8 million dollars. The availability and utilization of a solid fuel boiler cogeneration facility will help ensure the sustainability of the plant's operations, providing increased job security and potential new job creation. Other benefits of the proposed facility include:

• Utilization of state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly technology
• Improved plant energy efficiency
• Increased cost effectiveness and certainty
• Strengthened cost competitiveness in the marketplace
• Utilization of an Illinois energy source
• Creation of positive regional economic impact

Illinois is governed under a constitution that was ratified by Illinois voters and put into effect in 1970. This constitution includes provisions allowing voters and elected leaders to make amendments if and when it was deemed necessary. It also provides the opportunity for citizens to call for a constitutional convention every 20 years.

In 1988, Illinois citizens voted down the call for a Constitutional Convention by a 3-to-1 margin. In the past 20 years much has changed in Illinois, including shifting demographics, new technologies and a global economy. Certainly Illinois is a different State than 20 years ago, and dramatically different than when the constitution was ratified in 1970. Given all that change, does the framework provided by our current constitution still work?

The Business Advocacy Committee studied this question. They reviewed information and studies from the League of Women Voters of Illinois, the Urban League Club of Chicago, the Illinois Business Roundtable and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Based on the review of this information, the Board of Directors of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce -

• is opposed to the November 2008 question of a constitutional convention
• directs the staff to share the Chamber's position and additional information with our members and the public
• and, directs the staff to add the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce to the growing coalition of Illinois organizations who also oppose the call for a constitutional convention.

The State of Illinois clearly faces several challenges related to the state’s fiscal health:

• We are feeling the effects of a slowing economy.
• The state has a $750 million dollar projected deficit in the current fiscal year.
• The state has a $1.7 billion dollar backlog of unpaid billsIllinois’ infrastructure desperately needs attention.
• The state, as a whole, has a lack of job growth and a poor employment outlook.
• We've got escalating pension obligations, healthcare needs, education funding needs, and the list goes on and on.

As a business community we should be most interested in the section of the budget entitled the Economic Stimulus Package, which is meant to address Illinois’ slowing economy and aging infrastructure.  The first part of the Economic Stimulus Package is a capital plan called Illinois Works.  

The State of Illinois has not had a capital plan since Governor Blagojevich came into office. I doubt there is anyone in Illinois who doesn't think we need a capital spending plan. We need the jobs it will create. We need the economic development opportunities it will generate. Our infrastructure, our roads, our bridges, our rails, our airports and our schools all need attention.

In Pekin, we need the State of Illinois to step up and take financial responsibility for an aging, outdated, and unsafe Route 9 that runs through the heart of the community.

I believe the governor’s proposal of $25 billion dollars falls far short of the needs of the state, but that’s what happens when you haven’t had a capital plan for 9 years.

The governor and the legislators must work together to provide a capital plan. If leasing the lottery isn't the best funding source, then they need to work together to find one. And they need to make it now. Illinois can’t wait another year.

Another point of the Governor’s Economic Stimulus Package is the proposed business tax cuts. I appreciate the governor reaching out to the business community to try to stimulate the economy with his proposed business tax cut. On the surface it sounds great – a 20 percent tax cut for businesses that paid corporate income tax in 2007 and maintained their employment levels. The Governor stated this $300 million dollar tax cut will create business development and will help save jobs. I agree with him.

However, I do not believe the Illinois business community, the employers in this state, can afford the governor’s proposed business tax cut. With one hand his proposal is giving Illinois businesses a $300 million dollar one time tax cut, while his other hand, in another part of the budget, is reaching into our back pocket and taking $417 million dollars this year, and as much as one billion dollars next year, to pay for expanded health care.

The governor’s proposed 3% payroll “assessment,” which is a nice way of saying tax, would affect employers of a certain size who don’t spend at least 4% of their payroll on employee healthcare. The legislature soundly rejected this proposal last year. It just doesn't make sense.

Why would you cut $300 million in taxes, in the name of stimulating the economy and then turn around and implement a new tax that will generate $417 million dollars this year and up to a billion dollars next year? How does that help stimulate the economy?

Despite the fiscal challenges faced by the state, the governor proposed a budget with an overall increase of $1.45 billion dollars. His proposed budget does nothing to solve the growing Medicaid backlog, nor provide any relief for the states $1.7 billion dollars in unpaid bills. I hope the governor and the legislators will work together to solve these challenges. I also hope they’ll turn to the experts, the Illinois business community, to learn what it takes to stimulate the Illinois economy.

Tri-County Chambers Regional Road Project Priorities

02/13/08 - The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, in collaboration with the Chillicothe, East Peoria, Morton, Peoria and Washington Chambers of Commerce, has updated our regional road priority list.  

Priorities document

Government Affairs Policy.pdf

Gross Receipts Tax
On March 14th the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors adopted a policy position regarding a specific part of Governor Blagojevich's budget proposal.  The Board believes a Gross Receipts Tax violates the principles of transparency, fairness, economic neutrality and competitiveness, and that the imposition of a Gross Receipts Tax in Illinois would negatively impact job creation and business prosperity.  Regardless of whether the State of Illinois needs funding for education, healthcare, pensions, infrastructure, or some other program, a gross receipts tax is not a viable source of revenue.

In addition to adopting the above policy position, the Board urged all Chamber members of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce to become informed on the subject, and to take appropriate action.  The Illinois Chamber of Commerce has a website devoted just to this issue.  www.largesttaxincreaseever.com provides background information and the latest news on the GRT.  Citizens for Bill Brady, the State Senator who represents the eastern portions of our area also has an interesting website: www.stoprod.org.  You'll soon see how the GRT will affect every consumer and every business in Illinois, regardless of their size or revenues.

The Governor's tax increase is not limited to the Gross Receipts Tax.  He is also seeking a 3% payroll tax on all employers with ten or more employees.  The payroll tax will be required whether or not your company currently provides healthcare benefits.  The new tax is anticipated to include a refund or credit mechanism, but to qualify for a full refund of the payroll tax, the company’s healthcare benefit plan must be equivalent to at least 4% of the payroll.

As noted above, the Chamber's Board is urging all members to take action and contact their legislators.  Your message can be very simple: "I'm opposed to the gross receipts tax and urge you to oppose it."  Or your message can be more detailed and provide more specifics as to how the GRT will impact your business and the Illinois economy. You can call, write, email, fax, or visit in person with your elected legislators.  Contact all the legislators who represent the district where you work, where you live, and where you have additional facilities.  Personal contacts are the best, but letters, phone calls, faxes or emails are also very effective.  

The Illinois Chamber web site, www.largesttaxincreaseever.com has an easy method to email your opinions and concerns about the gross receipts tax and the proposed new payroll tax to legislators.  www.stoprod.org has a link to help you find information on your legislator, based on your address.

Central Illinois Legislators:

Senator Bill Brady (R) 44th District
105D Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-6216

2203 Eastland Drive, Suite 3
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 664-4440
(309) 664-8597 FAX

Senator David Koehler (D) 46th District
311 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8250
(217) 782-3213 FAX

333 Margaret Street
Pekin, IL 61554
(309) 353-6276
(309) 353-1819 FAX

Senator Dale E. Risinger (R) 37th District
M103F Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1942

5415 N. University, Suite 105
Peoria, IL 61614
(309) 693-4921
(309) 693-4923 FAX

Senator Dan Rutherford (R) 53rd District
105B Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-6597

320 N. Plum Street
Pontiac, IL 61764
(815) 842-3632
(815) 842-2875 FAX

Representative David R. Leitch (R) 73rd District
220 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8108
(217) 557-3047 FAX

3114 North University
Peoria, IL 61604
(309) 685-3900
(309) 685-3936 FAX

Representative Bill Mitchell (R) 87th District
238-W Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8163

332 W. Marion, Suite N-1
Forsyth, IL 62535
(217) 876-1968
(217) 876-1973 FAX

Representative Aaron Schock (R) 92nd District
226-N Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-3186
(217) 782-1275 FAX

741 W. Main St.
Peoria, IL 61606
(309) 672-9292
(309) 672-7988 FAX

Representative Michael K. Smith (D) 91st District
253-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8152
(217) 557-4415 FAX

45 East Side Square, Suite 301
Canton, IL 61520
(309) 647-7479
(309) 647-7482 FAX

Representative Keith P. Sommer (R) 106th District
216-N Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-0221
(217) 557-1098 FAX

121 W. Jefferson
Morton, IL 61550
(309) 263-9242
(309) 263-8187 FAX

     Illinois Chamber Grassroots Action Center

     Candidate Questionnaires

10/09/06 - The Illinois Legislature dealt with a number of business related legislative bills in 2006.  The Illinois Chamber took a position on each of these bills, based on their impact on the Illinois business environment.  The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Business Environment Division has prepared a summary of these key legislative bills and the score cards for the legislators who represent the area served by the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce.  To see the information go to:

www.pekin.net/LegislativeScore.htm

Illinois Business Votes

Illinois Chamber's Government Affairs Center

Illinois Chamber's Grassroots Action Center

U.S. Chamber's Legislative Index

U.S. Chamber's Issues Index

U.S. Chamber's Vote For Business