Businesses lobby governor, Statehouse leaders in Springfield
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[April 27, 2023]
By PETER HANCOCK
Capitol News Illinois
phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com
SPRINGFIELD – Business leaders from throughout Illinois gathered
Wednesday in Springfield to share their concerns about the state’s
business climate and to discuss pending legislative issues with Gov. JB
Pritzker and top legislative leaders.
The annual joint convention of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association drew hundreds of attendees
from businesses big and small to the capital city just as the General
Assembly is going into its final stretch before its scheduled May 19
adjournment.
IRMA board chairman Art Potash, CEO of Potash Markets, a chain of
specialty grocery stores in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, noted
that more than 6,600 bills have been introduced in the General Assembly
this year, the second most ever introduced in the first year of a
session.
“Quite frankly, much of the legislation presents additional challenges
to the business community,” he said during a luncheon speech.
“Thankfully, the respective teams at IRMA and IMA have done a great job
of containing most of the harm, at least as we sit here today.”
During his keynote address, Pritzker touted investments the state has
made in workforce training and apprenticeships, as well as his proposed
budget that calls for increased funding for community colleges,
universities and student financial aid.
“Yes, of course, people are talking to Mississippi about low-wage
workers that they can get if they put a low-wage manufacturing facility
in that state,” he said. “But what they talk to Illinois about is
skilled labor and skilled workers, because we provide those and we have
the third largest community college system in the entire nation. And
we're utilizing that to make sure that we're at the top of the heap when
it comes to skilled work.”
As recently as March, Pritzker suggested that if state revenues continue
to improve, some form of tax cuts could be on the table this year. But
the most recent monthly reports have suggested that revenue growth has
begun to slow down and that lawmakers should be more conservative in
their planning for the upcoming fiscal year.
Speaking with reporters after his speech, Pritzker was asked about a
Republican priority of repealing the estate tax.
“My priority is balancing the budget and making sure that we are
continuing our march to credit upgrades and making sure we've set the
real foundation for fiscal stability in our state,” he said.
The luncheon also featured a pair of panel discussions with lawmakers
moderated by Chicago Tribune reporter Rick Pearson. During one of those
discussions, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, drew
applause when he responded with an emphatic “no” when asked if he plans
to try again for passage of a constitutional amendment to allow for a
graduated state income tax.
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Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a lobby day
for the Illinois Manufacturers' Association and Illinois Retail
Merchants Association Wednesday in Springfield. (Credit:
Illinois.gov)
“You know, one of the things I've learned is you learn a lot in losses.
And, you know, we got our butts kicked on that issue,” he said. “We have
to find a different way to govern, and we've been doing that. And that
different way of governing has led to eight credit upgrades and several
balanced budgets and surpluses, where we have a rainy-day fund and
Illinois is on the right track.”
Another issue that was the focus of much attention during the convention
was the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act, or BIPA, and the
Illinois Supreme Court’s recent decision holding that a company can be
held liable for each individual time they scan a fingerprint for an
employee to clock in at work.
“Too many employers, nearly 2,000, are facing lawsuits from the trial
bar today because they simply use time clocks or face scans for
security,” IMA president and CEO Mark Denzler said earlier in the event.
“Billions of dollars have already been paid out without any finding of
harm. And the recent White Castle decision could cost them $17 billion.
That’s a lot of hamburgers, folks.”
Asked about that during the panel discussion, Welch said it was possible
the issue could be addressed in the final weeks of the session, but he
offered no assurances.
“That's a really complex issue,” he said. “And, you know, I think if
we're gonna get anything done, it's gonna take all of us getting around
the table and talking. We haven't done that yet. But a month is a long
time to go.”
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, said she believed BIPA
is an issue that lawmakers “definitely” need to resolve this year.
“One of the things that we do in Springfield a lot is, we have good
intent to make positive change, but the result of the legislation goes
too far,” she said. “It isn't, I don't think, anybody's intention to
destroy business and have litigation pay out so much that you can no
longer function in the state of Illinois, so I definitely think it's
open for discussion for sure.”
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news
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