2008 NIBAC Legislative Policy

Legislative Agenda Guidelines:

The 2008 Platform provides a structure of action representing our member’s collective VOICE throughout the year guiding the advocacy efforts in multiple local jurisdictions, Springfield and Washington through efforts to protect the northern Illinois region of businesses, promote free enterprise, and minimize government interference and taxation.

 

We are committed to our role as the VOICE of the regional business community and are leading advocacy in Springfield and Washington, D.C. for the benefit of 7,000 members’ located in the northern Illinois region.  There is strength in numbers.  We accept the charge to identify, publicize and advocate on those legislative and public issues with a potential of harming the vibrancy of the regional business community; and seek to position the region for greater economic success in the marketplace.

 

2008 Legislative Agenda:

The guiding principles of the 2008 Platform requiring a legislative remedy in the following arenas: Transportation/Infrastructure, Budget/Finance, Health Care, Labor/ Workforce and Business Taxation/Fees.  NIBAC suggests an emphasized focus from our legislators be placed  on increasing regional prosperity and the creation of jobs thus positioning the region for greater economic success in a competitive marketplace.

 

As lawmakers face difficult choices in trying to alleviate the ongoing fiscal crisis and lack of accountability, NIBAC has identified the following priorities and encourages: 

1.                  Transportation/Infrastructure. Support for the enhancement of funding for transportation investment programs to address the backlog of highways, major arterials, bridges and unmarked states routes currently in dire need of rehabilitation; and strategic improvement to increase capacity to address existing congestion and support the suburb-to-suburb and reverse commute from Chicago traffic patterns.  The following strategic expansions are supported: METRA Star Line; Illinois Route #53/Illinois Route 120 Bypass.

2.                  Budget/Finance. Strengthen the local economy by addressing deficit spending and restore its fiscal integrity on all levels; seek only the passage of county and state budgets that identify fair and equitable funding sources, with fiscal restraint and a long term, equitable revenue strategy.  Encourage lawmakers to resist the temptation to add or fund programs, which will cause additional strain on overloaded budgets.

 3.                  Health Care.  Support legislation that would allow small businesses to join together through association health plans.  Oppose universal mandates to coverage and oppose any legislation that would increase costs to the business owner.  Seek incentives to maintain the high quality of physicians at regional healthcare facilities.  Support legislation addressing the increasing fees for the high cost of medical liability/malpractice reimbursement insurance.

 4.         Labor/Workforce. Work to ensure that businesses have access-today and tomorrow-to an educated and skilled workforce.  With the anticipation of increasing educational skill gaps, encourage measures to support sustainable education and workforce training strategies and models with proven success promoting Illinois leadership of innovation.  Strive to bring Illinois back in the competitive recruitment market by resisting the temptation to increase workers compensation and the extension of unemployment benefits.  Oppose the increase of the minimum wage tax as alternative funding.

5.         Taxation/Fees.  Repeal all new business taxes and the rolling back of anti-business taxes and fees.