2016 Legislative Agenda

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2016

To be a vibrant, progressive business community that works together to make McLean County a great place to do business.

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND POLICY ISSUES McLean County continues to be a bright spot of economic prosperity in Illinois. However, 2016 will continue to provide challenges for our communities. Federal rules on employment and healthcare, Illinois’ continued budget impasse and deficit, and municipal funding for healthcare, budget and infrastructure challenges will all play a large role affecting McLean County businesses.

The McLean County Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Legislative Agenda has been authored to serve as a policy platform for its membership, and in partnership with the Central Illinois Regional Chamber Legislative Effort (CIRCLE). The 2016 agenda continues to focus on eight (8) specific areas which have a direct impact on business including: 1. Taxes & Fees 2. Labor/Employment 3. Transportation & Infrastructure 4. Education 5. Agriculture 6. Healthcare 7. Environmental 8. Intergovernmental Cooperation We hope that the following information will not only bring awareness of the Chamber’s advocacy efforts, but will also serve as an avenue for your engagement in government and public affairs.

Carl Teichman

Charlie Moore

Todd Lowery

2016 Chairman of the Board McLean County Chamber of Commerce

President, CEO McLean County Chamber of Commerce

Government & Public Affairs Manager McLean County Chamber of Commerce

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CREDIT: techdatai.com

Taxes & Fees The McLean County Chamber of Commerce supports a competitive and fair tax climate that promotes and fosters economic growth. 2016 areas of concentration or concern include: 1. Use of sales tax revenues from the local 1% sales tax increase in 2015 2. State reduction of local sales tax revenues 3. Future of income tax rates for the State of Illinois 4. Additional service fees at the state level 5. Effects of potential property tax freeze 6. Possibility of additional business costs due to executive orders from the Obama Administration

SOURCE: Tax Foundation, August 2015

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CREDIT: Reprinted with permission from the Pantagraph

Labor/Employment The McLean County Chamber of Commerce supports legislation that emphasizes free enterprise. The Chamber believes the Free Market System is the most efficient and profitable way to conduct business.

2016 areas of concentration or concern include: 1. Proposed changes to overtime pay standards for salaried employees at the federal level 2. Proposed minimum wage increases at the federal and state level 3. Workers compensation issues with the State of Illinois concerning causation and arbitration 4. Comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level 5. Ongoing public pension crisis in Illinois and its effect on the state budget 6. Monitoring legislation to alter/change the Affordable Healthcare Act 7. Advocate for policy at the federal, state and local level that will encourage entrepreneurship and job creation 8. National Labor Relations ruling concerning contracted employees, and its effect on small business and franchises requiring them to be part of labor negotiations

Illinois’ Unfunded Pension Liability Has Grown Dramatically in 15 Years $120

$111

$100 $80

$95 billion increase

$60 $40 $20

$16

$FY00

FY15

SOURCE: Illinois State Budget Fiscal Year 2017

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CREDIT: Reprinted with permission from the Pantagraph

Transportation & Infrastructure The McLean County Chamber of Commerce believes transportation and infrastructure is vital to the region’s economic growth. The McLean County area is at a cross-section of 3 major interstates and centrally located within the State of Illinois. The Chamber strives to promote commerce through our transportation systems; which include the Central Illinois Regional Airport and public transportation including Amtrak and Connect Transit. 2016 areas of concentration or concern include: 1. Possible future tax increases on motor fuels for transportation and infrastructure funding 2. Support for future federal funding for Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal beyond Continuing Resolution, including contract tower funding 3. Utilization of funds for the recently passed federal transportation bill to promote highway and infrastructure projects over the next five years for local government 4. Support of the One Voice Task Force effort to promote funding for the Hamilton Road expansion project 5. Continuing to galvanize as a region to advocate for McLean County’s “fair share” of diminishing federal and state resources for transportation funding

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CREDIT: Dankarl, Wikipedia

Education & Workforce Development The McLean County Chamber of Commerce supports investment in quality education. The future success of our community is dependent on the quality, rigor, and relevance of the education offered in our schools and colleges, including workforce development. The Chamber advocates consistent and ongoing communication and collaboration, creating and expanding cost-effective opportunities for training, and building partnerships with education providers. 2016 areas of concentration or concern include: 1. Funding support for area schools from the State of Illinois including proposals focusing on cost shifts concerning pension funding and revenue from state funding day to day operations 2. State funding for higher education including MAP grant funding as part of a comprehensive FY16 Higher Education bill 3. Advocacy efforts to seek funding and support for effective training or retraining McLean County’s workforce 4. Support of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education initiative

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics household survey

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Agriculture The McLean County Chamber of Commerce supports agricultural operations and agribusiness. We support policies that encourage agriculture operations to exist, to enhance their operations for modern farming practices, to be profitable and foster economic growth on the farm and in the businesses that support agriculture. 2016 areas of concentration or concern include: 1. Monitoring debate and consideration of trade agreements that benefit agri-business, including the TransPacific Partnership and other possible trade agreements 2. Maintaining open dialogue with farm organizations and producers benefiting agriculture

Healthcare The McLean County Chamber of Commerce will continue to partner with and advocate along with the Employers’ Coalition for Healthcare, Inc. to provide affordable health insurance to our member businesses/organizations. We support local providers, recognizing that providing quality health care services is a key element in attracting and retaining qualified and talented employees for McLean County businesses and organizations. 2016 areas of concentration or concern include: 1. Monitor possible changes/modifications to the Affordable Healthcare Act and the challenges it poses to business and commerce 2. Focus on the progress of mental health services in McLean County, including funding of the McLean County Jail expansion and subsequent advocacy efforts of the One Voice Task Force - 7 -

Environment The McLean County Chamber of Commerce will monitor and promote legislation and initiatives that will protect our local natural resources for the betterment of our business community. 2016 areas of concentration or concern include: 1. Focus on solid waste management for McLean County mandated by the State of Illinois’ Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act. The Chamber will continue to participate with the Ecology Action Center on this plan and advocate for an effective and practical solid waste management plan for Bloomington-Normal and McLean County.

2. Examine initiatives that promote protection of natural resources while representing the concerns that such initiatives will have on our business community 3. Focus on 2016 developments concerning EPA regulation of ponds and waterways in relation to Waterways of the United States legislation (WOTUS) and corresponding court challenges 4. Attention to federal regulations concerning the EPA’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) and Clean Air Act (CAA) and its effort of increased utility rates for business and hindrance to economic growth, especially in the energy sector 5. Advocate for environmentally friendly and economically effective renewable fuel alternatives concerning public transit and municipality services

1.5

YEARS

Illinois EPA estimates that the McLean County landfill only has 1.5 years until it closes.

27%

If we cut that number in half, we would save about

11,000 TONS OF GARBAGE ... from going into our landfill, and drive our recycling rate to over:

of what we put in our garbage could be recycled.

SOURCE: Ecology Action Center of Normal, Illinois

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43%

Intergovernmental Cooperation The McLean County Chamber of Commerce strongly supports increased collaboration and sharing of resources between local units of government to increase the cost effectiveness and the efficiency of service delivery to taxpayers and business. 2016 areas of concentration or concern include: 1. Maintain and build relationships with elected officials and government entities to encourage cooperation and efficiency 2. Embrace and advance a unified region

McLean County - Government Center 115 E. Washington St. Bloomington, IL 61701 www.mcleancountyil.gov

City of Bloomington - City Hall 109 E. Olive St Bloomington, IL 61701 www.cityblm.org

Town of Normal - Uptown Station 11 Uptown Circle Normal, IL 61761 www.normal.org

CREDIT: Bohao Zhao

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Federal Officials Sen. Mark Kirk

Sen. Richard Durbin

Washington 524 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 P: 202-224-2854

Washington 711 Hart Senate Building Washington, D.C. 20510 P: 202-224-2152

Springfield 607 East Adams Suite 1520 Springfield, IL 62701 P: 217-492-5089

Springfield 525 S. 8th Street Springfield, IL 62703 P: 217-492-4062

Rep. Rodney Davis

Congressman Darin LaHood

13th Congressional District

18th Congressional District

Washington 1740 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 P: 202-225-2371

Washington 2464 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 P: 202-225-6201 Peoria 100 NE Monroe Street Room 100 Peoria, IL 61602 P: 309-671-7027

Normal 104 W. North Street Normal, IL 61761 P: 309-252-8834

State Officials Sen. Jason Barickman 53rd District P: 309-661-2788 W: senatorbarickman.com

Sen. Chapin Rose 51st District P: 217-558-1006 W: senchapinrose.com

Rep. Bill Mitchell 101st District P: 217-782-8163 W: repmitchell.com

Sen. Bill Brady 44th District P: 309-664-8544 W: brady.senategop.org

Rep. Dan Brady 105th District P: 309-662-1100 W: rep-danbrady.com

Rep. Keith P. Sommer 88th District P: 309-263-9242 W: keithsommer.org

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Local Officials CITY OF BLOOMINGTON

TOWN OF NORMAL

Mayor Chris Koos P: 309-454-9503 Cheryl Gaines P: 309-452-6696 Jeff Fritzen P: 309-454-2186 R.C. McBride P: 309-824-4058 Kevin McCarthy P: 309-451-9927 Scott Preston P: 309-434-0086 Kathleen Lorenz P: 309-531-1184

E: spreston@normal.org

Mayor Tari Renner P: 309-310-5708 Kevin Lower P: 309-830-7498 David Sage P: 309-828-3698 Mboka Mwilambwe P: 309-530-7664 Amelia Buragas P: 309-825-0563 Joni Painter P: 309-662-8413

E: klorenz@normal.org

Karen Schmidt P: 309-824-2257

E: mayor@normal.org E: cgaines@normal.org E: jfritzen@normal.org E: rcmcbride@normal.org E: kmccarthy@normal.org

MCLEAN COUNTY BOARD

Don Cavallini (R), District 1 Rep. P: 309-365-8257 Catherine Metsker (R), District 1 Rep. P: 309-376-5881 Jim Soeldner (R), District 2 Rep. P: 309-7240-8240 Scott Murphy (R), District 2 Rep. P: 309-824-0260 George O. Wendt (R), District 3 Rep. P: 309-830-6685 Randall Martin (R), District 3 Rep. P: 309-963-4687 William T. Caisley (R), District 4 Rep. P: 309-452-6339 Mark Johnson (R), District 4 Rep. P: 309-319-6080 John McIntyre (R), District 5 Rep. & Board Chair P: 309-452-0552 David Selzer (R), District 5 Rep. P: 309-454-2773 George Gordon (D), District 6 Rep. P: 309-452-8530 Laurie Wollrab, (D), District 6 Rep. P: 309-261-2688 Rich Buchanan (R), District 7 Rep. P: 309-824-0461 Victoria F. Harris (D), District 7 Rep. P: 309-663-6675

Carlo Robustelli (D), District 8 Rep. P: 309-585-1472 Paul R. Segobiano (D), District 8 Rep. P: 309-452-0552 Erik Rankin (D), District 9 Rep. P: 309-212-2102 Susan Schafer (R), District 9 Rep. P: 309-452-8530 Benjamin Owens (R), District 10 Rep. P: 309-829-1500 Chuck Erickson (R), District 10 Rep. P: 309-825-7380

Scott Black P: 309-242-7410 Diana Hauman P: 309-530-8235 Jim Fruin P: 309-662-1197

E: mayor@cityblm.org E: ward1@cityblm.org E: ward2@cityblm.org E: ward3@cityblm.org E: ward4@cityblm.org E: ward5@cityblm.org E: ward6@cityblm.org E: ward7@cityblm.org E: ward8@cityblm.org E: ward9@cityblm.org

MCLEAN COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS

Don R. Everhart, Jr., Circuit Clerk P: 309-888-5301 E: circuitclerk@mcleancountyil.gov Michelle L. Anderson, Auditor P: 309-888-5150 E: auditor@mcleancountyil.gov Jon Sandage, Sheriff P: 309-888-5034 E: jon.sandage@mcleancountyil.gov Jason Chambers, State’s Attorney P: 309-888-5400 E: stateattny@mcleancountyil.gov Kathy Michael, County Clerk P: 309-888-5190 E: countyclerk@mcleancountyil.gov Rebecca C. McNeil, Treasurer P: 309-888-5180 E: treasurer@mcleancountyil.gov Kathleen Davis, County Coroner P: 309-888-5210 E: coroner@mcleancountyil.gov MCLEAN COUNTY MAYORS (RURAL)

Eston Ellis, President, Village of Bellflower P: 309-772-3392 Dan Weber, Mayor, Village of Cooksville P: 309-824-8416 John Owen, President, Village of Stanford P: 309-379-2251 Mike James, Mayor, Village of Downs P: 309-830-7374 Steven Dean, Mayor, City of Leroy P: 309-962-3031 Tom Caisley, Mayor, Village of Danvers P: 309-963-4928 Tom Wagner, Mayor, Village of Towanda P: 309-287-7861 John Mohr, City of Lexington P: 309-365-3331 Todd Zalucha, Mayor of Heyworth P: 309-473-2811 Ricardo Onken, Mayor of Colfax P: 309-723-3261 Jamie Kelly, President, Village of Anchor P: 309-723-3831 Chad Walden, Mayor, Village of Arrowsmith P: 309-727-1150

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Kelly Higgerson, Mayor, Village of Ellsworth P: 309-724-8412 Jeremiah Houston, President, Village of Carlock P: 309-376-2219 Mike West, President, Village of McLean P: 309-874-2102 Jason Collins, Mayor, Village of Hudson P: 309-726-1070 Brent Kirkton, President, Village of Gridley P: 309-747-2000 Chris Wilder, Mayor, City of Chenoa P: 815-945-7619