Dear Members:
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is encouraging small businesses to contact their state legislators to protest a 21% hike in the State of Illinois’ minimum wage to $10 per hour from $8.25 (third highest in the nation)—a proposal being debated by Senate Democrats. Part of that discussion is a proposal to index the minimum wage with inflation.
Only two weeks ago, businesspeople representing chambers across the state traveled to Springfield for Employer Action Day, co-sponsored by the Illinois Chamber and the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), to hear Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker talk about how his state has balanced its budget while our state has not.
Chamber Director Heather Winter of Elmhurst College and Dianne McGinnis of Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, both members of our Governmental Affairs Committee, joined me in Springfield on April 19, as part of a large contingent representing chambers from towns and cities across DuPage County.
Gov. Walker, who faces a recall election in June after striping Wisconsin’s public union employees of their right of collective bargaining, criticized Illinois Governor Pat Quinn for failing to balance his budget even after signing off on a 66% percent hike in the personal income tax to 5% (from 3%) and an increase in the corporate income tax.
What Gov. Walker failed to mention during his Keynote Address is that Wisconsin’s personal and corporate income rates are still higher than in Illinois, which also, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, gained 37,000 jobs from February 2011 to February 2012 while Wisconsin lost 16,000 jobs.
The next day, Gov. Quinn announced his plan to reform Illinois’ $85 million-under-funded public pension system by raising the retirement age to 67, increasing employee contributions to 3% and cutting the annual 3% cost of living adjustment (COLA).
Republican leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives are in favor of public pension reform and open to the Governor’s plan, as is the Speaker of the House, Democrat Michael Madigan, who spoke in favor of such reform while at Elmhurst College for the Fifth Annual Governmental Forum back in January.
As evidenced by the thousand of protesters marching outside the Abraham Lincoln Hotel during Gov. Walker’s chamber visit, push back from the public employee unions, which typically vote Democrat, will be a hurdle.
Whether or not local school districts will be asked to make contributions for their employees (which only Chicago does now) could be another sticking point.
New Members
The Chamber welcomed seven new members during April, as follows (in alphabetical order): Access Sports, Commercial Tire Service, Colm Connolly Builders & Remodelers, Edward Technology, Essence of Elegance Catering, Impact Color and Solaris Jewelry.
Reactivated Members
Three other businesses reactivated as members in April, as follows (in alphabetical order): ERC Delivery Service, RGL Marketing for the Arts and Site Recovery Services.
Got It! in Elmhurst
The Got It! in Elmhurst campaign partnership between the City of Elmhurst and our Chamber continues to encourage residents to shop and dine local with display advertising in Elmhurst newspapers and coupon magazines targeted around special events.
Our Chamber expects to unveil an all-Elmhurst business smart phone app. It will start out with the directories of the Chamber, Elmhurst City Centre, Spring Road Business Association and York & Vallette Business Association before expanding citywide.
The campaign also is among the sponsors of the City’s annual Commercial Real Estate Brokers Tour at Café Amano on Wednesday, May 9, at 3 p.m.
Elmhurst Street Map
The Chamber is putting the finishing touches on the 2012 Elmhurst Street Map, which will be direct mailed to some 19,100 Elmhurst residences and businesses later this month. The biennial map is being produced is partnership with Desert Rose Design and Castco Communications.
Elmhurst Jaycees DSA
The Elmhurst Jaycees are honoring yours truly at their 61st Distinguished Service Award Dinner at the Diplomat West Banquet Halls on Wednesday, May 23. Ticket cost is $50 per person. Click HERE to register.
Ken Bartels of Community Bank of Elmhurst and Scott Levin of Howard & Howard have been hand-chosen to properly roast this year’s honoree.
Social Media
If you haven’t already, please follow the Chamber via our social media pages as a Facebook friend, Twitter follower and Linked-In contact.