Governor Quinn has called the General Assembly back to Springfield on August 17 for a special session consideration of pension reform. No legislation was specifically identified in the Governor's message. The House Rules Committee met earlier this week and advanced SB 3168 to the Personnel & Pensions Committee. The House had originally been scheduled to meet tomorrow to consider the expulsion of Rep. D ...

 In June, we dedicated a President's Message to the Illinois Pathways Initiative, a new program designed to help Illinois residents get jobs through better education in science, technology, engineering and math - or STEM - fields. The Pathways Initiative is just one way employers are becoming more proactive about collaborating with educators to focus curriculum on targeting contemporary skill gaps in the wo ...

Last week the Governor quietly signed our Procurement clean-up bill into law.  SB2958 became effective on August 3.  The changes in our initiative addressed problems in the Procurement reform measure passed in SB51 from the previous General Assembly.  Chamber staff worked for two years to get these changes made and pulled together several working groups to negotiate these changes.  You can view our summary ...

Today I am giving Tom Wolf, the executive director of the Illinois Chamber's Energy Council, the President's Message forum to update you on the opportunities and legislative challenges associated with natural gas and oil development in Illinois through the use of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", and horizontal drilling. Can we get some fracking jobs in Illinois? Many people don't realize that southern I ...

 President’s Messages are one way the Illinois Chamber works to keep members, local chambers, legislators and allied trade associations up to date on vital public policy issues affecting the state’s employers, economy and business climate. One such issue that begs further discussion is the state’s air permitting process. Last year, the Illinois Chamber led a coalition of businesses and associations to subst ...

Just released is the latest in our video series.  Healthcare Council Executive Director Laura Minzer runs down the top 8 things you need to know now that the Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act.  You won’t want to miss this video!  Click here to watch. ...

At the request of the Illinois Chamber, the House Revenue & Finance Committee met yesterday in Chicago for a Subject Matter Hearing to consider needed reforms to the Illinois False Claims Act (a.k.a. the “Whistleblower Act”).    Connie Beard, Executive Director of the Illinois Chamber’s Tax Institute, testified in favor of needed reforms that would exclude tax cases from the False Claims Act and establi ...

The Governor has up to 60 days to act from the date legislation is officially transmitted to his office. Social Networking Limits: HB 3782, sponsored by Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago)and Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), was sent to the Governor on June 20th for his consideration. This measure provides that it is unlawful for an employer to request a password or other account information in order to access ...