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Disaster Declaration, Assistance

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

On May 10, 2013, President Obama declared 11 counties in Illinois as federal disaster areas. This includes Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, and Will counties. Additional designations may be made at a later date, as preliminary damage assessments are still being concluded in a number of counties damage in the recent flood.

As part of that declaration, grants to local residents and low-interest loans for small businesses are now available. A declaration for public assistance (local government reimbursement) has not be requested yet, but that request is to be submitted no later than May 25 to the federal government.

As outlined by Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial help or direct services to those who have necessary expenses and serious needs if they are unable to meet the needs through other means. Up to $31,900 is available in financial help (adjusted each year), although some forms of IHP assistance have limits. Flood insurance may be required as indicated below. These forms of help are available: Housing Assistance (including Temporary Housing, Repair, Replacement, and Semi-Permanent or Permanent Housing Construction) and Other Needs Assistance (including personal property and other items). Among the items eligible for housing assistance include temporary housing, repairs (FEMA may provide up to $31,900 for repair), replacement (rare cases), and semi-permanent or permanent housing construction (also rare and unusual cases).

Generally, more than one type of IHP assistance may be provided to the household, but only FEMA has the authority to determine which type of assistance is most appropriate for the household and the period of assistance to be covered.

There a few different ways to apply for disaster assistance. A resident may apply at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or visit a disaster recovery center (locations to be determined shortly).

Among the items needed when applying for assistance include the address of the damaged property, names of those residing at the residence, a description of the damages, insurance information, and your SS number.

Posted in advocacy, Federal legislation, membership | No Comments »

Member News for Week of May 13, 2013

Monday, May 13th, 2013

Here is this week’s newsletter to members of the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce. If you have Member News to include, please send to Jeanine by Wednesday the week prior to publication. For more information, contact the Chamber at (630) 256-3180.

Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce




May 13, 2013

In This Issue

Annual Golf Classic
Save the Date
Resource Group Seeks Input
New Business Leads Group
Programs Calendar
Premier Members
Legislative Updates
Meterless Downtown Parking
Did You Know?
Member News

Quick Links

Follow Us!

Elite Members

For more information contact the chamber.

Alarm Detection Systems, Inc.
Aurora University
Bad Monkey Circus Ad Agency
Baird & Warner – Holli Thurston
Balihoo Productions
Basil’s Greek Dining
BMO Harris
Caterpillar, Inc.
Chicago Premium Outlets
ComEd
Continental Acura of Naperville
Continental Audi of Naperville
Continental Mazda of Naperville
Create Cut Invent
DiGiovine Hnilo Jordan + Johnson Ltd.
Dreyer Occupational Health Services
Fox Valley Country Club
Global Data Sciences
Ice Miller LLP
Idea Marketing Group
KING Industrial & Installation Service, Inc.
Konen Insurance Agency
Law Offices of McLaughlin & Associates, P.C.
Liberty Mutual – Dawn Tully
McKesson
Mind and Body Chiropractic
Mitutoyo America Corporation
Mooney & Thomas P.C.
Mortgage Services III, LLC
Nelson Multimedia/WSPY
Old Second National Bank
Organo Gold
Painters District Council 30
Paramount Arts Centre
Piper’s Banquets
Plum Landing Retirement Community
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 501
Provena Mercy Medical Center
R.C. Wegman Construction Company
Rasmussen College
River West Radiation Therapy Center
Rockpoint Logistics
Rush-Copley Medical Center
Ryland Homes – Ingham Park
S&S Metal Recycling
Safeguard Construction Co.
Sequoia General Contracting Corp.
Sign*A*Rama – Aurora
SmithAmundsen, LLC
State Farm Insurance Companies
St. Charles Bank & Trust
Strayer University
Stumm Insurance, LLC
TCE Company
The UPS Store – Kirk & Butterfield
The Voice
Two Brothers Roundhouse
uberloop
Valley Fastener Group, LLC
Waubonsee Community College
Wee-Dee’s North Aurora
Weldstar Company
WERV FM Radio (Next Media)

Welcome New Members

Sherwin-Williams
Mike Mulvena
304 W. Indian Trail Road
Aurora, IL 60506
(630) 892-4231
Paints & Paint Supplies

Mind and Body Chiropractic
Elite Member
Dr. Houston Brown
1444 N. Farnsworth Ave., Ste. 303
Aurora, IL 60505
(630) 978-8600
Chiropractor

Veritra, Inc.
Rao Achanta
1701 E. Woodfield Rd., Ste. 210
Schaumburg, IL 60173
(877) 577-0077
Information Technology Consulting

Contact Us

Mail: 43 W. Galena Blvd.
Aurora, Illinois 60506
Phone: (630) 256-3180
Fax: (630) 256-3189
www.aurorachamber.com

	Join Us June 18: Annual Golf Classic
	Join us Tuesday, June 18, as Cabot Microelectronics presents the 2013 Golf Classic at Whitetail Ridge Golf Club. Sponsorships and foursomes are available. For information, contact Pam Fedor at (630) 256-3182. Proceeds from the annual event support programming for members, workforce development initiatives, and legislative relations on behalf of the business community. Your support of the event results in support of our businesses.
	Save the Date
	July 18: Putt Putt in the Park It’s back and bigger and better. We’ll be putting around RiverEdge Park. Watch for more details. August 7: Be Different or Be Gone Author, instructor and consultant Thomas Gray will help you find your competitive edge and capitalize on it. You don’t want to miss this program.
	HR & Managers Resource Group Seeks Input
	The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce – in response to member interest – is re-forming the HR & Managers Resource Group as a professional development and networking program. In an effort to better meet the needs of employers, the steering committee is conducting a survey to gauge needs and interest. Please take a couple of minutes to answer the short, nine-question survey.
	New Business Leads Group
	The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced a second business development and leads group to begin this summer. For Chamber members, a Business Leads Group is made up of non-competing businesses that focuses of providing quality leads and referrals to other group members. The goal is to assemble a group of professional, creative, focused, and fun individuals who will help to grow each other’s businesses through the exchange of referrals and business contacts. Along with actively learning about the products and services of other members of the group, the members will participate in a Business Development Workshop, learning new techniques and strategies to apply to their business.An introductory meeting for all interested Chamber members will be held Wednesday, June 12, at 9:00 a.m. at the Chamber offices. If you are interested in attending to learn more, contact the Chamber.
	Programs Calendar
	Business Development Leads Group Tuesday, May 14, at 7:30 a.m. Chamber offices Aurora First Wednesday, May 15, at 11:00 a.m. Chamber offices Ribbon Cutting: Randall Town Homes Wednesday, May 15, at 11:30 a.m. 1241 Ritter Street North Aurora Illinois Business Day 2013 Monday, May 20, 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, 701 E. Adams, Springfield Coffee & Connections Tuesday, May 21, at 8:30 a.m. Painters District Council No. 30, 1905 Sequoia Drive, Suite 201 Aurora Sponsored by SmithAmundsen Business Development Leads Group Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 a.m. Chamber offices Fox Valley Networking Professionals Thursday, May 30, at 8:00 a.m. Pomegranate Restaurant, 55 S. Commons Dr., Aurora NFP Alliance: Building Your Board Friday, May 31, at 8:30 a.m. Sponsored by SmithAmundsen Chamber offices Progressive Networking Luncheon Friday, June 7, at 11:30 a.m. Fox & Hound, 4320 E. New York Street, Aurora Business Development Leads Group Tuesday, June 11, at 7:30 a.m. Chamber offices Cabot Microelectronics presents the 2013 Golf Classic Tuesday, June 18 Whitetail Ridge Golf Club Business Development Leads Group Tuesday, June 25, at 7:30 a.m. Chamber offices Fox Valley Networking Professionals Thursday, June 27, at 8:00 a.m. Pomegranate Restaurant, 55 S. Commons Dr., Aurora Open House: Konen Insurance Agency Thursday, June 27, at 4:00 pm 2570 Beverly Drive, Suite 100, Aurora Affordable Care Act Friday, June 28, at 8:30 a.m. Waubonsee Downtown Campus, 18 S. River Street, Aurora sbdc@waubonsee.edu
	Premier Members

	Legislative Updates
	Gaming Expansion ‘Upsets Balance’ The Chamber opposes SB 1739 because the expansion threatens our communities and businesses, while providing little benefit to the state. Illinois’ existing casinos are income-producing assets to our state. This industry employs tens of thousands of workers, attracts tourism dollars and provides revenue to the treasury. This has been achieved over the course of decades by delicately balancing interests through rigorous regulation and taxation. SB1739 upsets this balance and sets in motion dangerous precedents. Providing an unfair financial benefit to one city defeats the purpose and requirement of sharing revenue with the entire state. Casinos licenses have been strategically allocated across Illinois. Allowing the horse racing industry to become casinos will undermine this regulation and cannibalize market share. Education Funding Reform Gaining Steam Tight state resources and decreased property values have left many school districts across Illinois scrambling to balance their budgets. In far too many cases, school districts have resorted to cutting staff and eliminating extracurricular activities. As part of his efforts, State Senator Andy Manar (D – Bunker Hill) has started an online petition, collecting names of concerned citizens who are calling for education funding reform. State Senator Melinda Bush (D – Grayslake), a co-sponsor of Manar’s legislation, has likewise started an online petition and received strong support from residents. Senate Passes Union-Backed Pension Plan This week Senate President John Cullerton along with Senator Linda Holmes introduced yet another pension reform proposal, Senate Bill 2404, based on a proposal provided by the unions representing a majority of state public employees. The Senate approved SB 2404 by a 40-16 vote. The proposal includes a choice of pension options for state employees and retirees between receiving a three-percent COLA based on a simple interest rate and in return maintain access to health care in retirement and have raises count towards their pension, or keep the three percent compounded COLA and in return lose health care in retirement and not have raises count towards their pension. Chambers supported the House version of Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Speaker Madigan, that includes public employee pension reforms, an increase in the retirement age, a limit on COLAs, and a cap on pensionable income levels. The Speaker’s plan is estimated to save the state approximately $150 billion over 30 years, by which time the pension plans will be fully funded. The Senate plan is estimated to save an estimated $40 – $46 billion over the same period of time. Senate Expected to Act on Minimum Wage Increase The Illinois Senate is expected to vote on a bill to increase the minimum wage, SB 68 sponsored by Senator Kimberly Lightford, early next week. The Chamber strongly opposes the legislation and has actively participated in a business coalition to defeat the bill. The bill includes a gradual increase in the minimum wage to $10 per hour over the next four years. Governor Quinn called raising the minimum wage a priority during his State of the State address in February. Currently, the minimum wage in Illinois is $8.25 per hour, a full $1 higher than all of our neighboring states, and the fourth highest in the nation. If approved, Illinois will have the highest minimum wage in the country. Main Street Fairness Thanks to overwhelmingly bi-partisan support in the U.S. Senate, and the outstanding and determined leadership of Illinois’ own U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois retailers may soon find themselves competing on a level playing field with their on-line competitors and Illinois consumers will be protected from rude surprises if they are ever audited. If the U.S. House of Representatives also adopts the Marketplace Fairness Act, on-line retailers will no longer be able to evade their responsibility of collecting and remitting state sales taxes. Illinois retailers don’t mind competing but a sale is a sale and the tax system should not be used for competitive advantage. Under Illinois law, if an on-line retailer does not collect the sales tax, the consumer is required to pay the tax to the Illinois Department of Revenue. Most consumers are not aware of this law and they are exposed to fines and penalties for failure to do so. Workers’ Compensation Members may recall that 2011 witnessed the first pro-business reform of Illinois’ workers’ compensation system in more than 30 years. While far from containing all the reforms employers believe would have helped remove the terrible reputation of Illinois’ workers’ compensation system, the reforms were significant and widely applauded by representatives of the employer community. The result has been modest reductions in workers’ compensation insurance premiums. This week witnessed the introduction of an amendment which could reverse many of the gains realized since 2011. Senate Amendment 1 to HB 3390 (Rep. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago/Sen. John Mulroe, D- Chicago) was adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee on a partisan roll-call. Health Care Exchanges The Federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) authorizes states to establish health care exchanges. If the states do not do so, they could be compelled to operate under a federally established exchange. At its most basic, exchanges will allow individuals to make apple-to-apple comparisons of various health insurance coverage offerings and purchase the coverage of their choice. Think of an exchange as a Travelocity for health insurance. Among its many provisions, HB 3227 creates an 11-member quasigovernmental governing board comprised of representatives of the various stakeholders; requires the small employer exchange (i.e. fewer than 50 employees) must provide options for employers, employees, and allow employee-directed choice, requires the exchange to promote a competitive marketplace for affordable healthcare options, makes it clear that the exchange will not supersede the Illinois Insurance Code.
	Meterless Downtown Parking In Effect Tuesday
	Aurora’s much-anticipated “meterless” downtown parking plan goes into effect on Tuesday, May 14.Parking spaces closer to the heart of downtown will carry shorter parking limits so customers with short-term errands can locate convenient parking any time of the day. On-street parking spaces are separated into five color-coded categories: platinum, gold, silver, bronze and mercury. The City’s lots carry the same colors with the exception of platinum which apply only to on-street spaces in the center of downtown that carry a time limit of 90 minutes.On-Street parking is enforced from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Parking lots are monitored from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Complete information on the new parking plan can be found on the City’s website or by calling the Customer Service Division at (630) 256-INFO (4636)
	Did You Know?
	April Showers Bring May Flowers and a time to “Refer a Prospective Business” month. When you refer a Prospective Member in May and they join . . . you and your business will be highlighted in our Chamber Blog and receive a complimentary eBlast ad (based on availability). Submit your referral to Jane Abe, IOM, ACE, Director of Membership, at jabe@aurorachamber.com.
	Member News
	Come sample Aurora’s diverse culinary offerings at the Eleventh Annual Downtown Aurora Taste on Tuesday, May 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information, call (630) 415-1263.On Wednesday, May 15, CityGate Grille will host their first wine dinner of 2013. The reception kicks off at 6:30 p.m. followed by the main event beginning at 7:00 p.m.Join Fox Valley United Way for their Annual Breakfast Thursday, May 16, registration beginning at 7:00 a.m., with program beginning at 7:30 a.m. Alden of Waterford is hosting a Veterans Breakfast on Friday, May 17 at 8:00 a.m. RSVP to Cindy Droste. On May 18, The Growing Place is having a Tropical Potting Party from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.Call for more information (630) 355-4000. Join Naper Settlement for Civil War Days from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19. The Aurora University Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis Information Session will be held on Wednesday, May 22, at 6:00 p.m. in University Banquet Hall South. Restoration Techs would like to remind you the Heroes Mud Run is being held on Saturday, May 25. Please register by May 21. Contact Patrick at patrick@restorationtechs.com. Raise funds for AID (Association for Individual Development) when you register for the Fox Trot 2-mile walk being held on Saturday, May 25. Visit the Foxtrot Website for more information. On May 25 The Growing Place is having a Succulent Potting Party from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call for more information (630) 455-4000. Naper Settlement marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War with a special tour at Naperville Cemetery during Walking with Soldiers: The Civil War Tour from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Saturday, May 25. The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event will take place in the Aurora Memorial Day Parade, Monday, May 27, at 12:00 p.m. For more information call Mutual Ground at (630) 897-0084. Waubonsee Community College Foundation’s 26th Annual Golf Outing is Wednesday, May 29. Save The Date: GiGi’s Playhouse Fox Valley 7th Annual Golf Event is set for Friday, June 21, with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. Kluber Architects and Engineers President Mike Kluber announced the opening of their office in Lake County (Gurnee, Illinois). An agreement reached with Daniel Robison Architects expands Kluber, Inc. to better serve clients in northeast Illinois.

Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce | 43 W. Galena Blvd. Aurora, Illinois 60506
Phone: (630) 256-3180 Fax: (630) 256-3189 | www.aurorachamber.com

This email was sent by Email Patron on behalf of Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Posted in advocacy, AuroraChamber.com, catalyst, Federal legislation, legislative affairs, membership, networking opportunities | No Comments »

NLRB Recess Appointments Held Unconstitutional

Friday, January 25th, 2013

by Julie Proscia – SmithAmundsen

A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled today that President Obama did not have the constitutional authority to make three recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last January. Specifically, the court held that President Obama did not have the power to bypass the Senate and make the recess appointments since the Senate was not technically in recess.

On January 4, 2012, President Obama appointed three members to the five-member Board while the Senate was away during a 20-day holiday recess. Deputy Labor Secretary Sharon Block, union lawyer Richard Griffin, and NLRB counsel Terence Flynn were appointed to fill vacancies on the NLRB during the recess.

The Obama administration has repeatedly asserted that the appointments to the NLRB were proper because of the vacation recess; however, the appeals court disagreed with this characterization, and ruled that the Senate was technically in session because it was gaveled in and out every few days as part of a tactic that created “pro forma” sessions.

If this decision is upheld, the Board would be left with just one validly appointed member, Chairman Mark Gaston Pearce — who was confirmed by the Senate. Under a 2010 Supreme Court decision, the NLRB, which has five seats, is authorized to issue decisions only when it has three or more sitting members. If this appellate court decision stands, it could invalidate hundreds of Board decisions and would effectively shut down the NLRB.

The Obama Administration is certain to appeal the court’s decision to the United States Supreme Court and this determination will impact hundreds of cases. In the meantime, every matter that the NLRB rules on is in question.…

Julie Proscia is partner in the Labor and Employment Group of the St. Charles office and represents management in labor issues. Julie can be contacted at jproscia@salawus.com or at (630) 587-7911.

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Illinois Chamber, SmithAmundsen Offer Insight into ACA

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

“Tax” or “Penalty” – and Why Does It Matter?:
Assessing the Constitutionality of the ACA’s Individual Mandate

On June 28, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), in National Federation of Individual Business v. Sebelius.[1] The decision followed a long legal battle and divergent federal appellate decisions, and has been paralleled by massive public debate over the enactment of the ACA. Several key issues played a part in the Supreme Court’s decision. SmithAmundsen’s Health Care Practice Group issued an alert regarding the decision shortly after it was issued. That alert is available here. This series of three alerts will take a closer look at each of the key issues involved in the Supreme Court’s decision.

Our first alert in this series addresses the “tax” vs. “penalty” issue: whether the Supreme Court could even hear the case under the Anti-Injunction Act, and whether the individual mandate is constitutional under the Congress’s taxing power.

Educational Opportunities

This decision will undoubtedly create concern and uncertainty for employers. With this in mind, members from our Labor & Employment Practice Group will offer the following educational events to help employers understand how this decision will impact their businesses.

“Health Care Reform – The Decision and Your Next Steps,” Illinois Chamber of Commerce Seminar, Monday, August 13, 2012, Chicago, IL.

“Health Care Reform Update Seminar,” Illinois Chamber of Commerce Seminar, Monday, August 27, 2012, Springfield, IL.

“Workplace and Ownership Issues, Procedures & Policies, Legal & More – An Interactive Workshop,” Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Conference, Tuesday, September 25, 2012, Tinley Park, IL.

[1] National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, 567 U.S., 2012.

Posted in advocacy, Federal legislation, healthcare reform, membership | No Comments »

Is Tax Uncertainty Affecting Your Family or Business?

Saturday, July 21st, 2012

Some are calling it the “Fiscal Cliff,” others refer to it as “Taxmageddon,” but whatever you call it, the expiration of the 2001 and 2003 tax rates coupled with sequestration cuts in 2013 could very well drive our fragile economy back into a recession.

Congress must act now to prevent the largest tax increase in American history from taking effect next year, as well as enact fundamental tax and spending reform that will drive American competitiveness and growth in the long term.

Visit Friends of the U.S. Chamber to discover the devastating consequences to our economy if Congress fails to adopt serious, comprehensive, long-term reform.

Posted in advocacy, AuroraChamber.com, catalyst, economic development, Federal legislation, legislative affairs, membership | No Comments »

JOBS Act would aid young companies by lightening regulations

Monday, March 12th, 2012

March 12, 2012
USA Today
Tim Mullaney

After winning rare bipartisan approval in the House of Representatives, a package of bills aimed at kick-starting the market for initial public offerings and other financing options for start-up companies may reach a Senate vote in a week.

The Jumpstart Our Business Start-ups bill, or JOBS Act, would help young companies by exempting smaller businesses from some regulations imposed after the tech stock bust of 2000, said Kate Mitchell, chairwoman of the IPO Task Force, a group organized by the National Venture Capital Association. Former venture-backed start-ups account for 12 million U.S. private-sector jobs, according to an NVCA-commissioned study.

The measure won a 390-23 vote in the House on Thursday and has White House backing.

Venture capital lobbyists plan to deliver a letter today with 700 signatures to Senate leaders urging a quick vote, NVCA spokeswoman Emily Mendell said.

“I see this as a confluence of smart regulatory reform and a jobs agenda,” said Mitchell, a partner at Scale Venture Partners in Silicon Valley.

She said the companies need access to IPOs and other capital to grow quickly and create jobs.

The association has argued that IPOs have fallen 80% since the 1990s. It largely blames the cost of complying with the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley securities law, which it says can cost a company $1.5 million a year, and restrictions on when investment banks can publish research reports on IPO clients after a public offering. Loosening those restrictions would increase information available to investors, the association says.

The bill would allow companies with less than $1 billion in annual sales, or that are selling less than $700 million of stock, to give investors two years of audited financial results before they go public instead of three, and have lighter regulation for up to five years after the IPO.

It would also let investment banks publish research about their clients’ IPOs deals before they happen, which is now barred under the so-called “quiet period” rules to avoid market manipulation.

Other provisions would raise from $5 million to $50 million the ceiling for shares that a private company can sell as part of a public offering before having to register with the SEC, raise the SEC registration threshold from 500 to 1,000 shareholders, and increase the number of shareholders permitted to invest in a community bank from 500 to 2,000.

The bill would help businesses about the size of Demandware, a maker of Web commerce software used by clients such as Panasonic and Callaway Golf, which is scheduled to go public this week; and Chuy’s Holdings, a Texas-based chain of 31 Mexican restaurants that is in pre-IPO registration.

Chuy’s CEO Steve Hislop said he hasn’t yet determined if the proposed rules will affect anything about his company’s deal.

The bill sparked some backlash from groups representing consumers and small investors, who said it would boost chances of immature companies going public, and also of fraud by investment bankers.

Kathleen Smith, head of an IPO-focused mutual find company and research firm, said Congress wants to be seen as supporting anything intended to create jobs.

“If it’s a job-creating headline, the politicians will all agree we need jobs,” said Smith, a principal at Renaissance Capital, which runs the IPO Plus Aftermarket mutual fund.

Banks that manage IPOs will be able to use inside access to past financial results to dominate research on new companies, with incentives to promote their firms’ banking clients, she said.

Instead of being narrowly tailored to help small business, the bill will loosen rules, some decades-old, for larger companies that did 98% of all recent IPOs, she said.

“But we’re better independent analysts when we have three years of financials, because we know more.”

Posted in advocacy, catalyst, economic development, Federal legislation, legislative affairs, membership, stimulus | No Comments »

Unclogging the Jobs Agenda

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

Shared via FriendsoftheUSChamber.com

As we begin 2012, the American economy is stalled in too many ways. Unemployment remains high, economic growth is sluggish and the big hand of federal government looms large.

Washington continues to stand in the way of job creation, economic growth and prosperity.

For their part, the U.S. House of Representatives has worked to provide relief from this stifling environment. The House has passed 24 different pieces of legislation that seek to expand free trade, aid in capitalizing business ventures, expand energy production and development, reduce the regulatory and tax burdens on business, and reign in out-of-control government agencies like the National Labor Relations Board and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Only two of these — repeal of the 1099 reporting mandate included in Obamacare and repeal of the 3% withholding tax mandate — have become law.

The remaining 22 bills have two things in common: Each of these measures would go a long way to getting the American economy growing again. And, all of them have stalled in the United States Senate.

You can go here to view our full chart highlighting these bills that have passed the House only to remain untouched by the Senate.

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Employment Law Posters Available: Deadline for posting January 31

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

The National Labor Relations Board has postponed the implementation date for its new notice-posting rule in order to allow for enhanced education and outreach to employers, particularly those who operate small and medium sized businesses. The new effective date is January 31, 2012. Do you have yours? If not, the Aurora Chamber can help. Contact Jeanine at (630) 256-3180 for details, pricing and more.

Posted in AuroraChamber.com, catalyst, cost-saving, Federal legislation, membership | No Comments »

Help Send 20,000 Letters in 20 Days

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to encourage and support passage of the Korea Free Trade Agreement. According to the U.S.-Korea agreement can create more than 280,000 American jobs.

We don’t have to go on about the need for creating more jobs with the current situation concerning America’s unemployment rate. Recent paltry reports have done that for us.

The good news is that there are a number of steps our policymakers in Washington can take right now to help American businesses get on track and start hiring again. One of those steps is swift passage of three pending free trade agreements: Korea, Panama and Colombia. It has been estimated that failure to pass these agreements could cost another 380,000 American jobs.

As U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue said earlier this week at the Chamber’s Jobs Summit, “We’ve waited for years to get these free trade agreements done. If we don’t do that, it’s criminal.”

This week, the Chamber launched a campaign to send 20,000 letters on the U.S. Korea free trade agreement in the next 20 days. With your help, we can send a message to Congree that they can’t ignore: action is needed now.

The U.S.-Korea trade deal has languished for four years, while our competitors have raced to pass their own agreements — leaving American companies and competitiveness behind.

A report published in 2009 showed that failure to implement the U.S.-Korea trade agreement would lead to a $35 million decline in exports of U.S. goods and services to the world.

Fewer exports mean lost jobs in America. Right now, that’s the last thing we need.

To view what trade means to Illinois jobs, visit here. For its impact on Illinois’ Congressional District 14, click here.

E-mail your members of Congress now and join the campaign to send 20,000 letters in the next 20 days before August recess. Click here to take action. In less than five minutes, you can send your support to Washington.

America needs more jobs. This free trade agreement is one major step toward creating them.

Posted in advocacy, economic development, Federal legislation, legislative affairs, membership, stimulus | No Comments »

Tax Day Has Come in More Ways than One

Friday, April 15th, 2011

Taxes in Illinois are going up, forcing families to work longer in 2011 before Tax Freedom Day – the day we cover our mounting debts to the government and begin earning for our families.

This year, Illinois Tax Freedom Day came four days later than last year – falling ironically on April 15. Tax Freedom Day came eight days earlier for people in Michigan (April 7), 10 days earlier in Indiana (April 5) and 11 days earlier in Missouri (April 4). The late fall of Tax Freedom Day in Illinois weakens our future family incomes against our Midwestern competitors.

According to the non-profit, non-partisan Tax Foundation, most U.S. taxpayers will reach Tax Freedom Day on April 12. Illinois taxpayers will need to work three more days compared to other Americans before their Tax Freedom Day. This year’s tax freedom event also is four days later than last year when Illinois Tax Freedom Day came on April 11, 2010. Illinois citizens must now work longer for the government before providing for their families due to the recent 66% increase in the individual state income-tax rate.

Tax Day Basics: Taxes Cost More than Food, Clothing, Shelter Combined

The Foundation calculates Tax Freedom Day annually by measuring the number of days Americans need to work to pay for all their federal, state and local taxes. While most U.S. residents will need to work 102 days to pay all their taxes, Illinois residents have to work 105 days, giving Illinois the ninth latest Tax Freedom Day in the nation. Mississippi had the nation’s earliest “Tax Freedom Day” on March 26 and Connecticut will have the latest on May 2.

Despite federal tax reductions, the Foundation said Americans will pay more in taxes in 2011 than they will spend on groceries, clothing and shelter combined. Overall, the Foundation said that taxes amount to 27.68 percent of all U.S. income, which is the same percentage of the year that the 102 days from Jan. 1 to April 12 represents, the report said.

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