GOVERNOR QUINN: STATE NEEDS MORE REVENUE
While stopping short of renewing his call for a 50% income tax increase in his first, and perhaps only, State of the State Address, Governor Pat Quinn did say the state needs more revenue, as opposed to serious cuts, to alleviate its multi-billion dollar deficit. That was the gist of his eighty minute speech, which was rambling and short on details. Much of the speech seemed like a campaign press conference, with half-hearted attempts at spin-control for a $10 billion plus budget hole, failing economy, a secret and disastrous prisoner release program, and a subtle attack at his Democratic rival. No specifics were offered in terms of budget cuts, reforms, tax and fee increases, or any real plans for jobs and economic development. Touting the state’s capital construction program, investing in education, energy independence, promoting the state’s transportation infrastructure, and our agricultural resources were all paid lip service without offering any real data on plans for growing the state’s economy.
Quinn’s next speech will be his Budget Address after the February 2 Primary Election. While the outcome of this election will mostly likely determine the content of that speech, let’s hope it has more details.
As always, CICI will keep you informed of when this address will occur and abreast of any efforts to raise more revenue on the backs of the business community. |
INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
Dept. of Ag - Pesticide Fee Increases
This measure, HB 4866 (Reitz, D-Sparta), increases the annual pesticide product registration fee from $200 to $300 and increases or establishes other fees such as the annual experimental use permit fee, the special local need pesticide registration fee, the renewal fee for pesticide registrations, and the private pesticide applicator license fee. The bill also authorizes the Department of Agriculture to collect a public or commercial not-for-hire pesticide applicator license fee, a public or commercial not-for-hire pesticide operator license fee, and associated late fees. The measure also requires certain agrichemical facilities to apply for an agrichemical facility containment permit and to pay a permit fee. It also requires a permit fee to be submitted with each permit application and each permit renewal application for those under the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act.
Green Energy Financing
This proposal, SB 2505 (Frerichs, D-Champaign), provides that municipalities and counties may establish green energy special service areas and, if so, shall include only property for which each owner of record has executed a contract or agreement with the county or municipality consenting to the inclusion of the property within the green energy special service area. The bill provides that the owner of record of each parcel of property within a green energy special service area may arrange, through an agreement with the municipality or county, for specific energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy improvements and may obtain financing for such improvements through the process set forth in the ordinance establishing the special service area, generally property taxes. Further, counties and municipalities may levy property taxes in connection with green energy special service areas and may issue bonds in connection with those special service area projects and may sell, assign, or pledge those bonds to the Illinois Finance Authority.
Metro-East Area Floodplains
This bill, SB 2556 (Haine, D-Alton), concerns the problems associated with FEMA’s re-drawing of the floodplain maps in the Metro-East area of St. Louis. CICI is hearing reports that FEMA may be delaying this project for an unspecified amount of time but will have more details to follow.
The legislation defines a "100-year floodplain" as the lowland and relatively flat areas adjoining inland and coastal waters, including flood-prone areas of offshore islands, that are inundated by a flood that has a 1% or greater chance of recurring in any given year or a flood of a magnitude equaled or exceeded once in 100 years on the average over a significantly long period. The bill also provides that areas that lie within an area protected by a levee or levees located in a flood prevention district established by the Flood Prevention District Act are deemed by operation of law not to be within the 100-year floodplain for the purposes of these Acts.
Motor Fuel Standards
This piece of legislation, SB 2573 (Frerichs, D-Champaign), among many other provisions, amends the Motor Fuel and Petroleum Standards Act, creating an octane requirement for midgrade gasoline and increases the octane requirement for premium and super grade gasoline. The bill also deletes provisions that establish labeling requirements for biodiesel blends and increases monetary penalties for violations.
Antifreeze Bittering Agents
This measure, HB 4722 (Feigenholtz, D-Chicago), creates the Antifreeze Bittering Act to provide that any engine coolant or antifreeze that is manufactured after January 1, 2011, and subsequently sold within the state, and that contains more than 10% ethylene glycol, shall include denatonium benzoate at a minimum of 30 parts per million and a maximum of 50 parts per million as a bittering agent within the product so as to render it unpalatable. The bill also requires a manufacturer of a product subject to this Act to maintain a record of the trade name, scientific name, and active ingredients of any bittering agent used and to make such information available to the public upon request. This proposal further provides that subject to certain exceptions, a manufacturer, processor, distributor, recycler, or seller of an engine coolant or antifreeze that is required to contain an aversive agent shall not be liable to any person for any personal injury, death, property damage, damage to the environment (including natural resources), or economic loss that results from the inclusion of denatonium benzoate in any engine coolant or antifreeze, provided that the inclusion of denatonium benzoate is present in concentrations mandated under the Act.
This is an agreed bill between the U.S. Humane Society and CICI member, the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA).
Please note that the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois Legislator is not intended to convey legal advice or set forth all legal requirements applicable to particular circumstances.
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