BLAGOJEVICH MAY RETOOL HEALTH CARE PROPOSAL

As you know, Governor Blagojevich has been touting the creation of a state-sponsored healthcare program, funded by a 3% payroll tax and proceeds from the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT).  Now that the GRT is dead and the 3% payroll tax looks to be headed in the same direction, the administration seems to be switching gears in an effort to “save face” and get something through the legislature.  Various news reports around the state have been reporting that the proposed healthcare program may be scaled back and with new funding coming from a variety of sources, including expanded gambling, increased taxes on cigarettes, and closing more “corporate loopholes”.  Eliminating or scaling back vital economic incentives, which Governor Blagojevich portrays as “loopholes”, could be crushing to the state’s business community and will be met with stiff opposition, regardless of what it funds.  CICI will keep you informed of any developments that may arise concerning any efforts to eliminate these crucial incentives.     

Also, in an attempt to resurrect his failing healthcare proposal, the governor announced late last week that, through administrative rules, he will be ordering insurers not to raise their rates on individuals who become ill.  Health insurers would be permitted to consider only demographic and inflation factors — not health history — in renewing individual health policies that cover about 1 million people.   The rule would not apply to group insurance policies, which cover the majority of Illinoisans.  The governor said he is issuing rules mandating that health insurers disclose each quarter the amount of money spent on claims and collected in premiums. As of today, no formal rulemaking proposal has been released to the public.

UTILITY RATE RELIEF DEAL MAY BE CLOSE

As it’s been said in this space many times this year, the General Assembly will not leave Springfield until a compromise is reached on utility rate relief.  A deal on residential rate relief may soon be reached as legislative leaders and parties on both sides claim that the negotiations have been fruitful, expecting to culminate in a refund of about a billion dollars over the next three years and void of any electricity rate freeze and/or generating tax that was floated as a solution a couple of months ago.    CICI will be carefully reviewing any final deal to ensure that there is no negative impact on industrial users of electricity.         

HOUSE ENDORSES EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT

Over objections from CICI and the business community, the Illinois House adopted a resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 22 (Sandoval, D-Cicero/Chappa LaVia, D-Aurora) last week encouraging Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. This is federal legislation that requires union recognition if 50% of a companies’ employees signed a union authorization card.  If this federal measure becomes law, it would eliminate the current requirement that the National Labor Relations Board conduct a private ballot election if 30% of employees sign an authorization card.  This federal legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier in the year but failed to receive enough votes in the Senate.  CICI opposed this resolution.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING & GOLF OUTING AUGUST 23

CICI’s Annual General Membership Meeting and Golf Outing will be held Thursday, August 23 at the Klein Creek Golf Club in Winfield at 1N333 Pleasant Hill Rd.  State Representative Mike Fortner (R-Countryside) will be this year’s luncheon speaker and will be discussing the recent legislative session.  The day’s events begin at 9:30 a.m. with the General Membership/Open Board of Directors meeting with lunch served at 11:45 a.m. followed by a shotgun start, scramble format at 1:30 p.m. The meeting registration is available at: http://www.cicil.net/Flyers/General_Membership_Golf_2007.html

If your company has any promotional items or gifts to donate for the golf outing, your support would be greatly appreciated. Please send items to the Des Plaines office at 2250 E. Devon Ave, Des Plaines, 60018.

CICI is again making available hole sponsorships at $500 per hole to benefit CHEMPAC, the only political action committee solely representing the chemical industry. Sponsorship includes a sign with your company name prominently displayed at the tee box.  For more information on hole sponsorship, please contact Brad Babcook at 217/522-5805 or bbabcook@cicil.net.

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.

Headquarters: 2250 E. DEVON AVE., SUITE 239, DES PLAINES, IL 60018 • TEL :( 847) 544-5995 • FAX :( 847) 544-5999
Springfield: 400 W. MONROE, SUITE 205, SPRINGFIELD, IL 62704 • TEL :( 217) 522-5805 • FAX :( 217) 522-5815