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February 29, 2008
Volume 22 - Issue 5
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TAX SWAP PLAN PASSES SENATE COMMITTEE
The Senate Education Committee this week passed an income tax increase contained in SB 2288 (Meeks, D-Chicago) by a vote of 6 “YES”, 3 “NO” and 1 “PRESENT”. The bill now moves to the floor for further consideration. The legislation would increase the income tax rates for individuals, trusts, and estates from 3% to 5% and for corporations from 4.8% to 8%. The measure would also create an income tax credit for families with incomes below certain levels. This increase in revenue would fund property tax abatements, with the remainder going to schools.
At this point in session, it’s too early to tell this bill’s future. Last year, Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), allying himself with Governor Blagojevich, steadfastly refused to let an income tax increase to even be heard in committee, instead backing the governor’s Gross Receipts Tax (GRT). Governor Blagojevich has also made a “no income or sales tax increase on individuals” a cornerstone of his campaign and administration. So far, he has held onto that position with veto threats, the only possible exception being the regional sales tax increase to fund Chicago area mass transits systems.
CICI will keep you abreast of any developments that may occur on this bill. |
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COOK COUNTY BUDGET BATTLES CONTINUE
Today is the last day for the Cook County Board to approve a budget for their new fiscal year and so the battle over spending cuts and various tax increases continues. For several months now, the commissioners have been haggling over how to close a $226 million budget deficit. The board has been unable to reach a compromise on proposals to slash jobs, hike taxes or overhaul the county health system to balance the budget. To date, no proposal has passed to enact or increase any energy tax such as on electricity or natural gas and CICI is hopeful none will be approved by midnight tonight. Further, a proposal yesterday to increase the county’s vehicle tax didn’t even receive a motion and the debate was over in less than a minute.
According to press reports this morning, if the county doesn’t have a budget plan in place, the county will shut down and only essential services such as the sheriff's office, the jail and the public health department will continue to operate. |
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS–LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY DAY MAY 6
Mark your calendars and reserve your rooms. CICI will be holding its Annual Legislative/Regulatory Day in Springfield, Tuesday, May 6, 2008, at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel (formerly Renaissance Hotel), with an evening reception of legislators and key government officials at the Sangamo Club.
Illinois State Treasurer Alexis Giannoulias has been invited to be the keynote speaker at the Luncheon. Treasurer Giannoulias will speak about the current budget problems facing the State of Illinois.
This event is a great opportunity to mingle and get to know the key people in state government, like members of the Illinois General Assembly, Constitutional Officers, IEPA officials, the members of the Pollution Control Board, and other key government officials. At the 2007 reception, over 175 legislators and government officials attended. Come thank those elected officials who are friends of the chemical industry.
The President Abraham Lincoln Hotel has a discounted block of rooms reserved for CICI. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel at 1-866-788-1860. CICI’s block of rooms will be available until Monday, April 14, 2008, so please make your reservations accordingly. |
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COMMITTEE ACTION THIS WEEK
Green Cleaning Policy for State Buildings
This legislation, HB 4812 (May, D-Highland Park), requires every state-owned building to establish a green cleaning policy whereby the building purchases and uses only environmentally-sensitive cleaning products. This is similar to a law enacted last year concerning green cleaning for the state’s elementary and secondary schools. Cleaning product industry representatives, namely CICI, the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) and the Soaps and Detergents Association (SDA) will be advising the state in formulating this new cleaning policy. The bill passed the House Environmental Health Committee this week without a dissenting vote and advances to the House Floor for further consideration.
An amendment has also been added requiring that rulemaking will go before the entire General Assembly and not just the Joint Committee on Administrative Rule (JCAR). This amendatory language is being added to most House bills because of the way in which the Blagojevich administration is currently dealing with JCAR, particularly with non-appropriated spending authority for the governor’s healthcare initiatives. It’s the administration’s belief that JCAR has merely an advisory role in approving rules. A lawsuit has ensued and could ultimately lead to more gridlock this year between the House and the Senate, which is allied with the administration.
Lake Michigan Notification Water Pollution Permits
This bill, HB 5256 (Bellock, R-Westmont), requires the Director of the IEPA to seek negotiations with each state that borders Lake Michigan to establish a notification policy under which the states will notify one another when permitting new sources of water pollution or increased levels of pollution into Lake Michigan.
The bill passed the House Environment & Energy Committee this week without a dissenting vote and advances to the House Floor for further consideration.
IEPA “Clean-Up” Bill
This proposal, HB 4710 (Holbrook, D-Belleville) amends several different acts under the IEPA. First, it deletes a provision requiring the Department of Public Health to (1) require local educational agencies to submit to the Department certain asbestos related response action contracts for which the IEPA seeks indemnification and (2) collect from the agency a certain percentage of each response action contract for deposit into the Response Contractors Indemnification Fund. Then, within 30 days after the effective date, the State Comptroller and Treasurer shall transfer all moneys in the Response Action Contractor Indemnification Fund to the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund and then repeals the Act on the 31st day after the effective date. Secondly, the bill amends the Alternate Fuels Act in a section concerning the rebate program, authorizing the IEPA to establish rebate priorities and provides that the rebate applications must be submitted within 12 months after the vehicle conversion occurred (now, must be submitted within the same calendar year). Finally, the bill repeals the Hazardous Waste Crane and Hoisting Equipment Operators Licensing Act and the Hazardous Waste Laborers Licensing Act.
The bill passed the House Environment & Energy Committee this week without a dissenting vote and advances to the House Floor for further consideration. |
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STATE AGRICULTURE DIRECTOR RETIRES
Governor Blagojevich this week named Illinois Department of Agriculture (DOA) Assistant Director Tom Jennings as Acting Director upon the resignation of Charles “Chuck” Hartke, Director since 2003. Effective Monday, Jennings will take over the Director’s responsibilities for DOA.
Before becoming the Agriculture Director, Hartke served in the Illinois House of Representatives and held a seat on the House Agriculture Committee, from 1985 until 2003. Jennings joined the department in 1978 as a grain warehouse examiner. He has an agricultural economics degree from the University of Illinois. Jennings has also held other positions at DOA, including chief of staff, manager of the department’s division of agriculture industry regulation, chief of the bureau of warehouses, and acting director for a time in 2003 before Hartke became director.
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 |
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