Chamber@Work Newsletter January 23, 2013

Chamber@Work Newsletter

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2013

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Scott Swanson to Continue as Chamber Chairman in New Role

Please join me in congratulating Scott Swanson, Chairman of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as he recently accepted a new position as Regional President of Illinois for PNC Bank.

As our Chairman, and Vice-Chairman before that, Scott has been instrumental in driving our mission to make Chicagoland the most business-friendly region in America. Although he will be changing companies, Scott will continue to lead as Chairman of the Board for the Chicagoland Chamber.

Scott, a long-time Chicago resident, succeeds Joe Gregoire at PNC Bank, who became State Chairman for Illinois banking in July of 2012. Gregoire will continue in his role to help PNC grow across the state and also partner with Swanson to develop and deepen customer relationships throughout Chicagoland, one of the company’s key growth markets.

ACTIONABLE INFORMATION

Repeal of Sales Tax Increase Will Level Playing Field for Cook County Businesses

On January 9, Chicagoland Chamber President and CEO Jerry Roper published a Letter to the Editor, which was featured on Chicago Tribune's website:

With the start of the new year, businesses, consumers and community leaders throughout Cook County are toasting the total repeal of the 1 percent sales tax increase adopted by the County Board in 2008. Beginning Jan. 1, the remaining 0.25 percent of the sales tax increase has been eliminated, and the rate in Chicago will revert back to 9.25 percent, saving consumers $87 million this year. The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce commends Board President Toni Preckwinkle for fulfilling a campaign promise to roll back the tax increase, providing taxpayers a New Year's Day gift by accelerating the scheduled repeal.

Chamber Negotiates Changes to Wage Theft License Revocation Ordinance

The Chicagoland Chamber and other business groups worked in coalition to pass amendments to an anti-wage theft and debt collection ordinance introduced by Mayor Emanuel and Alderman Pawar and others. The measure gives the Commissioner of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection the ability to revoke or deny a license for businesses found guilty of violating federal or state wage laws or debt collection regulations.

The Chamber worked with Alderman Tunney and Alderman Mary O'Connor on amendments to ensure that only the most egregious offenders are subject to license revocation or denial and that businesses are guaranteed due process before such extreme measures are taken. The amendments ensure that businesses found guilty of innocent errors or minor wage standard or debt collection violations are not subject to license revocation or denial. The ordinance is effective beginning June 1, 2013.

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