Government Watch: April 2012 (PDF, 143 KB)

Volume 9, Issue 2
April 2012
GREATER EFFINGHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

Brought to You by the Chamber's Legislative Committee

8th Annual Legislative Reception Set

Monday, April 23 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn

The Annual Legislative Reception with state legislators who represent Effingham County is designed as an opportunity for local constituents to meet one-on-one with the legislators.

Invited to attend:

• Representative David Reis
• Representative Brad Halbrook
• Representative John Cavaletto
• Senator John O. Jones
• Senator Dale Righter
• Senator Kyle McCarter
• U. S. Congressman John Shimkus

Each elected official will speak during a brief program at 6 p.m., followed by questions from the audience.

Special thanks to our event sponsors: Midland States Bank, Altamont Chamber of Commerce, Crossroads Bank, EJ Water Corporation, Effingham County Farm Bureau, Fifth Third Bank, First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, First National Bank of Dieterich, First State Bank of Beecher City, Keller Convention Center, Land of Lincoln Credit Union, National Bank at Effingham, Prairie National Bank, Washington Savings Bank and YBNext.

The event is free and open to the public.

Fall Election Ballot Set

The November 6 election in Effingham County will determine several new county board members, three new county office holders and with redistricting, Effingham County will lose a state representative and state senator:

County Board

• County Board: District A – Lloyd Foster (R), Leonard Waldhoff (D)
• District B – Jim Hammer (D), Jim Niemann (R-I)
• District C – Karen Luchtefeld (D-I)
• District D – Gene Jackson (D), David Campbell (R-I)
• District E – Mike Depoister (R)
• District F – Jeff Simpson (R-I)
• District G – Ed Hoopingarner (R), Doug McCain (D)
• District H – Rob Arnold (R-I)
• District I – Joseph Thoele (R), Rebecca Gobczynski (D)

Effingham County Elected Officials:

• States Attorney – Deb Reimers (D)/Brian Kibler (R)
• Circuit Clerk – Pam Mathy (D)
• Coroner – Duane Guffey (R), Tanya Overbeck (D)

State Legislative Candidates:

• 54th Senate – Danny Stover (D) vs. Kyle McCarter (R-I)
• 55th Senate – Dale Righter (R) unopposed
• 107th Representative – John Cavaletto (R) unopposed
• 109th Representative – David Reis (R) unopposed

US Congress

• 15th District – Angela Michael (D) vs. John Shimkus (R-I)

Chamber Joins Health Care Group

The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce has joined with a number of business organizations throughout Illinois to develop a health insurance cooperative that would enable small and midsize business owners and their employees to access more affordable health insurance.

The Department of Insurance recently reassessed their position on self-insured cooperatives and determined that they are legal under current Illinois law. This paves the way for our coalition of over 11,000 businesses to begin forming a health insurance cooperative to stabilize health insurance premiums and bring transparency to the process.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation has been formed, bylaws are being drafted and the structure of the coop is being developed.

We will keep you informed of progress being made to establish this health insurance cooperative.

Russell Named to County Board

Wayne Russell has been appointed to fill the vacancy on the Effingham County Board created by the resignation of Jim Reeves. Russell will represent District A until the November election. Email charlesrussell@consolidated.net.

Update on Local Mail Processing Center Services

Local business owners and managers can still make a difference in plans to relocate mail processing services from Effingham to Champaign by contacting their federal legislators and relating how this move will place a hardship on their ability to do business. Based on a Postal Service decision made earlier this year, Effingham's mail processing center will be shut down and those services will be moved to Champaign as of June 30. In addition service standards will change to two-day delivery, if approved by Congress.

Effingham Postmaster Dennis Whitten encourages businesses to urge Congress to keep service standards at the current one-day delivery and keep the mail processing center in Effingham.

Here is contact information: Congressman John Shimkus: 202-225-5271; Senator Dick Durbin: 202-224-2152; Senator Mark Kirk: 202-224-2854. Email and mailing information can be found in the Legislative Action Guide section of the Chamber's website at http://www.effinghamchamber.org.

Chamber Board Affirms Policy on Political Candidates

With the fall election cycle in full swing, the Chamber Board of Directors has re-affirmed our policy on candidates for public office. We are providing this policy for review by our members.

CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS: The Chamber does not make endorsement of candidates in public elections. The Chamber will sponsor a variety of election activities for our members and local residents to learn more about the candidates and issues that affect them. (11/22/04)

CANDIDATES FORUMS: The Chamber will conduct candidates' forums prior to spring primary elections and fall general elections, as the need arises. Candidates to be included in the forums will be determined by the designated committee of the Chamber, with approval by the Board of Directors.

INSERTS IN CHAMBER MAILINGS: Unless requested by the Board of Directors, inserts of a political nature will not be included in Chamber mailings, as it gives the appearance of Chamber endorsement and approval of material submitted.

USE OF CHAMBER BULK MAILING PERMIT: While use of the Chamber's bulk mailing permit is a Chamber member benefit, use of the permit for mailings of a political nature will not be allowed as it gives the appearance of Chamber endorsement and approval of materials included in the mailing. (Adopted 3/2012)

LEGISLATIVE MAILINGS: From time to time, the Chamber may request non-partisan reports from elected federal, state and local officials who represent the Effingham County area, informing members of issues and legislation that impacts Chamber members' businesses.

MEMBERSHIP LIST: All Chamber members may obtain copies of the Chamber membership list according to current policy, as this is a membership benefit. Membership lists will be sold to non-members at the current publication price. The membership list may be purchased on mailing labels for additional fees.

SPEAKERS: Partisan political speakers may be allowed to speak at Chamber-sponsored functions, only at the invitation of the Chamber Board of Directors.

Questions regarding this policy may be directed to Chamber President Norma Lansing at 217.342.4147.

Wisconsin Governor to Speak at State Employer Action Day

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker will be the keynote speaker at the Employer Action Day, the state chambers of commerce annual lobby day event in Springfield. The lobby day is set for Tuesday, April 17 at President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, with registration starting at 8:30 a.m. In addition to Walker's comments, the day will include a panel discussion on pension and spending reform, statehouse lobbying and a review of the 2012 state and national elections by David Wasserman of The Cook Political Report.

Governor Walker will recount Wisconsin's dramatic fiscal turnaround and serve as an important reminder to state policy makers that big problems require big solutions. Wisconsin's reforms have included elimination of a $3.6 billion budget deficit without raising taxes, reduction of school property taxes, pay back of millions in unpaid bills, no massive layoffs of public employees, avoided slashing Medicaid funding and invested $1.2 billion of state funds to help those in need and enacting job creating legal justice reforms.

Cost for the event is $59 per person. For more information or to register, contact the Effingham County Chamber office at 217.342.4147.

New Labor Poster Requirement Takes Effect April 30

Private employers subject to the National Labor Relations Act will be required to post written notice to its employees about their rights to organize and form labor unions as of April 30. A copy of the new NLRB 11" x 17" poster can be obtained by contacting the Chamber office at 217.342.4147.

Source: Illinois Chamber

IRS Withdraws Requirements on Credit Card Reporting

On February 10, the IRS announced that it will not require reconciliation of gross receipts and merchant card transactions on Forms 1120, the U.S. Corporate Income Tax Return, and other business income tax forms. The Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 requires credit card companies to report merchants' annual gross credit, debit and third-party network payment card transactions to the IRS. Go to http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=253979,00.html for the updated IRS guidance.

Source: Small Business Advocate (SBA)

Do Not Call List

Customers can register at http://www.donotcall.gov to be placed on multiple do not call lists maintained by the federal government and others managed by states. Companies with which you already have a business relationship are still allowed to contact customers.

Source: Better Business Bureau