60 Comments - AC - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:58 am: What changes? Union busting? At least take ownership of the polices being advocated instead of hiding behind “status quo” and “reforms” and “turnaround agenda”. If it’s worth the pain, it’s worth being specific. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:59 am: Once the college kids from UIUC, ISU, et al are sent home, I’m sure all those executives that have kids in state universities will be pleased they encouraged an impasse. - Bill White - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:00 pm: Eh, Illinois needs a budgetary standoff until the feds re-write the federal tax code? = = = [Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Todd Maisch] said he believes the tax code can be changed to allow for growth, such as allowing small businesses to immediately expense their capital expenditure. “If you’re a bakery company and you need to buy a new delivery truck, the tax code says you don’t get to write off the entire expense of that new truck in the first year — which would lower your taxes,” Maisch explained. “You can only write off a certain percentage over about five to seven years. It would be a huge difference if you could go ahead and make that investment … and have the entire expense of the truck come off in the very first year.” = = = Okay, if only MJM stopped blocking needed reforms to the IRS Code. - Politix - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:01 pm: Successful business people support Rauner? Stop the presses! - hisgirlfriday - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:02 pm: well if rauner is keeping the edge tax spigot flowing for big corps, what does the chamber care about how this impasse messes with the lives of mom and pops in this state. - GraduatedCollegeStudent - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:02 pm: I wonder if they’ll still want to stay the course when their business burns down because nobody could take the 911 call. - Anon221 - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:05 pm: I wonder, just wondering now, how local Chamber memberships might change in the coming months. Another exodus in the making of members? I can’t believe all the members will continue this lockstep toward the cliff. - ihpsdm - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:08 pm: Step 1: Bust Unions Step 2: ? Step 3: Illinois Becomes Prosperous - Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:08 pm: When I think of the status quo in Springfield, people like Todd Maisch immediately come to mind. - @MisterJayEm - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:08 pm: “They say ‘if we don’t make real changes now, we may never make them and my business and my children may not be in Illinois to see the aftermath’.” Remember back when the Chamber at least pretended to believe that their policy proposals were for the benefit of interests beyond their own businesses and families? But now that one of their own is governor, there’s need for that façade. The state? Its citizens? Their children? Who cares? Me, me, me. My, my, my. – MrJM - Give Me A Break - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:09 pm: Well when the homeless guy is camping out in front their stores and offices or the mentally ill person is trying to chat with their customers in the parking lot, and the local stores and places to eat are losing revenue due to layoffs in the public and non-profit sectors, I hope they remind themselves the Governor has their full support. - Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:09 pm: So Maisch has seen the business plan? - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:10 pm: ==The status quo is completely unacceptable == if we don’t make real changes now, we may never make them== He’s not wrong. - Chicago Cynic - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:11 pm: Repeat after me, “the governor refuses to discuss the budget and is therefore responsible for the current crisis.” - nadia - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:12 pm: Surprising news from the CoC. - The Dude Abides - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:14 pm: And of course a lot of working people will have less money to spend at their businesses once you kill collective bargaining and prevailing wage. There’s no shared pain being advocated by the Governor or the Chamber of Commerce, that’s for sure. - Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:14 pm: ===They say ‘if we don’t make real changes now, we may never make them=== And why is that? A governor blew up all the goodwill he had coming in. If he would have, you know, governed, he would be in a great position to change laws and policies in the coming years. But now that is not possible. - Anon III - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:17 pm: Why is responsibility for the budget impasse an either/or proposition, either the executive or legislative? Why is responsibility not really on both? Not simply as a matter of rhetoric, but in substance. Let’s get real. Illinois is insolvent. The business-as-usual mentality that prevailed in the last administration was folly. Both the Legislative and Executive need to face up to a new paradigm. - Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:17 pm: It’s the age-old story. In most cases, businesses want the cheapest labor and least employee benefits they can get away with. Cheaper labor increases profits. Workers, on the other hand, want to get appropriate pay, health insurance, and a pension. Their work makes a business succeed and they want to be compensated for it. In the past, that often required unionizing to get what they wanted. Are all economically successful states anti-union? Do their workers struggle by on minimum wage so businesses can prosper? If so, where do workers get money to buy goods and services from those businesses? Does it HAVE to be a them vs. us mentality? Laying all Illinois’ economic problems at the feet of unions reflects tunnel vision, in my opinion. - illini - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:19 pm: What a surprise - totally unexpected - what business organization will be next? - ihpsdm - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:21 pm: “Why is responsibility for the budget impasse an either/or proposition, either the executive or legislative? Why is responsibility not really on both? Not simply as a matter of rhetoric, but in substance.” The Governor isn’t even discussing the budget. - Daniel Plainview - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:23 pm: Are there any professionals in the chamber? Make your case, back it up with numbers, and sell it to the public. For crying out loud, take pride in your work, quit acting like meaningless talking points constitute effort. - Skeptic - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:24 pm: ==The status quo is completely unacceptable == if we don’t make real changes now, we may never make them== He’s not wrong. Perhaps. But that doesn’t mean Rauner’s solution is the right one. - Tournaround Agenda - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:24 pm: @Anon III: Okay, Illinois is insolvent. How does destroying unions before addressing an ever-expanding budget hole help us out of insolvency? - Honeybear - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:25 pm: Give me a break, I was in Springfield last night and the homeless situation has gotten REALLY REALLY bad. Right around the old state capital seems to have become a defacto shelter. I work in East St. Louis and don’t see as many homeless people in a quarter as I did last night. That being said, I know they are hear because we serve them every day. I think the reason that most in East St. Louis are off the streets (and thus sheltered) is because the Urban League of St. Louis Mo has ESL IL in it’s territory. Just a theory but I think that has to be part of it. - Union Man - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:25 pm: It was the business class, the wealthy that approached FDR, but the problem of the unemployed and poor. These Chamber folks act as if the only thing important in illinois is their precious profit growth. - Union Man - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:27 pm: —about the problem of the poor— - Norseman - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:28 pm: Michelle, you’re spot on. - anon - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:32 pm: OW, just saw an Instagram of Johnny and Mary in Kam’s at UIUC, having their final drink together, before Mom and Dad arrive with the van. They seemed to have a tear or two in their eyes. - 47th Ward - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:34 pm: ===They say ‘if we don’t make real changes now, we may never make them=== Define “real changes” and please be specific. What must be done, exactly, before the Governor will discuss the budget? Does anyone know? Anybody? - Anon III - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:37 pm: @ T.A. === How does destroying unions before addressing an ever-expanding budget hole help us out of insolvency? === So you are in favor of business-as-usual, so long as it is your business which proceeds as usual. - Angry Chicagoan - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:38 pm: We have the most regressive, anti-poor tax system in the country after Washington state, and still it isn’t enough for the Chamber. Meanwhile there isn’t enough in the state coffers to maintain a pension system according to promises made by past Republican governors. And labor unions have made clear they will sue to uphold every last mistaken letter of the state constitution. This is a recipe for meltdown. Things are going to get much, much worse. We are entering the territory of failed states, a category normally applied to entire countries, but applicable here to US states because they are seen by the courts as sovereign entities which cannot declare bankruptcy. Any sane person will rue either the day Pat Quinn lost re-election or the day Kirk Dillard lost the GOP primary. The rest get to persist in their fantasy, fiddling while Rome burns. - Tournaround Agenda - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:41 pm: @Anon III: I didn’t advocate for anything. I simply asked you a question, which you did not answer. - Emily Miller - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:41 pm: Yes! Finally, the chamber is standing up for the children! Oh, wait…I see now. Just SOME children. - VanillaMan - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:42 pm: The status quo is completely unacceptable Less acceptable that what we have NOW? The “status quo” changed when this guy was elected and decided to shut down the state if he didn’t get his way. Would the Chamber consider Jim Edgar the “status quo”? What about Thompson? At what point does the Chamber of Status Quo Commerce decide it doesn’t like the world it helped create? Todd - that is a completely bogus statement. We haven’t had the status quo in place since January. Since then all hells broken loose. Happy now? - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:46 pm: ===OW, just saw an Instagram of Johnny and Mary in Kam’s at UIUC, having their final drink together, before Mom and Dad arrive with the van. They seemed to have a tear or two in their eyes.=== I’m also sure Urbana, Champaign, Bloomington-Normal, Cabondale, Macomb, Charleston, DeKalb, even Springfield and Chicago will love the state universities closed, those “Main Street”s and neighborhood business are with the Chamber too… Those apartment owners in those towns… … even the beloved Kams would not be too pleased. But, as - Michelle Flaherty - points out, Mr. Maich points out, the status quo needs to change, said by… well, - Michelle Flaherty - covered that… I was in Urbana last weekend for a spell. The town will look like a “continual” spring break on campus; students gone, but this time, the return date will be “TBD” - A guy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:49 pm: ===Give me a break, I was in Springfield last night and the homeless situation has gotten REALLY REALLY bad.=== All those former state reps and senators are everywhere. /s Don’t mean to shrug off the seriousness of the homeless. It’s a scar in Chicago as well. We need cooperation from everyone to solve this. It’s hard to post much anymore. We’re in a vicious circle and every day it’s just the same comments. - A Jack - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:49 pm: Well Anon III, the turn around agenda does nothing to solve the current deficit. Will businesses flock to Illinois overnight if any of his agenda is passed? No. However, what is going to happen is the deficit will increase your taxes. Sooner or later that monkey will be sitting on your shoulders. And if it’s a big retroactive tax increase, you can thank the Governor for that big chunk coming out of your check. - Honeybear - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:59 pm: A guy- I caught the snark mark this time…good one. But back to seriousness, it got cold last night and I was pretty concerned. I know Chicago is bad. I used to live in Hyde Park. I think all Illinoisans of good will need to start getting money and supplies to strong organizations like Urban League, Catholic Charities and the like. We need to do it now. We’re going to get a good preview of the future. What is happening now, I’m afraid will be normative in the future. - Frenchie Mendoza - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:59 pm: I don’t know what’s more status quo than a crusty ‘Chamber of Commerce’. - Waffle Fries - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 1:13 pm: Apparently hospitals, social service providers, and health care NFPs aren’t members of local Chambers…. - AC - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 1:16 pm: I’m still struggling with the bland, generic descriptions like “staus quo” which have no meaning. Are the folks who support busting unions and ending prevailing wage so ashamed of their cause that they dare not utter their actual goals? It’s more difficult to type some of the nicknames on here than to say you want to “end collective bargaining and prevailing wage”. That is assuming that’s the goal, it’s hard to tell. - ZC - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 1:18 pm: The Chamber of Commerce apparently thinks that democracy is completely unacceptable? The Democrats overwhelmingly won both state legislative chambers, in a very pro-Republican year nationwide. Rauner meanwhile barely won while studiously avoiding campaigning on many of the subjects (his sudden rightward shift on unions) he now claims a mandate for. As far as I’m concerned, we’re all union members now. And Rauner and apparently the IL CoC want to bust us, by ratcheting up the pain and pressure until we cry “Uncle” to them and submit. No. - the Patriot - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 1:32 pm: I am a pro Chamber person, but this give me what I want or I won’t play crap is a loser. Tell the people what, exactly, you propose and how, exactly, it is going to improve their lives. Most people agree they need balance and we have gone far too left, but people also hate the unknown. Make it known and propose solutions. They are not being a solution based organization. They are acting like a talk show or blog host(no offense rich). You have to make a proposal that sells, not just say give me! - Skeptic - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 1:32 pm: “The status quo is completely unacceptable” Ok, then how about we go back to the status ante quo, you know last fall when we were actually paying our bills? - illini - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 1:39 pm: Several years ago I was asked to join the local C of C ( I am/was a one man consulting business ). I was open and flattered by the invitation but when I asked if I had to pay dues to the State and national organizations and was told that opting out was not an option - I passed. Sorry, but I was unwilling to be associated with the Billionaires and multi-national corps that run this organization. They do not represent me. - Grandson of Man - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 1:40 pm: How many times do some have to say it: Illinois has improved a lot since the Great Recession. Is it perfect or can we have more growth? Of course we can and should. In the bigger picture, we have a lot of assets upon which we can build. This again makes me think of the people who push the “Illinois is Terrible” narrative and who they represent. How can the state be so terrible when some of these Illinois residents are multimillionaires and billionaires, and they’re wealthy corporate owners and on editorial boards and so on? - efudd - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 1:59 pm: When I think Chamber of Commerce I think of my local chamber, the one in Union County. Then, I’m reminded of when they decided to hold their chamber Christmas dinner at a business that was not a chamber member, forgoing others that were. Some, for years. And then I forget about anything any Chamber of Commerce says about anything. - 360 Degree TurnAround - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:22 pm: Illini - may ask you to repeat that? The State Chamber has “forced member dues”? Isn’t that what the Illinois Policy Institute and Rauner are suing SEIU over? Maybe one of the business members should sue the Illinois Chamber for their dues. Right to Business! Right to Business! - anon - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:35 pm: Grandson, those people you reference would likely be multi-millionaires regardless where they live. Few think, boy I’m glad I live in Illinois, this great state has made me wealthy. - anon - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:36 pm: OW, now just saw an Instagram of Johnny and Mary with their noses pressed against the car window waving goodbye, as the van heads up 57 - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:50 pm: ===OW, now just saw an Instagram of Johnny and Mary with their noses pressed against the car window waving goodbye, as the van heads up 57=== … With the “University of Illinois” location stamp on the picture I hope… That would be so poetic, the Instagram College Stamp on the picture showing the students having to leave… - illini - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:56 pm: 360 - to make myself clear - I was told that the dues ( and honestly, I do not remember what they were quoted to me at that time ) were to go to the local Chamber as well as the State and National organizations and that I could not have the option of just paying dues to the local chamber which I might have done. But knowing the political leanings of this organization and a like minded organization of Independent Business owners ( forget the full name ) I decided to pass on both. Yet you may have a great point - but since I am not a member I can not ask that any dues be returned to me. Good Luck! - 360 Degree TurnAround - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 3:01 pm: thank you illini - DuPage Bard - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 3:07 pm: Thank goodness for the Illinois Chamber finally some reasonable, real and attainable solutions for the budget debate….oh wait never mind. - Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 3:23 pm: == Honeybear: “Give me a break, I was in Springfield last night and the homeless situation has gotten REALLY REALLY bad. Right around the old state capital seems to have become a defacto shelter.” == Ummmh, no. Those were (a) tourists on the “Lincoln’s Ghosts” tour, and (b) me and friends — mostly State employees or retirees — leaving dinner at one of the eateries on the south side of the mall. - Angry Chicagoan - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 3:56 pm: ZC nailed it. - steve schnorf - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 3:58 pm: Maisch is simply doing his job, more than you can say about some - burbanite - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 4:28 pm: Small businesses are not normally targets for unionization. What is their definition of small business? - anon - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 4:29 pm: Maybe some of these university administrators should have been doing their job and they wouldn’t have lost 10-23% of their student body. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.