Chamber issue: Illinois, Chicago could be on track for separate minimum wages
Illinois this week could be headed toward two minimum wages — one for Chicago and another for the rest of the state — amid a high-stakes political battle at City Hall and the Capitol.
The City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday at a special meeting on a plan by a re-election-seeking Mayor Rahm Emanuel to increase Chicago's minimum wage from $8.25 to $13 an hour by 2019. The proposal advanced after a hearing Monday stretched more than three hours.
In Springfield, supporters of a plan to increase the statewide minimum wage to $10 an hour searched for more votes in the Illinois House as lawmakers returned to town for the final scheduled week of session this year. Read more: Chicago Tribune
Chamber issue: Higher taxes floated as Wisconsin local roads funding option
Wisconsin cities, towns and counties joined together Wednesday to encourage that everything — from a new personal property tax on vehicles to regional cooperatives that would share resources — should be considered to help pay for local road needs.
A report commissioned by the Local Government Institute, a coalition of groups representing local governments, detailed how funding has decreased for roads over the past decade, and offered ideas on how to address the problem.
The report comes as the state Department of Transportation is calling for raising the gas tax and imposing a new registration fee on hybrid and electric vehicles as part of a $751 million package of tax and fee increases.
How to plug a projected $680 million roads funding shortfall is expected to be one of the biggest issues facing Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature next session. Walker has been noncommittal on the tax and fee-increase proposals.
The Transportation Department’s proposal has generated support from local governments, road builders, labor unions, local governments and others. The Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce is part of a coalition of 10 powerful business groups have come out against the plan, saying the tax increases would create a competitive disadvantage. Read more: Finance & Commerce
Chamber news: Shoppers turn out for mid-Michigan small businesses
Holly Dunne brought her daughter and niece to shop for gerbil and guinea pig supplies Saturday morning at Preuss Pets in Old Town.
They were among a throng of shoppers who turned out nationwide for so-called "Small Business Saturday," a shopping day to support local and independent businesses.
"We knew today was Small Business Saturday," said Dunne, of Dimondale, who was with her 9-year-old Addison and niece Kristi Detar, 13.
As they looked at gerbil toys and accessories displayed on a wall near the front door, a steady stream of other customers came and went at Preuss. Dunne said their path would likely include a stop at Cravings Gourmet Popcorn and perhaps other stores. Lansing State Journal
Magnolia-Columbia County Business of the Week: Story's on the Square
Story’s on the Square is the Magnolia-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Week.
Story’s, 115 S. Court Square, was established in 1977 and is owned by Lynn and Lori Story. Story’s has gifts and does embroidery, monogramming, screen printing and vinyl lettering. It also has banners, trophies and awards, and a wedding and baby registry.
Story’s is affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Magnolia District, the National Association of Professional Women, and the Rider Club. Read more: MagnoliaReporter.com
Indiana Road funding - The courage to act
The real subject today is political timidity, not infrastructure.
Perhaps the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s recent call for the state to raise its tax on gasoline to start catching up on road maintenance will be met with a groundswell of support from the legislature in January. But the initial reaction was not encouraging.
The Journal Gazette’s Niki Kelly reported lackluster responses from the state’s two leading lawmakers.
House Speaker Brian Bosma did not seem enthusiastic about the issue, calling gas-tax increases “a difficult animal to deal with because gas prices remain high even though we’ve had a little anti-spike.”
Senate President Pro Tem David Long told Kelly that “we have a national crisis on transportation funding. I think we will continue to talk about it, but there does not seem to be a lot of support for a gas tax increase.” Read more: Journal-Gazette.net
Chamber Tweet of the Day: St Louis Regional Chamber
STL Regional Chamber
Len Reynolds @STLRegChamber updating financial leaders on recent successes. Great video on STL financial sector. http://bit.ly/1GjO1Sc
Iowa chambers of commerce continue push for simpler state tax laws
An organization that represents business interests in Iowa’s 16 largest metro areas continues to push for a simpler state tax laws and more research into addressing the state’s workforce needs.The Iowa Chamber Alliance on Wednesday unveiled its 2015 legislative agenda, which included policy recommendations in tax law, workforce development and funding for road and broadband infrastructure.
The alliance called for simplifying Iowa’s tax code in order to compete with neighboring states for business investment.
Chris McGowan, president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, said he sees firsthand how Iowa’s complicated tax code can turn off businesses. Read more: Sioux City Journal
Grow Minnesota: annual luncheon shows growth, threats to economy
If businesses aren’t changing, Minnesota’s economy won’t grow, according to Bill Blazar, interim president at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.“In order for a community’s businesses to be successful, they’ve got to change. ‘Grow Minnesota’ can be a really great asset or tool in helping companies adapt and change,” Blazar said.
Members of the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and Mayor Tom Kuntz gathered at Amesbury Truth Hardware on Wednesday afternoon for the annual Minnesota Grow luncheon where Blazar informed the local business owners and employees of progress and “risks” of development. SouthernMinn.com
Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey
RULE
#39 - Leave on top
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