The Chamber continued to address the taxation and regulation issues that affect business, while serving as the “voice” that advocates for a fair and competitive tax climate. Our proactive approach includes telling the story of business and aggressively opposing legislation that is harmful to business.

• The 2008 Chicagoland Business Agenda, the Chamber’s formal policy statement on the bottom-line issues affecting business, was published and distributed to elected officials, key members and the media throughout the region and state. The policy recommendations presented in the Agenda represent recommendations by the following Chamber committees: Taxation, Transportation, Environment, Employment Law, and Education Workforce Quality.
• The Chamber monitored the FY2008 budget process for both Cook County and the City of Chicago and led opposition to any calls for tax or fee increases that affect business.
  
  In spite of the Chamber’s vocal lobbying efforts to minimize tax and fee increases, on February 29 the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved the 2008 budget that included a one percentage point increase in the Cook County portion of the sales tax. This increase brings the total overall sales tax in Chicago to 10.25%, the highest in the country.
  
  Further adding to the issue of increasing taxes, on November 13 the Chicago City Council approved the 2008 budget that included $270 million in additional spending over 2007 – including increases in the property tax, the lease tax, a new tax on bottled water, and various other fees/fines/penalties.
  
  Given the scope and depth of the taxes levied by the city, county and state (see “At the State Level,” below), the Chamber’s Board of Directors issued a resolution exclaiming opposition to the taxes and “. . . condemning those who seek to threaten and destroy Chicagoland as a business-friendly region with an unending litany of burdensome taxes and fees.”
• The Chamber also testified at Chicago City Council meetings on a variety of ordinances that unfairly burden the business community. Among these are:
• An ordinance that imposes a new CTA portion of the real property transfer tax.
• The proposal to ban the use of non-compostable plastic check-out bags by businesses.
• The proposal to implement a Congestion Pricing system that would institute a fee for drivers entering heavy traffic congestion areas of the city.
• The need to phase-out or eliminate the City’s Employers Expense Tax (Head Tax).
• The Chamber was invited to participate in the Mayor’s Property Tax Advisory Council which is charged with developing recommendations to mitigate the negative impact of declining home values while assessments remain high.
• The Chamber’s Political Action Committee (PAC) continued its efforts to raise funds, make donations and endorse pro-business candidates for the Chicago municipal elections. Thirteen of the 16 PAC-endorsed candidates won the February primary election.
• At the state level, the Chamber actively lobbied lawmakers during the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions on a variety of pro-business issues, including:
• Opposition to extension of the 7 percent Residential Property Assessment Cap (see below);
• Opposition to the Gross Receipts Tax (see below);
• Public-Private Partnerships (see Transportation and Infrastructure);
• Opposition to a variety of proposed business tax increases, regulations and mandates.
• The Chamber led opposition to the extension of the 7 percent Residential Property Assessment Cap in the Illinois House in 2007, including testifying at Illinois Senate and House Committees, preparing reports and fact sheets and leading a coalition of 25 business, civic and education groups in opposition to the extension. The Assessment Cap passed the House and Senate, but included a three-year phase out.
• The Chamber worked closely with business coalitions across the state in opposition to the Governor’s proposal for a Gross Receipts Tax (GRT), including the development of a GRT Action Center on the Chamber’s website, working against the tax at the General Assembly in Springfield and participating as a member of the Illinois Coalition for Jobs, Growth & Prosperity to raise funds for media, polling, and advertising against the GRT and payroll tax proposals.
• The Chamber continues to monitor the 2009 Budget process in Springfield and is participating in appropriations hearings prior to the Budget being embodied in legislation. The Chamber has expressed support for the Illinois Works Coalition to promote a capital plan.
• The Chamber Board approved a motion to oppose a call for a state constitutional convention. The Chamber has joined with other business and labor groups to defeat the measure, which will appear on the November 2008 ballot.
• At the federal level, the Chamber supports the U.S. Chamber position on comprehensive immigration reform and the U.S. Senate bill that would provide a sensible temporary worker program and a process that allows certain undocumented workers currently in the U.S. to gain legal status.
  
  The Chamber is also participating in U.S. Chamber briefings on the Employee Free Choice Act (also known as Card Check), an attempt to rewrite federal labor law and give unions new powers in unionization campaigns.