|
November 22, 2011
RCGA Board of Directors Adopts 2012
Legislative Agenda
On
November 17th the RCGA's Board of Directors approved
our 2012 Legislative Agenda, which features policies aimed at
developing and sustaining a world-class economy and community for
the St. Louis bi-state region. (Click here to view
RCGA's 2012 Legislative Agenda.) Each year the Legislative Agenda is
developed by the RCGA's Public Policy Council, which is comprised
of government affairs executives from the area's large businesses
and institutions, as well as small business leaders who are
interested in civic and political affairs. The
Legislative Agenda is focused on four key areas that reflect the
overall business interests of our large and diverse membership:
Promoting an Advantageous Business
Climate, Investing in Innovation and Capital
Formation, Leveraging Regional Assets,
and Strengthening Education and Workforce
Development.
Below is a brief overview of RCGA's top
legislative priorities in Missouri and Illinois.
While both states will continue to face near-term budget
challenges, the RCGA remains committed to pursuing policies and
investments that will strengthen economic opportunities for the
region.
|
The Missouri State Capitol building in
Jefferson City
|
Missouri
Priorities
Full Funding for the Missouri Science and
Innovation Reinvestment Act (MOSIRA)
The RCGA is very pleased that MOSIRA, which has been
one of our top priorities for the past several years, passed
during the Special Session and was signed into law by the
Governor. However, because the program is subject to the
annual appropriations process, we must work each year to ensure
that MOSIRA is the predictable, stable source of state funding
for investments in high-tech entrepreneurial infrastructure that
it is intended to be.
Finding a Path Forward on Economic
Development
The RCGA is deeply disappointed by the failure of the
legislature to pass a major statewide economic development bill
for the fourth straight year. The inability of House and
Senate leaders to reach agreement on how to review and revise the
state's existing tax credit programs has become an unacceptable
stalemate that is hurting Missouri's ability to develop critical
projects like an international air cargo hub at Lambert
Airport. The RCGA will continue to advocate for new
economic development tools that will help the St. Louis region
thrive and grow, including incentives to enhance the region's
global competitiveness and create high-paying jobs. We also
understand the need for periodic reviews of existing tax credit
programs to ensure their effectiveness and efficiency, and will
continue our work to ensure the viability of proven programs that
create jobs and leverage private investment.
Working to Strengthen Missouri's Business
Climate
While progress was made last year on some of the "Fix
the Six" business coalition's priorities, several issues
remain. The RCGA will continue to push for reforming the
workers' compensation system so that employees are protected from
being sued by their co-workers, and to ensure that employees who
contract occupational diseases are properly covered by the
workers' compensation system. The group will also pursue a
solution to the state's insolvent Second Injury Fund, without
placing an undue burden on Missouri employers. Also, the
RCGA will continue to advocate for employment law reform, which
passed the legislature last year but was vetoed by the
Governor.
|
The Illinois State Capitol building in
Springfield.
|
Illinois
Priorities
Promoting Fiscal Responsibility
and a Balanced Budget
The RCGA will continue its efforts in Illinois to
advocate for responsible stewardship of state finances and a
balanced budget, without placing an undue tax burden on the
business community. Illinois is expected to end the current
budget year with an $8 billion deficit, despite increasing the
state's personal and corporate income taxes earlier this
year. While many budget cuts were made, these savings were
offset by the high cost of the state's pension system, which is
facing an $85 billion shortfall due to decades of
underfunding. The RCGA supports fiscal stability and
sustainability of public pension programs, including adequate
contributions from employees. The RCGA also discourages the
creation of new programs that will not provide a positive return
on investment to the state.
Reforming the State's Workers'
Compensation System
While the RCGA applauds the meaningful changes the
legislature made to the state's workers' compensation system last
year, which are estimated to save Illinois businesses some $500
million annually, the bill did not go far enough. For
example, there still is no requirement than an injury be related
directly to the workplace, so the RCGA supports strong causation
standards and policies to reduce costs and unnecessary
litigation.
Ensuring Capital Bill Projects Remain on
Schedule
The RCGA also supports the Metro East projects
included in the 2009 Capital Bill, and will work to ensure that
they remain on schedule and receive the necessary funding from
the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Capital
Development Board for timely completion.
|
|
Focus on Illinois: Regional State Legislators
Discuss Issues with RCGA's Illinois Public Affairs
Committee
On November 18th the RCGA's Illinois Public
Affairs Committee heard from regional legislators about issues being discussed during the ongoing Veto
Session in Springfield.
Sen. James Clayborne (D-Belleville) said he supports a
bill for Tenaska Energy to build a clean-coal technology power
plant in Taylorville. He explained that aging
coal-fired plants won't be
able to meet new environmental regulations, and the state will
need new affordable energy sources to replace them. He also
said that he opposed the "smart grid" bill because he is
concerned that too much of the cost of investments made by
electric utilities would be passed on to consumers in rate
increases.
|
|
|
Sen. James Clayborne
(D-Belleville)
|
Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon)
|
Rep. Paul Evans (R-Highland)
|
Sen. Kyle
McCarter (R-Lebanon) said that he is still dedicated to
strengthening the state's workers' compensation laws, which is
one of RCGA's 2012 legislative priorities.
He is particularly
concerned that the state has no causation standard requiring that
an injury occur in the workplace to qualify for a claim. He
also expressed disappointment that there is no statewide energy
policy, saying that important matters like the Tenaska plant and
the smart grid bill should be considered as part of a
comprehensive energy plan, rather than being reviewed
inidividually. He cautioned that affordable power is one of
the most important assets for Illinois businesses, and he doesn't
want to see that advantage lessened.
Rep. Paul Evans (R-Highland), who was sworn
in this past August, introduced himself to the group by
explaining that he lives on a farm in Randolph County and is a
practicing attorney at his own firm. He noted that
he was joining the legislature at a time of unprecedented fiscal
problems, and that his priorities would be to help the state
"stop doing business as usual" and focus on economic growth and
job creation as the best way to overcome the state's budget
challenges. Rep. Evans was chosen by local Republican
leaders to replace former Rep. Ron Stephens.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
