Public Policy Platform & Purpose

The Division of the Government Affairs shall utilize the Chamber resources to influence governmental decisions, which affect our area's business climate and economic growth. The Chamber shall continuously foster working relationships with legislators, administrators and their staffs through invitations to appropriate Chamber functions and regular meetings with officials. The Chamber shall continuously communicate its pro-business position to the general public, as well as to the elected officials.

Purpose:

The Government Affairs Council, a Council of the BARRINGTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE members shall to identify and monitor proposed legislation, develop resolutions and/or position papers on issues of importance, educate lawmakers and encourage Chamber members to contact legislators and other appropriate officials promoting the Chamber's pro-business position.

Goals:

The Government Affairs Committee shall set the following goals to address the issues directly affecting the Barrington community and the BACC membership.
Shall survey members for opinions on specific business issues prior to meeting with legislators, administrators and staff.
Shall interact with BACOG and other Chambers associated with NIBAC on issues of common concerns.
Shall develop effective methods of communicating information regarding key business legislation to the general public and membership. These efforts will be a credit to the BACC membership for being informed and taking the lead.
Shall hold twelve meetings a year.
The Committee will be formed with no less than ten BACC members with diverse business backgrounds, elected officials/staff of the local, state and national governments, and other key stakeholders including the educators and health care representatives.
Shall cooperate with other organizations, i.e., Northern Illinois Business Advocacy Coalition (NIBAC), Illinois State Chamber, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Manufacturer's Association, DCCA (Department of Commerce and Community Affairs) and the Illinois P.A.C. (Political Action Committee Contribution Solicitation) and develop alliances with BACOG.
Shall participate in the annual Illinois State Chamber's Legislative Conference and Business Day in Springfield.

Guiding Principles:

The guiding principles of the 2009 Platform requiring a legislative remedy is represented in the following arenas: Transportation/Infrastructure, Budget & Finance, Health Care, Labor & Workforce and Business Taxation & Fees. BACC suggests an emphasized focus from our legislators be placed on increasing regional prosperity and the creation of jobs thus positioning the region for greater economic success in a competitive marketplace.

As lawmakers face difficult choices in trying to alleviate the ongoing fiscal crisis and lack of accountability, BACC has identified the following priorities and encourages:

1. Transportation/Infrastructure. Support for the enhancement of funding for transportation investment programs to address the backlog of highways, major arterials, bridges and unmarked states routes currently in dire need of rehabilitation; and strategic improvement to increase capacity to address existing congestion and support the suburb-to-suburb and reverse commute from Chicago traffic patterns. The following strategic expansions are supported: METRA Star Line; Illinois Route #53/Illinois Route 120 Bypass.

2. Budget/Finance. Strengthen the local economy by addressing deficit spending and restore its fiscal integrity on all levels; seek only the passage of county and state budgets that identify fair and equitable funding sources, with fiscal restraint and a long term, equitable revenue strategy. Encourage lawmakers to resist the temptation to add or fund programs, which will cause additional strain on overloaded budgets.

3. Health Care. Urge legislators to create a health care reform package that addresses accessibility and portability, affordability of healthcare overall and quality of care. Support legislation that would allow small businesses to join together through association health plans, keeping the rising costs from the viability of businesses of all sizes and put job security and benefits at risks for millions. Oppose universal mandates to coverage and oppose any legislation that would increase costs to the business owner. Seek incentives to maintain the high quality of physicians at regional healthcare facilities. Support legislation addressing the increasing fees for the high cost of medical liability/malpractice reimbursement insurance.

4. Labor/Workforce. Work to ensure that businesses have access-today and tomorrow-to an educated and skilled workforce. With the anticipation of increasing educational skill gaps, encourage measures to support sustainable education and workforce training strategies and models with proven success promoting Illinois leadership of innovation. Strive to bring Illinois back in the competitive recruitment market by resisting the temptation to increase workers compensation and the extension of unemployment benefits. Oppose the increase of the minimum wage tax as alternative funding.

5. Taxation/Fees. Repeal all new business taxes and the rolling back of anti-business taxes and fees.

Process for BACC tracking and affecting legislation

1. The Council members will approve a general legislative agenda of issues that could affect the local Barrington economy. The agenda is to be reviewed and approved each year.

2. The one or more of the members of the Council choose an agenda area and tracks legislation (or local issue) related to that area. This requires researching and educating Council to their designated area. When there is not a BACC Council member assigned to a pertinent area, the Chair and Vice-Chair will seek an alternative Council member or serve as the assigned tracker.

3. After the BACC Council members present their bills, the Coalition discusses and votes (by majority) on the plan of action for each bill. These actions can include continued tracking, developing a support or opposition statement, an education call to members, joining a coalition(s), or deciding not to continue tracking the bill.

4.The Board of Directors makes the final decision of BACC's position and the course of action. If immediate action is required, the Council will be notified via email and will be asked to vote by proxy on their position within a 24 hour time frame, at which time those who voted must represent a quorum.

Once BACC Board votes to support or oppose a bill:

The position statement is sent to legislators,
The Council and the entire membership of BACC is informed,
The position is publicized on the BACC website,
Statements are submitted to the media