7 years ago by Jim Dewey
The head of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce was in Quincy Friday to speak at a breakfast hosted by State Representative Randy Frese. Todd Maisch listed several issues the Chamber would like to see addressed.
The number one issue is a Budget Resolution. Maisch said the Illinois Chamber, "very much wants a budget solution, but he says it can't just be any solution and it has to be based on three premises." The first, he said, "is we've got to recognize that our economy is not growing well enough." Maisch said businesses are not as profitable as they should be and people are leaving the state. "We really need pro-growth policies, workers compensation, taxation, investment in our infrastructure..." Without pro-growth policies, Maisch says the state will be, right back where we are very, very quickly."
"Second", Maisch said, "is to restrain spending." Maisch noted that the state is spending $38 billion a year while bringing in only $32 billion. "And third", he said. "It would be difficult to close a 6 billion dollar gap in revenue versus spending without having a discussion about revenue." Maisch said everybody should be concerned that the service tax, which does not yet exist, could have a detrimental impact on Quincy, "if it's done the wrong way or if it's done at all."
Maisch said income tax is bound to go up if there is an overall bargain that is responsible and balanced and has spending restraints and pro-growth policies.
