(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois business groups are opposed to at least two measures that they say are prohibitive to job creation and business owners. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce 2024 End of Session Report details how the actions of state government impact members of the business community. Senate Bill 2979 deals with employers collecting biometric details that businesses say does not go far enough. Senate Bill 3649 prohibits employers from requiring their workers to attend employer-sponsored meetings designed to communicate the opinion of the employer about religious and/or political matters. It appears that Governor J.B. Pritzker does plan to sign these measures by sometime later this month.
(SPRINGFIELD) A new study claims that lawsuit abuse is threatening the Illinois economy and making life more expensive for every resident in the state. The group Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse reports in 2023, excessive tort litigation cost over 215,000 jobs in Illinois, plus cost state and local governments more than $2 million in lost revenue. The report shows that every statewide resident is now estimated to pay a nearly $1,900 “tort tax” each year to cover the loss in jobs and economic output from lawsuit abuse throughout Illinois.
(CARBONDALE) Planned Parenthood of Illinois opened up its newest clinic in Carbondale six months ago and statistics show the overwhelming majority of those getting care did not live in Illinois. According to WTTW-TV, three-quarters (75%) of the patients served by the Carbondale clinic have come from out of state. Of those out-of-state patients, 88% reside in states where abortion access is restricted, including Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is looking for volunteer citizen scientists to assist it with wild turkey brood surveys to help biologists in monitoring turkey population trends and reproductive success. Summertime is when young turkeys are hatching and by counting them and adult females, biologists can assess trends and the survival rates of young turkeys. Volunteers are asked to report young turkeys, adult males, and adult females with every observance, along with the county and date of the observation during the months of June, July, and August. Go to the dnr.illinois.gov website for details.