Governor Rauner and Senate leadership spent time staking out their positions once again in the press. Senate Democrats have said they will continue to negotiate with Republicans but not with the governor, but there was no movement this week on the “Grand Bargain.”
NFIB continues to oppose elements of the “bargain,” especially a new sales tax on eight service areas: landscaping, laundry, repair and maintenance, storage units, detective and security, structural pest control, personal care, and cable TV, satellite TV, and online streaming.
NFIB members have overwhelming opposed service taxes of any kind in past statewide ballots. Click here to read the nearly 500-page bill.
Meanwhile, NFIB member Doug Knight, owner of Knights Action Park and Caribbean Water Adventure, testified in the House Labor committee on the devastating effect a $15 per hour minimum would have on his business. Both proponents and opponents spent two hours debating the issue.
As this was a subject matter only hearing, no vote was taken. Committee chairman Jay Hoffman (Collinsville) ended the hearing however by saying that there would a committee vote on a minimum wage hike bill within weeks. NFIB remains opposed to a government-mandated wage hike.
