The IMA's efforts protect current industry and encourage new employers to set up business in Illinois. Every day the IMA fights for creating and keeping the right conditions for job creation and economic growth.
In 2007, there a many initiatives the IMA will pursue, including:
Enhanced R&D tax credits for manufacturers: · Increased credit and an expanded definition of research and development will lead companies to create good jobs in Illinois. A new energy credit for manufacturing: · Illinois manufacturers need a safe, reliable and efficient source of energy to conduct business. · The IMA will strongly pursue legislation creating a tax credit for energy used in the manufacturing process. · Businesses currently in enterprise zones enjoy an exemption and the IMA will lead the effort to extend this same treatment to existing companies statewide. Transportation improvements: · Illinois' infrastructure has begun to crumble over the last few years while state officials needlessly argue over capital spending projects. · The IMA will spearhead the effort to pass a strategic transportation plan addressing all modes of transportation enabling employers to move products and goods to markets throughout the state and around the world. Commonsense health care: · Affordable and high-quality health care is invaluable in ensuring a strong workforce. · The IMA supports competition in health care that will increase efficiencies, lower costs and allow more workers to receive health care benefits. · In 2007, the IMA will work to create small employer health care pools and cafeteria-style health care plans that will allow employers to offer health care benefits without breaking the bank. · In addition, we will stand against the recently proposed mandatory universal health care system, which would offer free coverage to all at the expense of employers. Stronger tort reform: · For too many years, several counties in Illinois have repeatedly been included in the top ten so-called judicial hellholes in America because of their unbalanced judicial system that is tilted in favor of trial lawyers · The IMA advocates a tort reform plan that will o Prohibit venue shopping, o Limit non-economic damage awards, o Establish expert testimony standards and o Reform joint and several liability.
Continue reforming the workers' compensation system: · Workers' Compensation costs in Illinois continue to outpace those in neighboring states. · The IMA will continue to press for further changes in the WC arena that will o Require the workplace to be the principle cause of an injury, o Involve employers in the selection of medical providers, and o Stipulate that workers have a responsibility to be drug and alcohol-free in the workplace.
The IMA's agenda is ambitious, but working together and speaking with one voice, we can make a difference —a difference producing real benefits for employers and working families in Illinois.
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