Gillespie passes youth job training measure

SPRINGFIELD – Businesses and schools will team up to provide students with work-based training under a bill passed by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights).

House Bill 2868 would require the State Board of Education to develop a work-based training database to help facilitate relationships between school districts and businesses. The database would be used to provide students with employment opportunities to apply their academic and technical skills.

“Young people need to enter the workforce with all the training they need,” said Gillespie. “By having work-based training experiences early on, students can develop the skills they need to be productive and marketable to employers.”

The Illinois State Board of Education would begin compiling the database immediately and would have one year to complete it.

“When businesses are looking where to locate, they look to where the skilled employees are,” noted Gillespie. “This database will help businesses find the programs that are creating the skilled workforce they need.”

House Bill 2868 awaits the governor’s signature.

Gillespie advances worker protection bill from Senate

SPRINGFIELD – A harmful chemical found in most common receipt papers would be barred from use by Illinois businesses under legislation sponsored by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) that passed the Senate today.

House Bill 2076 would prohibit bisphenol-A (BPA) from being used in paper for business and banking records such as cash register, debit card and sales receipts. BPA is present in most thermal receipt papers to develop color.

“BPA has been proven to cause harmful reproductive and developmental effects in animals,” Gillespie said. “We cannot stand by and wait for BPA’s effects on humans to be seen. We need to be proactive.”

The measure is supported by the Sierra Club, Local 881 UFCW, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Environmental Council.

“Tens of thousands of workers and even more consumers are in contact with these papers every day,” said Zach Koutsky, Legislative and Political Director of Local 881 UFCW. “Whether you are on the job or simply going shopping, you deserve to be safe from harmful chemicals.”

Similar legislation was introduced in Illinois in 2012 but did not pass the House. In 2011, Connecticut banned BPA in thermal receipt paper.

The measure will go back to the House for concurrence before being sent to the governor.

Gillespie advances worker protection bill

SPRINGFIELD – A harmful chemical found in most common receipt papers would be barred from use by Illinois businesses under legislation sponsored by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) that was approved by the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee today.

House Bill 2076 would prohibit bisphenol-A (BPA) from being used in paper for business and banking records such as cash register, debit card and sales receipts. BPA is present in most thermal receipt papers to develop color.

“BPA has been proven to cause harmful reproductive and developmental effects in animals,” Gillespie said. “We cannot stand by and wait for BPA’s effects on humans to be seen. We need to be proactive.”

The measure is supported by the Sierra Club, Local 881 UFCW, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Environmental Council.

“Tens of thousands of workers and even more consumers are in contact with these papers every day,” said Zach Koutsky, legislative and political director of Local 881 UFCW. “Whether you are on the job or simply going shopping, you deserve to be safe from harmful chemicals.”

Similar legislation was introduced in Illinois in 2012 but did not pass the House. In 2011, Connecticut banned BPA in thermal receipt paper.

The measure now goes before the entire Senate.

Gillespie: Taxpayers deserve a say in fair tax debate

Senate advances tax cut, property tax relief package

SPRINGFIELD – Nearly all working men and women in the northwest suburbs would pay less in state income taxes under a historic overhaul that was approved by the Illinois Senate Wednesday.

State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) voted for a package of measures that includes new income tax rates requiring millionaires to pay their fair share to the state, as well as tax relief for suburban property owners and elimination of Illinois’ estate tax.

“Ninety-seven percent of taxpayers stand to benefit from scrapping Illinois’ flat tax and moving to a system that ties income taxes to how much people earn,” Gillespie said. “We’re going to give them that choice at the ballot box.”

Under the proposal, only the top 3 percent of Illinois earners would pay more in income taxes. Everyone who makes less than $250,000 a year would pay a rate of 4.95 percent or less.

The package is part of a constitutional amendment that will require voter approval in 2020. The plan approved by the Senate Wednesday must go to the House for consideration next.

Under the property tax portion of the measure, as long as the state lives up to its responsibilities to adequately fund school districts, including lunch programs and student busing costs, districts would be barred from going to local property owners seeking tax hikes.

Property tax relief has to be a priority for the state, Gillespie said, noting that the legislation gets at the root of what largely drives high property taxes across the state – funding for local school districts. In addition, it forces the state to own up to its responsibility of fully funding schools.

“The high price tag that comes with being a suburban property owner has reached crisis status for many families,” Gillespie said. “People shouldn’t have to choose between paying their property taxes and having great schools for their children.”

The package of legislation – the fair tax rates, elimination of the estate tax and property tax relief – comprises Senate bills 687, 689 and 690. In addition, Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1 (SJRCA01) simplifies constitutional language about income taxes to allow for a fair tax while eliminating Illinois’ current outdated flat tax system.