Article written by: John Schmitt

A part of the Chamber’s mission is to provide leadership for the benefit of our business community by promoting economic growth and the interests of your business. Everyday we work to share your opinions with your elected leaders before they act on proposals that affect your business and employees.

Next week the Chamber is sponsoring two meetings to educate our Members and the public about two critical issues, and we wanted to extend an invitation and encourage your participation.

Next Monday, August 10th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Chamber’s Legislative Committee will begin analyzing the Video Poker Act. The law authorized businesses and organizations across the Illinois to install video gaming machines, of which the state takes 30% of the net income, to pay for Illinois’ first public infrastructure program in a decade. The public works program pays for things like schools, and in our community the Route 59 expansion project.

The law contains a provision that allows communities to prohibit the machines in their community. Elected officials have asked the Chamber our opinion of the proposal and we want to hear from you as we complete our research and outreach.

Our meeting on Monday is our first engagement with our Member businesses on the topic. Monday’s presentation will be an informative look at what exactly is in the law, what isn’t, and understanding the impact of having the machines licensed or not licensed in our communities.

You’re also invited to join us for a Business Town Hall on Wednesday, August 12th, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., featuring Congresswoman Judy Biggert and Congressman Mark Kirk.

There is no bigger issue moving forward in Congress than the issue of health reform. Our health care system now makes up one-six of the U.S. economy and is inefficient, unpredictable, expensive, and most importantly, a burden on small, medium and large companies. The system is broken and reform is needed, but the devil is in the details.

Meaningful health care reform must according to experts, “bend the cost curve. Some of the proposals, as passed out of Committees in the House are according to the Congressional Budget Office, will do just the opposite. Raising the burden on businesses, while not getting improvements in the system is not the answer the American economy needs.

The Chamber is pleased to welcome two members of Congress to our town hall and hope that you will take time to engage with them. The business community spends in excess of $500 billion on health care annually. You are one of the most important stakeholders in this process. Get engaged, get educated and participate in one of the most important debates in our nation’s history.

Visit the homepage of our website, www.naperville.net, and you’ll find more information about both meetings, have the ability to offer your feedback, submit questions and register for the events. We look forward to seeing you next week.

John Schmitt is President & CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, he can be reached at jschmitt@naperville.net.