WHAT'S What 2003 Illinois Legislative Program (*Supported by the RCGA in 2002) BROWNFIELD FUNDING* In 2001, with strong backing of the RCGA, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Brownfield Site Restoration Program, which reimburses developers for the costs associated with the cleanup of brownfield sites. In its first year, the program was only funded at $4.0 million, and each applicant’s reimbursement was capped at $750,000. This brownfield program provides a “win-win” situation for the state of Illinois, local jurisdictions and the private sector. Environmental problems can be properly cleaned up; commercial development can be promoted; older industrial sites can be competitive with green field sites; local communities can be revitalized; and new tax revenues can be generated. Support the increased funding for this new program. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT* Last year, the RCGA sought legislation to extend the Illinois Research and Development Tax Credit through December 31, 2009. Companies with aggressive research and development programs would have benefited from the extension of the tax credit, an important incentive to encourage research and development projects that take a long time to bring to the marketplace. Support a tax credit program that encourages companies to undertake comprehensive research and development projects.  URBAN REVITALIZATION / AFFORDABLE HOUSING* Historic preservation, community development, and affordable housing programs can remedy the growing disparity between jobs and housing in many metropolitan areas, both in terms of geography and affordability. Similar programs that are generating success stories in St. Louis are needed in Illinois. Development of the Metro East area will play an integral role in the St. Louis region’s long-term economic vitality. Support programs that increase the quality of life in Metro East communities, which means better schools, safer neighborhoods, affordable housing, updated sewers and streets, and a cleaner environment. SWIDA QUICK-TAKE EMINENT DOMAIN POWERS* Quick-take powers for the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority (SWIDA) expired on August 30, 2002. The Illinois General Assembly created SWIDA to encourage and stimulate economic development in the Metro East area. In SWIDA’s 12-year history, more than $300 million of development has been financed, adding thousands of jobs to the area and millions of dollars to the tax base. One of SWIDA’s development tools is quick-take eminent domain. Quick-take is used only as a last resort and only at the request and approval of the local municipality or county government. This authority allows for SWIDA to further economic development and is a necessary tool to help develop important projects in Madison and St. Clair counties. These projects have included the MetroLink Light Rail system extension to East St. Louis (1992), the Lincoln Place Shopping Center in Fairview Heights (1997), parking for Gateway International Raceway (1997), and the Parsons Place East St. Louis Housing Project (1999). Support a re-instatement of SWIDA’s quick- take authority. ILLINOIS LEWIS AND CLARK BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION* Between the years 2004 and 2006, 14 celebrations will be held throughout the United States celebrating the historic expedition of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Hartford, Ill., home to the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center, has been selected as one of the 14 locations to host a four-day, national signature event. The St. Louis metropolitan area features six Lewis & Clark historic sites, more than any other region in the United States. A tremendous opportunity exists for the St. Louis metropolitan region to embrace this celebration and to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area. After the signature event in 2004, the St. Louis metropolitan region will attract an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 visitors per year, generating 20,000 to 30,000 overnight hotel stays and more than $3 million in economic activity. Support the Illinois Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission planning efforts to commemorate the significance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the St. Louis metropolitan region, Illinois, and our nation’s history. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS* Infrastructure Improvements* Infrastructure is vital to the economic vitality of Southwestern Illinois and surrounding areas. Since 1999, The Illinois FIRST program has made funds available for many of the immediate transportation needs of southwestern Illinois for projects such as Illinois Route 159, Illinois Route 157, Interstate 255 extension, Interstate 64 expansion, Illinois Route 3 connector, St. Clair County light rail, and planning and engineering for the new Mississippi River bridge. Additional items have been identified for long-term bridge, highway and mass transit needs: (1) renovation of the McKinley Bridge; (2) evaluation of the I-270 canal and river bridges;(3) lane additions and rehabilitation of the I-270 corridor;(4) planning of the Madison/St. Clair County Illinois Route 13 outer belt; (5) expansion of MetroLink light rail from Scott Air Force Base to MidAmerica Airport in St. Clair County; and (6) independent funding for Madison and St. Clair counties’ transit districts. Support continued funding for Illinois FIRST transportation projects and include long-term transportation needs in Illinois Department of Transportation’s plans for the St. Louis metropolitan region of Illinois. BI-STATE QUICK-TAKE* The Bi-State Development Agency has used quick-take authority to acquire property for the MetroLink line into Southwestern Illinois. This authority ended after the line was completed, but it needs to be granted again for future work on the system. Renewed quick-take powers will streamline the acquisition of new property for MetroLink expansion and expedite the growth of the transit system. Support “quick-take” powers for the Bi-State Development Agency to streamline the acquisition of properties for MetroLink expansion. TRI-CITY REGIONAL PORT DISTRICT* The Tri-City Regional Port District is redeveloping the former U.S. Army Charles Melvin Price Support Center as a mixed-use business park. The Port District, working through the United States Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration Port Conveyance Program, has taken title to the Center property. The mixed-use business park is projected to generate more than 1,000 jobs in the next 10 years. In order to be successful, the project requires continued funding for both master planning activities and infrastructure investment. Support continued funding to the Tri-City Regional Port District redevelopment activities at the former Charles Melvin Price Support Center. STORMWATER MANAGEMENT* A legislative vehicle to create a new sewer district serving Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe County was introduced last year. These counties wanted to consolidate their existing stormwater management authorities into a unified structure. The new tri-county authority would set stormwater management standards, develop a stormwater management plan for the region, and have taxing powers. Support a solution to the stormwater problem facing the St. Louis metropolitan region of Illinois. 2002 RCGA LEWIS & CLARK AWARDS SALUTE BI-STATE AREA LEGISLATORS First Row: Representative Betty Thompson (MO), Senator Maida Coleman (MO), Senator Betty Sims (MO), Representative James Michael Foley (MO), Representative Tom Dempsey (MO), Jim Farrell (St. Louis RCGA). Second Row: Representative Steve Davis (IL), John Valenti (St. Louis RCGA), Senator Ted House (MO), Senator Peter Kinder (MO), Rudy Papa Chairman Madison County, Senator James Clayborne, Jr. (IL), Dick Fleming (St. Louis RCGA), Representative Russell Carnahan (MO), Representative Richard Byrd (MO), Senator Michael Gibbons (MO). SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE RETENTION Scott Air Force Base is the largest employer in downstate Illinois and the third largest employer in the St. Louis metropolitan region with more than 10,000 employees. The base generates an annual economic impact of more than $2 billion. The U.S. Department of Defense in 2005 will hold another round of military Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). During the 1995 round of Base Realignment and Closure, civic leaders in the St. Louis metropolitan region teamed with the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois, the state of Illinois, and the Illinois Congressional delegation to successfully defend Scott Air Force Base against closure. In that round, Scott Air Force Base had been placed in the heavy aircraft category during the Air Force evaluation process, even though it is not a heavy aircraft base. It is a major joint command headquarters base housing both the United States Transportation Command and the Air Force Air Mobility Command. If any bases in the heavy aircraft category had been targeted by the Air Force, Scott Air Force would have been closed. Scott Air Force Base’s position has been enhanced due to both international conflict and homeland defense initiatives since 1995. Support funding for activities associated with the retention and enhancement of Scott Air Force Base. Support the category change from a heavy aircraft base to a major joint command headquarters base housing both the United States Transportation Command and the Air Force Air Mobility Command. Support a created cabinet-level military affairs position within the Illinois Governor’s Office to coordinate a state-wide military base retention effort in anticipation of the 2005 round of military base realignment and closure. INVESTMENTS IN THE NEW ECONOMY* In the fast-paced New Economy, technology is the driving force for change and for advancement. New and revamped technology-based businesses are revolutionizing the economy and creating the jobs of the future. States that can nurture and grow these tech-based firms will earn a growing pool of well-paying jobs for their workforce, thereby reaping exceptional spin-off benefits–world-class university talent and their federal, state, and private research dollars–in addition to an invigorated entrepreneurial community capable of creating exponential economic growth. Support timely access to seed capital for sustaining growth of new technology-based enterprises. Support an increase in the availability of venture capital, in order to fully capitalize on the State’s continuing investment in science and research institutions. Support assistance to emerging biotechnology businesses and policies to strengthen Illinois’ growing prominence in the area of information technology. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCER PROTECTION* Legislation that would have imposed unnecessary review and requirements on business contracts was proposed last year. It would have required agriculture production contracts to contain certain disclosures, meet readability guidelines, and be subject to review by the Department of Agriculture. The legislation also included restrictions on a contractor’s unilateral termination of certain contracts and infringements on the ability of plant sciences firms to write contracts with agricultural producers. Oppose unnecessary review and requirements on agricultural production contracts. To close the deficit of the 2003 fiscal year budget, the Illinois General Assembly deeply cut funding to higher education. In the two-day Special Session, the Legislature chopped $180 million from the State’s colleges and universities, the biggest reductions to higher education in a decade. Area institutions were forced to respond by postponing capital projects, increasing tuition, or reducing services. The needs of the St. Louis area workforce require a strong and healthy post-secondary education system. Support restoration of funding to area higher education institutions. CHARTER SCHOOLS The St. Louis metropolitan region has the second highest concentration of charter schools in Illinois, boasting the presence of one charter school in Cahokia, two in East St. Louis, and one in Edwardsville. A second charter school in Cahokia has been proposed, and the Financial Oversight Panel of East St. Louis District 189 has initiated plans for additional charter schools using the Chicago Public School Reform as its model. Last spring, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) submitted an amendment to the Illinois Charter Schools Law in order to gain an additional 15 charter schools for Chicago. In exchange for this increase, CPS negotiated away four major elements of autonomy for all Illinois charter schools. The measure was defeated but the same bill is set to appear during the upcoming session. Illinois already has one of the country’s weaker charter school laws. The laws require local district sponsorship in order to open and operate a charter school. It is becoming more and more difficult to keep an Illinois charter school running when the controlling interests of local districts and the Illinois State Board of Education are hostile to this education reform. Since reviewing local decisions is the premise for Illinois appeals process, the Board’s beliefs dismantle both the appeal and the approval procedures. Support charter schools that demonstrate academic accountability and appropriate changes to charter school laws.   ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION Currently, the St. Louis metropolitan region of Illinois has no representation on the Illinois State Board of Education, yet it is the second largest population center in the state. Local control and decision-making authority are high priorities for districts in the region. The State Board should provide local districts with the resources and support mechanisms necessary to comply with current and future mandates as well as academic achievement standards. Support a representative from the St. Louis metropolitan region of Illinois to the State Board of Education. Support representation that encompasses a broader diversity of opinions, occupations and geography on the State Board of Education.   WORKERS COMPENSATION / BALANCE BILLING* Last year, legislation was proposed to amend the Workers’ Compensation Act. The bill provided that a provider of medical services or related services or items to an injured employee would agree to be bound by charges or payment levels allowed by the Industrial Commission. Disputes regarding reasonableness of fees or charges would be resolved in accordance with the Act or the Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act. A provider, employer, or insurance carrier would be prohibited from seeking payment for services or items from an employee. Support appropriate changes in the Workers’ Compensation law to encourage economic development and provide more job opportunities in Illinois.

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