TINLEY PARK – Citing his zero tolerance for sexual harassment, one Illinois State Senator is calling on Governor Rauner to sign legislation passed by the General Assembly during the Fall Veto Session.

State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) says the tools needed to address the decades old problem are awaiting the governor’s signature.

“It is time for Springfield to start addressing this issue which has been festering under the statehouse dome for too long,” Hastings said. “I implore the governor to sign the legislation we sent him so our new Inspector General can get to work.”

The legislation Senator Hastings refers to is House Bill 137, which extends the statute of limitations on ethics complaints that have yet to be investigated. That legislation has been on the governor’s desk since November 8.

The Senate also passed Senate Bill 402, which added sexual harassment to the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. That legislation has been on the governor’s desk since November 7.

In addition to HB 137 and SB 402, the Illinois Senate also passed Senate Resolution 1076 which establishes the Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention. The task force will make recommendations on how to combat sexual discrimination and harassment in Illinois.

Senator Hastings was one of the resolution’s cosponsors.

SPRINGFIELD – Figures reported by U.S. Public Interest Research Groups found the federal government lost over $150 billion in revenue in 2013 due to offshore corporate tax havens.

State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) championed the override of the governor’s veto of House Bill 3419 to level the playing field among businesses that compete for state contracts and investments.

“Corporations that use offshore tax havens to avoid paying taxes should not be rewarded with state contracts and business,” Hastings said. “If businesses are going to avoid paying taxes, they should not be making money off of taxpayer dollars.”

House Bill 3419 will prohibit expatriate corporations from submitting bids or entering into contracts with state agencies.

Expatriate corporations utilize tax havens to avoid paying taxes.

“It is plain and simple. If corporations don’t pay taxes they should not benefit from state contracts,” Hastings said. “We need to give local businesses that play fair and pay their fair share of Illinois income taxes a chance to compete and be successful when they bid for state contracts.”

This will apply to any foreign country that does not impose a substantial income tax or substantial business activity tax.

SPRINGFIELD- Illinois startups may soon have a new tax credit available, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park).

Hastings joined the Illinois State Senate in voting to override the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 1462, which creates a new tax credit to reimburse new startup businesses for state fees associated with forming a new business in Illinois.

“The investments we make in small businesses spur economic development and new jobs for our communities,” Hastings said. “Our communities win when small businesses thrive in Illinois.”

The tax credit will reimburse beginning entrepreneurs who are forming new businesses in the information service, biotechnology and green technology business sectors for state fees associated with starting a new business in Illinois.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Development will administer the program. The program is capped at a total of $500,000 in reimbursements.
Hastings was shocked by Governor Rauner’s veto of legislation that may help build Illinois’ economy.

“I was surprised the self-described ‘business governor’ did not embrace new legislation to enhance Illinois’ economy and encourage new residents to invest in our communities,” Hastings said. “Growing our economy is not a partisan issue. It is our responsibility to work together to create new jobs and encourage entrepreneurs to choose Illinois as their home.”

Hastings says the Department of Commerce and Economic Development will evaluate the program’s effectiveness and report back to the General Assembly and governor to ensure the tax credit is achieving its goal. At that time the General Assembly can work together to enhance and change the tax credit to make sure it is meeting the needs of local residents.

Senate Bill 1462 passed the Senate and now heads to the House for consideration.

TINLEY PARK- During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, State Senator Michael E. Hastings reminds residents that domestic violence is a daily issue that affects many Illinoisans.

“As a state, it is our duty to condemn domestic violence in any form and continue our charge to support a safe living and work environment for all Illinois residents,” Hastings said. “Confronting an attacker is hard process for survivors of domestic violence. When someone is ready to take this step of bravery there are is a new measure in place to help provide them with justice.”

Hastings championed a measure to help protect victims of domestic violence in Illinois during the legislative session.

The new law will improve the processing and review of sexual assault evidence by requiring the Illinois State Police to implement a new statewide sexual assault evidence kit tracking procedure. It also creates the Sexual Assault Evidence and Reporting Commission to research and develop best practices to establish a statewide plan to track and report sexual assault evidence.

“The justice system was created to give our citizens the opportunity to confront their abusers and for the innocent to be absolved of faulty accusations,” Hastings said. “This new law will ensure survivors of sexual assault are equipped with the right evidence to receive their fair day in court.”

Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault reports that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men will experience some form of sexual assault in their lifetime. Illinois became the first state in the nation to a enact rape kit reform law in 2010. Hastings believes this new law is the next step in ensuring transparency and ending the backlog of untested evidence.

“Transparency is key to ensure rape kits are tested responsibly and in a timely manner,” Hastings said. “Our hope is this new process will implement a system that stresses accuracy and accountably to give survivors of sexual assault some peace of mind.”

House Bill 528 passed the Senate and House with bipartisan support. The new law is now in effect.