TINLEY PARK- Small businesses in Illinois competing for state contracts will no longer be pitted against large corporations that don’t play by the rules while.

A new law passed by State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) to level the playing field among businesses that compete for state contracts and investments will go into effect at the start of the New Year.

“Large corporations that dodge taxes should not be earning taxpayer money,” Hastings said. “If businesses are going to use offshore tax havens to avoid paying taxes, they should not be rewarded with taxpayer-funded state contracts and business.”

Hastings championed House Bill 3419, which prohibits expatriate corporations from submitting bids or entering into contracts with state agencies.

Some corporations use tax havens to avoid paying taxes. 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.

“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,” Hastings said. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. The more the state invests in them, the more they will invest in our great state.”

The new law will apply to businesses incorporated in any foreign country that does not impose a substantial income tax or substantial business activity tax.

TINLEY PARK- State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) is outraged at the Federal Communication Commission’s decision to eliminate net neutrality protections across the United States.

Today the FCC voted in favor of rolling back the 2015 net neutrality rules that were put in place to empower and protect Illinois consumers and their rights to an open internet.

“Big corporate utility corporations will now serve as gatekeepers of the world wide web,” Hastings said. “The rollback of net neutrality rules means that the needs of consumers will now be put on the back burner as broadband providers engineer plans to profit and infringe on the privacy and freedoms we once had.”

Hastings was a proponent of protecting those freedoms, and earlier this year he introduced a resolution in the Illinois Senate urging President Donald Trump and members of the United States Congress to continue to protect net neutrality and open internet access.

Supporters of net neutrality argue that rules that took effect in 2015 are the only thing standing between greedy utility companies and impaired internet use. Without net neutrality, those companies could have the power to throttle traffic, charge for expensive "fast lanes" and completely block sites that displease corporate entities.

This means those corporate entities would have full control over information transmitted into homes or business via the internet.

On Black Friday, over 200 companies such as Twitter, Pinterest and Airbnb signed a letter warning FCC Chairman Ajit Pai not to roll back net neutrality protections. The letter states that record Black Friday sales are "a testament to the power of the free and open internet to encourage entrepreneurship, drive innovation, make our lives easier, and to support a healthy economy."

“Our military men and women have fought to protect our democratic principles,” Hastings said. “Freedom of information is a fundamental right our nation was founded upon. The fact Illinois citizens, organizations and businesses may now have to pay a toll to use the internet freely is a direct assault on our sacred values.”
Currently, 47 nations across the globe have laws or regulations protecting net neutrality, including the European Union, Argentina, Norway, South Korea, Tunisia, Turkey, Japan, Mexico and India.

“Net neutrality shouldn’t be a partisan issue,” Hastings said. “The decision made today will not only impact U.S. citizens but our friends and allies across the world. It’s our duty to work together to stand up against this injustice and I urge our federal officials to do the same. We cannot afford to accept policies that impede our basic freedoms.”

Hastings looks forward to future hearings and discussions addressing net neutrality in Illinois during the legislative session.

TINLEY PARK- State Senator Michael Hastings (D-Tinley Park) has joined the fight to keep federal net neutrality rules in place.

Hastings filed Senate Resolution 1117 which urges President Donald Trump and members of the United States Congress to continue to protect net neutrality and open internet access.

“Big money utility companies should not have the power to obstruct our access to information,” Hastings said. “I will not stand by as Trump’s administration continues its attacks on our democracy and freedom. Too many of our nation’s heroes have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the United States Constitution and ensure we have the freedoms we enjoy.”

Supporters of net neutrality argue that rules that took effect in 2015 are the only thing standing between greedy utility companies and impaired internet use such as throttled traffic, expensive "fast lanes" and completely blocked sites that displease corporate entities would have full control over information transmitted into homes or business.

On Black Friday, over 200 companies such as Twitter, Pinterest and Airbnb signed a letter warning FCC Chairman Ajit Pai not to roll back net neutrality. The letter states that record Black Friday sales are "a testament to the power of the free and open internet to encourage entrepreneurship, drive innovation, make our lives easier, and to support a healthy economy."

“Our nation is built on the American dream,” Hastings said. “Ending net neutrality opens the possibility that Illinois businesses would have to pay a toll just to reach customers. These new rules could impede on the economic growth of small and medium sized businesses and new innovative start-ups across Illinois.”

A poll released this year by Politico and Morning Consult showed that 60 percent of registered voters support the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) current net neutrality rules.

TINLEY PARK - State Senator Michael E. Hastings is reminding residents across the Southland to patronize local businesses this weekend.

The Thanksgiving weekend marks the start of the holiday shopping season, and Hastings hopes area residents will remember to patronize local businesses on Small Business Saturday on November 25.

“We have the best local businesses in our community,” Hastings said. “Our small businesses create jobs, provide excellent customer service and are dedicated neighbors. Take some time this holiday weekend to stop by local businesses and keep your hard earned money in the Southland.”

For every $100 spent in locally owned, independent stores, $68 goes back to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. In 2016, small businesses owners generated an estimated $15.4 billion dollars on Small Business Saturday.