Dear Business Leaders,
Foresight and the FSBA Public Policy Committee has been instrumental in introducing legislation to create a new “Benefit Corp” incorporation class in Illinois. Our bill is pending in both the House and Senate and I’m writing to enlist your support in moving it forward. Could you take a moment to sign the following petition by Wednesday, March 21? Continue reading »
California recently passed legislation enabling businesses to incorporate in that state as a Benefit Corporation. Similar legislation is on the governor’s desk in New York. The FSBA Public Policy Committee has been working with the Illinois Environmental Council to draft a bill for Illinois and secure sponsors in the state legislature.
The initial Illinois Power Association’s procurement plan for 2012, currently being reviewed by the Illinois Commerce Commission, contained provisions to offer Renewable Energy Credits from distributed solar energy systems. Unfortunately, these provisions have been removed. The FSBA Public Policy Committee are working with the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) and the Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA) to ensure that distributed solar is included in next year’s procurement plan.
Public policy has little to no meaning to many business people. It should. If the term invokes disinterest, think of it as change strategy that could directly impact your (triple) bottom line. Sustainable business needs to have a much larger presence than it does; the “other side’s” voice is too often all our leaders hear. Continue reading »
On May 9, 2011, the FSBA Public Policy Committee signed on to a letter written by the American Sustainable Business Council to Senator Max Baucus, chair of the Senate Finance Committee. The letter advocated support for limits on the billions of dollars oil companies receive in subsidies from the federal government. The full text of the letter can be found below. Continue reading »
On May 25, 2011, the FSBA Public Policy Committee sent a letter to Senator Mark Kirk urging him to vote against any bill or amendment that would reduce funding to the Environmental Protection Agency. The Committee’s letter focused on the tangible business interests that are inherently protected by a well-funded EPA. The full text of the letter to Senator Kirk is below. Continue reading »
On May 9, 2011, the FSBA Public Policy Committee signed on to a letter written by the American Sustainable Business Council to Senator Max Baucus, chair of the Senate Finance Committee. The letter advocated support for limits on the billions of dollars oil companies receive in subsidies from the federal government. The full text of the letter can be found below.
With a wave of new aldermen taking seats in Chicago’s City Council, the FSBA Public Policy Committee is working to identify those supportive of sustainability issues. The committee envisions forming an informal caucus of these representatives with whom it might forge constructive working relationships towards mutually desirable goals.
The Public Policy Committee is continuing to research successful B-corp campaigns in other states, including Vermont and Maryland as well as working with the staff of B Lab, the organization behind the concept. The Public Policy Committee is working on building a large coalition of supporters over the summer with the aim of introducing legislation in the Illinois General Assembly in early 2012.
Chicago’s City Council passed an ordinance establishing a “Chicago Green Business Certification” on April 13, 2011. The following is a personal comment from Foresight Executive Director Peter Nicholson that has not been endorsed by the FSBA Public Policy Committee:
Having been involved in the process that resulted in this ordinance since before its official inception three years ago, I was disappointed to see the Chicago Green Business Certification pass in City Council today. It potentially opens the door for citywide green washing, however unintentional. That said, the Foresight Sustainable Business Alliance looks forward to working with members of the incoming City Council to build upon this first step. We’ve been encouraged by the positive overtures that have already been made, and look forward to working together to craft a sustainable business policy that will position Chicago at the forefront of this important movement.
