McCarter Receives Chamber's Free Enterprise Award

(FROM LEFT, EFFINGHAM COUNTY CHAMBER PRESIDENT NORMA LANSING, ST. SEN. KYLE McCARTER, AND ILLINOIS STATE CHAMBER EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT TODD MAISCH)

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce presented the Champion of Free Enterprise Award to Senator Kyle McCarter at the Chamber’s July First Friday Luncheon.  

The award recognizes legislators in the Illinois General Assembly who have made special contributions in the defense of free enterprise and support pro-business legislative policies to further economic opportunities for Illinois businesses and their employees.   The award is sponsored this year statewide by JP Morgan Chase.

“With unemployment in Illinois consistently higher than the national average, state fiscal uncertainty, a crumbling transportation infrastructure, and one of the highest corporate tax rates in the nation; no state has a greater need for pro-business legislators than does Illinois.  Every business manager and owner should embrace and recognize elected officials who support the fundamental principles of the free enterprise system and the legislative policies outlined in the Illinois Jobs Agenda to assure an attentive and responsive state government for Illinois businesses,” explained Doug Whitley, President and CEO, Illinois Chamber of Commerce.  

Chamber President Norma Lansing noted that Senator McCarter has served Effingham County since 2009 when he was appointed to replace Frank Watson.  Now serving in the 54th District, he serves on the Agriculture & Conservation Committee, Labor and Commerce, Higher Education, Revenue, Committee of the Whole and is the Minority Spokesperson for the Local Government Committee.

In her introduction, Lansing said, “As a small business owner from Lebanon, Illinois, Senator McCarter understands the effects that government has on business.”

The Illinois Chamber’s Champion of Free Enterprise Award is awarded biennially to recognize Illinois legislators that have made it a commitment to support and defend the employers of Illinois and support the policies of a free enterprise system to help Illinois’ economy grow and prosper.  In order to be eligible for the award a legislator must have received an average of 85% or better voting record over the previous two General Assembly sessions as rated in the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Legislative Rating published at the end of each General Assembly session.  The ratings are based on legislators’ votes on the key business legislation of the 97th General Assembly.  The issues selected for review were determined by staff and the Illinois Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee.  The votes in the Senate and House are selected based on their impact on the business community.  In cases where more than one roll call was taken on a bill, the vote that best demonstrates support for employers’ vital interests was chosen.