104.7 WLMD Macomb - August 23, 2017 | original article

By Veronica Carter

It soon will no longer be OK in Illinois to charge women more than men for services such as dry cleaning and salon appointments. Legislation that increases transparency in pricing among some service providers and exposes gender-based price discrimination has been signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

State Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, said most folks assume that this type of discrimination would have disappeared by now - but it hasn't. She said women have long been charged more for certain services - which doesn't make it right.

"Women pay more for dry cleaning, and you'll also see it in some hair salons, where women will pay more for the same services, and tailors," she said. "So, it's just trying to make sure that women do know what the prices are, so that they can ask, 'Is there a reason for a price difference?' "

Bush sponsored Senate Bill 298, which requires hair salons, barbers, dry cleaners and tailors to provide customers with a price list for services upon request. The law takes effect Jan. 1.

Last year, the same senator's "pink tax" legislation repealed state sales tax on feminine hygiene products. She said it's another part of the effort to remove economic barriers for Illinois women.

"My hope is that the law will make service providers take a second look at what they charge women," she said, "because what women pay, you know, these are dollars that are coming out of our family."

Bush said gender inequity is a problem across the country. In a study published in late 2015, New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs compared nearly 800 products of more than 90 brands and found, on average, products for women and girls cost seven-percent more than similar products for men and boys.

SPRINGFIELD – Senator Melinda Bush’s (D-Grayslake) measure to increase transparency in pricing among service providers and expose gender-based price discrimination was signed into law today.

Senate Bill 298 requires hair salons, barbers, dry cleaners and tailors to provide customers with a price list for services upon request, giving consumers the resources necessary to make educated choices when deciding which businesses to frequent.

“Women have been unfairly charged more than men for the same services for far too long,” Bush said. “Transparent pricing among service providers will help women know whether they are getting a fair deal for services.”

Dry cleaners, barbers and tailors have frequently been examined in studies on gender-based pricing and have been found to charge women more than men for the same services.

“My hope is that this new law will make service providers take a second look at their prices and charge women more fairly,” Bush said.

Last year, Senator Bush’s “pink tax” legislation repealed sales tax on feminine hygiene products. This latest measure builds on Senator Bush’s work to remove economic barriers for Illinois women.

Senate Bill 298 takes effect on January 1, 2018.

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SPRINGFIELD – Voters will soon have the power to consolidate or abolish local townships thanks to a local government consolidation measure championed by Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), which was signed into law today.

“Local government consolidation is long overdue,” Bush said. “Voters will soon be able to decide what type of government can best serve the needs of their communities.”

Illinois has more than 1,400 townships. Prior to this measure, only three Illinois counties had a framework to consolidate, absorb or eliminate local townships. Because of Bush’s past work on local government consolidation, Lake County is one of the three counties that allowed for consolidation.

The legislation allows all 102 Illinois counties to consolidate local townships with voter consent. Bush championed the same legislation during the 99th General Assembly as SB 388, but the measure died in the House.

“Consolidating local governments is good for Illinois. It saves taxpayer money and reduces government bureaucracy—two things Illinois desperately needs,” Bush said.

Senate Bill 3 was signed into law today. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2018.

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SPRINGFIELD — Illinois is one step closer to reinstating an important incentive program for attracting and retaining businesses, thanks to a measure from Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake).

House Bill 162 reinstates the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program, allowing the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to offer tax credits to businesses that invest in Illinois.

“We need every tool possible to attract and retain businesses in Illinois and ensure we can offer incentives that allow us to compete with neighboring states,” Bush said. “I represent an area that borders Wisconsin. It’s important for us to have the EDGE program in place in order to stay competitive.”

The bill requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to recapture the economic development funds if the recipient does not fulfill their end of the bargain. That money would then be disbursed to the local workforce investment area.

The measure extends the EDGE credit program through June 30, 2022.

Having passed both the House and Senate, House Bill 162 now goes to the governor for approval.

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