Latest news with #BenJackson
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amid court battle, lawmakers look to push back ‘swipe fees' ban
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers have decided to delay a ban on 'swipe fees' for another year as bankers are locked in a court battle with the state over the ban. Lawmakers passed the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act last spring as part of the legislative package that enacted the state budget. It prohibits financial institutions from charging fees on the tax and tip portions of credit and debit card transactions. The rest of the transaction, including the price of goods or services, would still be subject to the fees. The ban was supposed to take effect on July 1, but lawmakers voted with strong bipartisan majorities Sunday morning to pass House Bill 742 to push the ban back until July 2026. Banking groups filed a lawsuit last August challenging the law on the grounds it superseded federal banking regulations. Bankers argued the law forces banks and credit card companies to implement costly new computer systems to differentiate between the transaction, tax and tip, and contended they can't comply with the law by July 1. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in December preventing the law, once it takes effect, from applying to federally chartered banks while declining to extend the injunction to state banks and credit card companies. In February, the judge declined to extend the injunction to credit unions, though it was extended to out-of-state banks that operate in Illinois. The case has remained unresolved in the courts since then, leading lawmakers to push back the start of the ban. The measure pushing back the effective date still needs approval from Gov. JB Pritzker. Banking groups supported the delay and continued their messaging campaign against the underlying legislation that passed a year ago. 'This law will cause widespread economic disruption, and mounting evidence shows that the measure overwhelmingly benefits corporate megastores while placing an undue financial burden on small businesses and smaller financial institutions that form the backbone of our local economies,' Illinois Bankers Association Executive Vice President Ben Jackson said in a statement. The ban was a request of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association as part of a deal during budget negotiations last spring. State lawmakers capped a monthly sales tax deduction claimed by retailers at $1,000 to generate $101 million to fill a budget hole. In exchange, lawmakers passed the ban on swipe fees. IRMA said in a statement it was disappointed lawmakers have decided to delay the ban. 'By refusing to require compliance as originally intended, legislators are again taking hundreds of millions of dollars out of the pockets of working families and Main Street businesses and giving it to big banks, credit card companies and credit card processors,' IRMA CEO Rob Karr said in a statement. However, other business groups such as the Illinois Chamber of Commerce said lawmakers made the right decision and urged the legislature to fully repeal the law. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Guard Your Card Illinois: Illinois General Assembly Delays Implementation of Flawed Interchange Fee Prohibition Act
Small Businesses, Local Financial Institutions and Consumers Temporarily Spared From Chaos While Federal Court Challenge Continues to Dismantle This Misguided Policy SPRINGFIELD, Ill., June 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois General Assembly has delayed the implementation of the flawed Interchange Fee Prohibition Act to July 1, 2026, according to Guard Your Card Illinois. This law is currently being challenged in federal court, with a partial preliminary injunction giving protections to federally chartered and national institutions while leaving Illinois banks, credit unions, small business owners and consumers in the path of chaos. "We thank the Illinois General Assembly, House Speaker Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon for extending the effective date of the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act to July 1, 2026," said Ben Jackson, Executive Vice President of the Illinois Bankers Association. "This law will cause widespread economic disruption, and mounting evidence shows that the measure overwhelmingly benefits corporate megastores while placing an undue financial burden on small businesses and smaller financial institutions that form the backbone of our local economies. In the coming months, we will urge the Illinois General Assembly to act in the best interest of their constituents by fully repealing this law." Last May, an undebated, last-minute provision was included in Illinois' budget package that will establish Illinois as a radical outlier in the global payments system and will upend the way credit and debit cards work across the state. With no workable technology and no system in place as it has never been implemented anywhere in the world, it is unknown how Illinois financial institutions, business owners and consumers will be able to comply with the law. Illinois consumers could be forced to pay tax or gratuity in cash or by check, and purchases might require two transactions. "Credit unions across Illinois appreciate the General Assembly's recognition of the urgent need for relief from the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act," said Ashley Sharp, Senior Vice President of State Advocacy and Legislative Counsel for the Illinois Credit Union League. "This misguided policy will negatively impact the consumers we serve, and we will continue our efforts to have this law fully repealed." The Illinois Bankers Association and the Illinois Credit Union League were among a group of plaintiffs who filed litigation to challenge the law last August. A partial preliminary injunction was granted in December, ruling that national banks, federal savings banks and out of state banks would be exempt from complying from the law. However, Illinois' own state-chartered banks, as well as state and federal credit unions, will still have to comply with this law. "The Community Bankers Association of Illinois appreciates the General Assembly taking the prudent approach of delaying the implementation of the IFPA," said Jerry Peck, Senior Vice President of government relations at the Community Bankers Association of Illinois. "We look forward to continued conversations with lawmakers about the unintended negative consequences this deeply flawed law will have for consumers and small business." Last October, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which charters and examines national banks, filed an amicus brief stating that the IFPA "is an ill-conceived, highly unusual and largely unworkable state law," and "it is likely that fraud risk would increase significantly, consumer services would be constrained, and public trust would decline." Small businesses will be left with headaches from this law while corporate megastores will be the beneficiaries. A new study analyzing the cost implications of an Illinois credit card law shows 40 of the largest retailers will soak up nearly 40 percent of the estimated $118 million reduction in interchange. This is why corporate megastores have publicly supported similar legislation in other states. "The Illinois General Assembly took a step in the right direction by delaying the implementation of the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, a law that will disrupt a system that has worked efficiently for decades and threaten the economic vitality of small businesses across our state," said Lou Sandoval, President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. "The Illinois Chamber of Commerce urges lawmakers to repeal this law and focus on policies that support small businesses across Illinois." The Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce have advocated for a repeal of this law due to the harmful impact it will have on small businesses across the state. "Delaying the implementation of this misguided policy gives small business owners the protections they deserve while the law continues to be challenged in federal court," said Larry Ivory, President and CEO of the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce. "We urge Illinois legislators to repeal this law before it harms over one million small businesses across the state." "We welcome the decision to delay the implementation of IFPA, but it's clear that this law will have serious unintended consequences on small businesses who are the backbone of Illinois' economy," said Jaime di Paulo, President and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "If enacted, this law will limit payment options for small retailers, disrupt existing financial systems, and ultimately increase costs for consumers. For Latino-owned businesses, many of which operate with thin margins and limited access to capital, this kind of disruption could be devastating. While the extension is a good start, we still urge the Illinois legislature to repeal this misguided law and prioritize the needs of our local entrepreneurs and communities." To learn more, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Guard Your Card Illinois Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Guardian
18-04-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
UK national parks warn of ‘catastrophic' risk from wildfires this Easter
Britain's national parks have warned of a 'catastrophic' risk from wildfires this Easter after one of the driest early spring seasons on record. Park rangers from the South Downs to the Highlands said the prolonged warm weather and breezy conditions had left large areas extremely dry despite recent rain. A number of national parks have advised day-trippers about the dangers of lighting barbecues and dropping cigarettes after one of the worst fire seasons on record. Ben Jackson, who leads rangers in part of the North York Moors national park, said the recent climate had created the ideal conditions for a wildfire that 'could be catastrophic for our wildlife and habitats, not to mention a serious danger to people'. Swathes of the UK had one of the driest Marches in decades, and April temperatures have so far been warmer than average. The conditions have led to more than double the number of wildfires in England and Wales than in the same period in 2022, which went on to be a record year for moorland blazes, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). An NFCC spokesperson said on Friday: 'Most wildfires are sparked by human actions, often accidental and sometimes deliberate. One careless moment can cause a significant wildfire and have devastating consequences. 'As people head outdoors this Easter, we urge everyone to help prevent wildfires by not using disposable barbecues, not dropping cigarettes or glass bottles that could ignite dry vegetation, and by respecting nature.' Tom Hind, at the Peak District National Park Authority, said the risk of wildfires this weekend was 'extremely high' despite the recent rain. Charities said weeks of wildfires had 'decimated' whole ecosystems and put endangered species at risk. Vast areas of habitat for small mammals and birds – including butterflies, beetles and falcons – had been damaged, they said, adding that some peat bogs could take hundreds of years to recover. In the Peak District, rangers said on Friday that 'one careless day out can mean years repairing the damage' done to the environment by a stray spark. Park bosses in the Cairngorms, in the Highlands, plan to make it a criminal offence to light or maintain a fire between 1 April and 30 September. The bylaw will come into effect next year, if approved by the Scottish government. Steve Tatlock, a team leader at the Lake District National Park Authority, said: 'Wildfires have the potential to devastate the Lake District landscape, kill animals and ruin habitats. Easter is always a busy period for the region and the majority of people who enjoy the Lake District treat it respectfully. We want everyone to appreciate their time in the national park but also to be aware of the potential fire risk. 'Despite a little rain this week, the recent long spell of warm dry weather has still left vegetation particularly dry and campfires, discarded cigarettes and smouldering barbecues all risk starting a wildfire with devastating consequences.'
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Campus closed after unauthorised camp set up
A university campus has been closed after an unauthorised travellers' camp was set up on its sports pitches. Lincolnshire Police said officers were called on Thursday to a report of a number of caravans and cars making their way onto the playing fields of Bishop Grosseteste University off Longsdale Road in Lincoln. The force said there had been no reports of disorder and officers would continue to monitor the situation. The university said a large number of people and vehicles had arrived on campus and advised staff, students and visitors to stay away. Deputy vice chancellor Tom Dannatt said: "Early this morning we were made aware of a situation in which a large number of people and their vehicles arrived on campus, taking occupation of our sports pitches. "We are working closely with the police to resolve the matter as quickly and safely as possible and our estates and security team are on campus to support where necessary. "Our main priority remains to be the safety of our staff, students, planned guests and local community. "With this in mind, we are asking all staff, students and visitors to not attend campus." Ben Jackson, public protection and antisocial behaviour manager at City of Lincoln Council, said: "We are aware that an unauthorised traveller encampment has been set up on land in the Longdales Road area of Lincoln. "In response, we have enacted our protocol for such incidents and are working with our partners and the land owner to better understand how the situation will be managed." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Bishop Grosseteste University Views sought over Gypsy and traveller site plans Land for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community
BBC News
11-04-2025
- BBC News
Lincoln campus closed after travellers set up camp
A university campus has been closed after an unauthorised travellers' camp was set up on its sports pitches. Lincolnshire Police said officers were called on Thursday to a report of a number of caravans and cars making their way onto the playing fields of Bishop Grosseteste University off Longsdale Road in Lincoln. The force said there had been no reports of disorder and officers would continue to monitor the situation. The university said a large number of people and vehicles had arrived on campus and advised staff, students and visitors to stay away. Deputy vice chancellor Tom Dannatt said: "Early this morning we were made aware of a situation in which a large number of people and their vehicles arrived on campus, taking occupation of our sports pitches."We are working closely with the police to resolve the matter as quickly and safely as possible and our estates and security team are on campus to support where necessary."Our main priority remains to be the safety of our staff, students, planned guests and local community. "With this in mind, we are asking all staff, students and visitors to not attend campus."Ben Jackson, public protection and antisocial behaviour manager at City of Lincoln Council, said: "We are aware that an unauthorised traveller encampment has been set up on land in the Longdales Road area of Lincoln."In response, we have enacted our protocol for such incidents and are working with our partners and the land owner to better understand how the situation will be managed." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
