CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 1560

An Act Concerning: Elections

Allows election authorities to close early voting locations on Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter day in 2013 only.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 2105

An Act Concerning: Health

Exempts certain townships that already provide specific mental health services from the requirement that a seven-person mental health advisory committee be established.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

CONSIDER THIS: Polk, an auto research firm, forecasts that new vehicle registrations in the U.S. will increase by 900,000 in 2013. According to more than 900 credit union members surveyed by the Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL), Iowa is no exception to the trend. The report revealed 10.1 percent of respondents plan to purchase a car in 2013. Additionally, 4.1 percent of respondents say they are planning to purchase a house this year.

It can be difficult to afford large down payments so finding the best financing option is more important than ever. The survey showed 46.6 percent of respondents in ICUL's survey report said they would use money from savings for a down payment on a car, and 40.5 percent on a house. While the current market offers favorable rates, MyFICO.com says the best options are usually only available to borrowers with "tier one" credit, which generally requires a credit score ranging from 760 to 850. Without research and planning, consumers outside of tier one may find themselves paying more than necessary for their loans.

"Too often consumers finance a loan without understanding the actual financial impact," said Emily Caropreso, Director of Communications & Marketing, Iowa Credit Union League. "Length of the loan and the interest rate are only part of the equation. Your credit history, fees, and down payment influence what you will pay each month, and ultimately the costs associated with the entire life of the loan."

ICUL suggests the following tips:

• Check your credit history. Your credit union can provide you with a copy of your credit report. If not, you can get a report each year for free at www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Check your report for inaccuracies, and look for areas to improve. If you have existing balances, consider paying them down to lessen your debt-to-income ratio, a big factor in your credit score.
• Shop around for the best financing deal. Consider the entire financing package when shopping for a loan. Calculate the cost of the loan through its entire term and include up-front charges, taxes and fees. You may find a low-interest loan without fees costs less than a zero-percent-interest loan with fees.
• Put money down. If possible, take the time to save up for a down payment. The more money you put down, the less you have to finance, saving you thousands of dollars in interest charges. This can also allow you to pay for any loan costs up front, rather than rolling them into your monthly payment.
• Adjust your monthly budget. Adding a new loan payment can put a dent in your monthly budget. Bills that you typically paid in the middle of the month might need to be moved, possibly subjecting you to late fees. Try budgeting an estimated mortgage or car payment a couple of months in advance to avoid the shock.
• Ask questions. The more questions you ask, the better informed you are. Sit down with a consumer lending specialist at your credit union and ask: how much house/car can I afford? What fees/charges are avoidable? What interest rate can I expect to pay? How much should I put down? In the end, how much will the loan cost me?

JOB CREATORS TO WASHINGTON: STOP BULLYING BUSINESS

(DALLAS, TX) - The CEO leaders of Job Creators Alliance today announced their strong support of a restaurant franchisee whose health care comments landed him in the national spotlight. The small business group also identified a troubling pattern of orchestrated campaigns to silence small business complaints about Obamacare.

"Mike Ruffer is in the same tough spot most job creators are in today: stuck between uncertainty and Obamacare," said Bernie Marcus, co-founder and former CEO of Home Depot. "He has every right to speak his mind, but today he's being punished for it. In fact, he's just the latest - we're seeing a pattern of intimidation against small business leaders who speak up about the failures of Obamacare."

Mr. Ruffer, owner of eight Five Guys Burgers and Fries franchises in North Carolina, joined a Monday Heritage Foundation panel discussion on Obamacare and small business. Ruffer said health care reform was hurting his business and forcing him to cancel expansion plans and raise burger prices. When his comments hit the Internet, calls from Obamacare supporters rained into executives at Five Guys headquarters. Within hours, corporate was distancing themselves from the beleaguered small businessman.

"What is most disturbing is that many business leaders like Mr. Ruffer are being singled out for a public thrashing for simply explaining the realities of the Affordable Care Act," said Marcus, who is also co-founder of Job Creators Alliance (JCA).

Darden Restaurants - owner of Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and Red Lobster restaurants - spoke out in late 2012 and was rapidly rebuked via telephone, email and social media. At the same time, RREMC Restaurants, which owns more than 30 Denny's locations, announced plans to pass the cost on to consumers. Within a day, Denny's corporate offices had the CEO apologizing. Last month, Universal Orlando Resort announced cancellation of a health care program for their part time employees and the Internet exploded in derision.

"The list goes on and on: Applebees, Papa John's, even golfer Phil Mickelson - when a business owner speaks up about job killing policies, they are quickly bullied into apologizing," said JCA member Mike Leven, president and CEO of Las Vegas Sands. "Who is orchestrating the telephone banks and email campaigns which erupt moments after a business leader speaks against Obamacare? For the first time in my long career, I feel like a target. We all do."

"Job creators across the country are staring into the depths of Obamacare uncertainty today, facing the same decisions as Mr. Ruffer," Marcus said. "That's bad enough. But when campaign forces attack small business leaders like him, disrupting commerce and risking jobs just to make a political point, job creators are no longer just uncertain. They're afraid."

ABOUT JCA

Job Creators Alliance is the voice of real job creators that has been missing from the American debate on jobs and our economic crisis. JCA members talk about paychecks, not politics, helping the public and policymakers understand how to create jobs. Please visit www.JobCreatorsAlliance.org for more information.

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