Rep. Mark Batinick | repbatinick.com
Rep. Mark Batinick | repbatinick.com
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) supports legislation to permit Illinois universities and community colleges to contribute a 5% “plus factor” to contract bids from businesses owned by minorities, women, or people with disabilities. Batinick has a track record on these issues.
Batinick himself filed House Bill 4816 on Jan. 25.
“House Bill 4816 presents a real solution to make it easier for these Illinois businesses to qualify for contracts with the state" Batinick said. "By taking the ‘carrot’ versus the ‘stick’ approach, we can help the state increase its work with these important institutions that build our communities. I am eager to see this bill move through the General Assembly and look forward to a robust conversation about this legislation.”
Batinick said that this new approach was the result of the failed past strategies that were used.
“While we increased the goal for state contracts to businesses owned by minorities, women, and people with disabilities and increased the minimum amount of state contracts awarded to these businesses, the solution has not been working" Batinick said. "This legislation offers an alternative way that can help us achieve that goal.”
According to the latest Census data, approximately 12% of businesses in Illinois are owned by African-Americans. The percentage of businesses in the U.S. owned by women went up to 42% in 2019 from 4.6% in 1972. According to a statement from Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2020, businesses owned by women were growing twice as fast as the national average, despite not receiving as many loans as companies owned by men.
Batinick promoted this idea in a March 2021 op-ed piece.
He is a member of the House Immigration & Human Rights Committee.
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