SE Illinois News

It’s easy to look at the negative reports about our state and become desensitized.

I recently read a report from CEO’s that ranked Illinois the third worst state in which to do business. One might be tempted to say, “well that’s just the opinion of some greedy CEO’s,” but I urge all of us to consider the severity of this report. Chief executive officers are the leaders who decide whether a business stays in Illinois or leaves for another state.

I hope our political leaders understand what’s at stake. As a small business owner, I can tell you that business owners don’t ignore political rhetoric. When politicians take shots at business leaders, that diminishes the confidence of those leaders. They look around and see rapidly increasing energy costs, unnecessarily cumbersome regulations, and never-ending tax increases, and these business leaders are tempted to take their business elsewhere.

Politicians can say they support workers, but they fail workers when their policies chase employers away from Illinois. Though our state enjoys some of the greatest geographic, educational, and infrastructural advantages in the country, we squander our advantage through a toxic business climate.

I urge everyone to avoid becoming desensitized to negative reporting on Illinois. We must learn from our mistakes and seek collaborative solutions for a brighter future.

We cannot continue to squeeze employers and working families dry. It’s time for Illinois politicians to demand less and nurture more. Our state’s future depends on it.