If Democrats want to keep businesses and people in Illinois, they're going about it strangely, Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) argued recently, according to a press release.
“Illinois has lost 1,600 manufacturing jobs since 2009, while our surrounding states added 35,000," Barickman said in the release. "That is unacceptable. You would think at some point Democrats would recognize that there is a real problem here and decide to take serious action."
Barickman pointed to a proposed workers' comp measure and budget that includes new taxes on residents and businesses as two measures driving people and businesses from the state.
Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington)
“This is right back to the same old bag of tricks, reckless, out-of-control spending and higher taxes for residents of this state while refusing to do anything to stop the loss of jobs and people," Barickman said in the release. "This was more political theater from the supermajority party. We should be at the negotiating table working on real solutions instead of dealing with partisan games.”
Barickman said both parties had been working together on pension and procurement reform, but then Democrats went on their own on workers' comp.
“The state of Illinois hasn’t been able to pass a balanced budget in 15 years, yet apparently they think we need to launch a state-run insurance company,” Barickman said in the release. “This in no way represents an attempt to accomplish anything, this is merely a shallow attempt to give the illusion of a solution.”
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