Lake County Gazette

Mike Amrozowicz, Republican candidate for the District 31 state Senate seat, said in a recent social media video post that he has been endorsed by several major business groups.

Amrozowicz's plan to create jobs for Illinois families has resulted in support from the Illinois Manufacturing Association, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and Associated Builders and Contractors.

In a short video, Amrozowicz talked about the choice before Illinois voters in November and said his opponent, state Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), had the lowest rating of any state senator, with only a 33 percent satisfaction rating from the Illinois Manufacturing Association and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

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"We need to make Illinois friendly for business again, and working families deserve good-paying jobs," Amrozowicz said.

Previously, Amrozowicz had discussed the issues weighing on businesses in Illinois, including workers' compensation costs that are double and triple the rates of surrounding states. Incorporating reforms to lower the costs of workers' compensation would improve the business climate in the state and facilitate economic growth, Amrozowicz said. While some changes in workers' compensation insurance regulations were made in 2011, Illinois still has the most expensive rates in the region for manufacturing, construction and transportation.

Illinois' manufacturing industry has been hard hit since 1990, losing nearly 340,000 jobs. Between August 2015 and August 2016, manufacturing lost 11,800 jobs. Large employers are moving out of state, and skilled workers are following.

High taxes are also a factor in the out-migration of businesses and residents. Illinois homeowners pay the second highest property tax rates in the nation. The combined total of income, property and sales taxes makes Illinois residents the highest-taxed population in the country. Amrozowicz favors tax reforms that start with a property tax freeze to reduce the burden on working families. Tax reforms that would allow local governments to reduce their reliance on property taxes to fill the gap between revenue and expenditures are also needed, Amrozowicz said.

Amrozowicz also wrote about the crushing layers of regulations that stifle businesses. The cost of complying with regulations can drive entrepreneurs and small enterprises out of business. The Illinois Policy Institute compared starting a small business in Illinois to a marathon filled with roadblocks and hurdles. Due to the unfriendly business climate in Illinois, many investors are unwilling to take the risk involved in investing in the state's businesses.

"I've owned and operated a small business for 12 years," Amrozowicz said. "I understand the crushing effects Springfield policies have on small businesses. I have a plan to attract and keep businesses here in Illinois so they can create jobs for our families."

Amrozowicz said the Illinois Department of Revenue estimates that if the state's economic growth had kept pace with the national average since 2001, the state would not have a backlog of unpaid bills. Instead, the economic growth would have produced $19 billion in revenue, and the state would have a balanced budget.

Working in the state Senate to grow the economy and provide more jobs to Illinois residents continues to be a primary goal for Amrozowicz. When businesses grow and residents are working, the state's revenues also grow.

Amrozowicz said in his video that his plan to attract and keep businesses in Illinois is what earned the endorsements from the three aforementioned business associations. By implementing reforms to nurture new businesses, grow existing businesses and end wasteful spending, Illinois can generate the revenue needed to implement a balanced budget without raising taxes, Amrozowicz said.

Amrozowicz will face Bush in the upcoming general election in November. Both candidates were unopposed in their respective primaries.