Lake County Gazette

State Senate candidate Barrett Davie wonders how anyone could take what he sees as Illinois’ biggest asset for granted.

“Small businesses are the heart of the economy in our state,” Davie, running against Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) in District 29, told the Lake County Gazette. “Too many Illinois politicians forget that the tax dollars they spend are generated by the hard work of our small business economy.”

If a recent Thumbtack Small Business Friendly Survey is any indication, business owners across the state have finally had enough and are intent on sending that message.

Illinois state Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield)

A recent study of more than 7,500 small business owners and entrepreneurs from across the state tagged Illinois with the dubious distinction of being the “least accommodating state in the country” for small business owners to work with.

In the study, billed as “the largest continuous study of small business perceptions,” Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) adds Illinois also earned an “F” for its level of friendliness and regulations. The state also received failing marks in the areas of taxes, labor and licensure.

Over the last seven years, state lawmakers have further rocked the state’s business community with a pair of massive tax hikes that have cost the state a minimum of $55.8 billion in actual GDP, IPI states. More recently, lawmakers banded together to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto in enacting a record-setting 32 percent permanent income tax hike. As part of that plan, the state’s corporate income tax rate jumped from 5.25 percent to 7 percent.

“The Illinois Senate and my opponent, Julie Morrison, are particularly egregious,” Davie added. “As a person who has built and grown successful businesses in Illinois, I will fight for policies that enable entrepreneurs to flourish in our state.” 

Senate District 29 includes portions of the north suburbs of Chicago in Lake and Cook counties.