Lake County Gazette

Last week, Illinois State Representative Martin McLaughlin took to social media to share his points of view on the governments efficiency regarding businesses. McLaughlin noted that while Gov. Pritzker and others call the state pro-business, in reality it doesn’t seem that way.

"I keep hearing from the Democrats and the Governor about how pro-business Illinois is," Illinois State Representative said according to an August 3 Facebook post. "The reality we are experiencing at my district office is quite different."

Martin McLaughlin was first elected to the Illinois House in 2020. A Republican, their legislative experience includes serving on the Revenue & Finance and Prescription Drug Affordability. McLaughlin is a state representative who resides in Barrington Hills, according to the Illinois House.

Screenshot of Rep. Martin McLaughlin's Facebook post. | Rep. Martin McLaughlin's Facebook page.

In his recent Facebook post, Rep. McLaughlin shared a link to a news release, where his statement continued. “We have many constituents waiting upwards of 8 weeks for approval of their professional licenses through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). With ONE MILLION people in Illinois requiring a professional license through the state, and only 45 persons employed by IDFPR to process applications & renewals, with outdated antiquated computer systems, is it any wonder we once again have the perfect storm for another State of Illinois agency to fail its residents? Let’s get it together Springfield! If these residents with pending licenses waited to pay their taxes, I bet you could speed up that processing time?"

McLaughlin’s news release linked to a House Republican Caucus Blog focusing on the issues with professional licensure. It echoes McLaughlin’s statement about the number of individuals processing professional licensure applications. “Individuals are asked to meet specific education and training requirements, and that can create barriers to entry. If the supply of professionals is restricted, consumers see higher prices and rising costs for services. Strict licensure can also hinder innovation and restrict competition within industries, slowing down economic growth and impeding advancements. To address these concerns, House Republicans have fought for regulatory reforms to provide alternatives, such as certification or apprenticeship programs,” Rep McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin isn’t the only one who is concerned. In April, WCIA reported on a request for $6 million request from Mario Treto, Jr., secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, to improve the system used in his office to speed up the time between an individual’s request for professional licensure and receiving that license.