By Thurlow Weed
Well, the bad news continues for the Illinois business climate. The latest: Honda chooses Indiana over Illinois to build a new assembly plant.
Should this come as any surprise? The Blagojevich Administration has done its level best to destroy the state's business climate. From raising more than 300 taxes and fees on Illinois employers (and chasing the trucking industry out of the state in the process), to blocking meaningful lawsuit reform, Blago should not be surprised that our state continues to shed good manufacturing jobs -- and, apparently, repel new ones.
Just last week came news from the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity that Illinois lost more than 29,000 manufacturing jobs in May alone. Overall, our state has shed more than 150,000 manufacturing jobs in the last five years.
According to the Fortune 100 list of America's top small businesses -- Illinois is home to only two such employers.
The Pacific Research Institute rates Illinois near the bottom (46th) in Economic Freedom.
A U.S. Chamber of Commerce poll ranks Illinois as one of the worst states in the country for lawsuit abuse.
Yet, our own U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel has the audacity to tell the Tribune that lawmakers "we'll do whatever we need to do to make Illinois the more attractive state."
Really, Rahm?
How about freeing Illinois employers of the burdens of regulation, taxation and litigation that the current Administration has heaped upon them.
How about true reform of Illinois' business climate -- rather than just offers of tax breaks on an employer-by-employer basis (remember Boeing?).
Until the governor and Democrats in the legislature stop their assault on Illinois employers, the bad news is just going to keep coming ... and coming ... and coming ...
