Thillens Vows to be Last Businessman to Leave Illinois

LETTER TO THE EDITOR AND READERS OF PATCH.COM

Illinois Last in Business Owner Satisfaction

I run a family business in Illinois.  We deliver currency to and from banks, and our livelihood is directly related to the business health in this state.  So I watch the trends and research that affect business in Illinois. 

I wasn’t shocked to read a recent study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation that showed Illinois ranked as the least “small business friendly” state in the nation.  Small businesses employ the majority of Illinois residents, but the lifelong politicians in Springfield are driving small businesses out of our state through incompetence, corruption, and taxation.

While taxes and government spending are out of control in Illinois, that isn’t the worst thing about doing business here.  What’s worse is the endless bureaucratic red tape.  Politicians and the patronage employees they employ choke the businesses here with bad service, incompetent processing, and excessive regulation. 

Time is money, and spending 400 hours a year working on regulation compliance, arguing with a government worker with no qualifications other than supporting some politician, takes away from finding new customers, creating new products, and making the very profits the government is so eager to overtax.

Business owners want just one thing – an honest and efficient government.

I love this state and would be the last one to leave my home, but businesses are leaving and taking their jobs with them.  If we don’t start making Illinois more business friendly, many Illinois residents will find it even harder to find a job.

Mel Thillens

Vice President, Thillens Inc.

Republican Candidate for Illinois State Representative – 55th District