Six suburban residents' views on condition of Illinois
Gov. Bruce Rauner is set to give his first State of the State address Wednesday. For the occasion, the Daily Herald asked a few suburban residents what condition they think Illinois is in.
Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz, founder of JJR Marketing in Naperville
“As a small-business owner, I believe Illinois needs to change how it supports local businesses. Changing the fees and tax structure would be a great place to start. Once you get your business growing, another fee or higher tax is there waiting for you. Paying out higher taxes drastically reduces the speed that we can grow, which in turn inhibits job growth and reduces the revenue coming in to the state. There needs to be an incentive to grow, not a roadblock. We want to feel as though we are in a partnership with our government, not working against them.”
Kim Zoeller, CEO of the Ray Graham Association based in Lisle
“The Illinois nonprofit community-based disability system is fragile. The General Assembly has not passed a cost-of-doing-business increase in nearly eight years. The system is not only horribly underfunded; it is embarrassingly archaic when compared to the rest of the country. Sadly, we are at the point where an increase in the minimum wage would be devastating because the system cannot fund it. People with disabilities deserve better! Providers deserve better. Eliminating duplicative regulations and further workers' compensation reform would be a welcome relief. There is great opportunity to become a more streamlined, efficient and person-centered system.”
Sandra Westlund-Deenihan, CEO of Quality Float Works Inc., in Schaumburg
“It is imperative government leaders recognize the critical role small business plays in our economy. Several policy issues will have a role in growing our bottom line in the years to come. While government leaders are at the forefront of making some important decisions that will impact our industry, in the end, business should drive government, not the other way around. Too often, small businesses are hampered by the cost of doing business due to a bureaucratic regulatory process. Illinois must simplify the existing regulatory maze while attempting to halt efforts to impose unfunded mandates on Illinois employers.”
Raja Krishnamoorthi, president of Sivananthan Laboratories in Bolingbrook
“Many middle-class families are being squeezed by rising child care, education and health care costs while their incomes remain stagnant. Incomes at the top continue to rise, but upward economic mobility eludes so many young people and underserved populations. As a small-business man, I also feel that the government ignores our needs in favor of special interests and focuses too much on wedge issues that drive us apart instead of bring us together. Our governor must unite Illinois behind a common agenda ASAP.”
Tony Sanders, CEO of Elgin Area School District U-46
“We are in a self-imposed crisis when it comes to adequate and equitable funding for education. School District U-46 has lost $36 million over four years due to cuts in state aid, and Illinois has not fully funded the state aid formula since 2011. We want to work together to fix a broken formula so all students have access to a quality education. School District U-46 will continue to take a proactive approach and fight for funding reform.”
Deacon Don Grossnickle, Arlington Heights
“Like a proud dad, I am a very happy citizen of Illinois. I see apparent challenges, even growing pains, but I love Illinois, and let me count the ways. I was born in humble Illinois and I plan to die here. I have my turf picked out for my grave. Illinois has been good to me in so many ways. My immigrant heritage did not hold me back. I attended state schools through getting my doctorate. I see our flaws, and I am an Abraham Lincoln kind of optimist. I hold great hope for all of us who love Illinois. It is in our blood. I work at making Illinois better!”