More transparency will support small businesses in Illinois

In my opinion, most politicians care deeply about their constituents. It also seems policymakers across Illinois, regardless of their party affiliation, want to support small and local businesses. The efforts of well-intentioned politicians, however, are repeatedly thwarted by a lack of transparency and other ingrained roadblocks. These systemic problems also keep the public in the dark, denying folks the opportunity to be heard on issues that profoundly impact their lives and our state.

The Budget

Every year most state lawmakers must vote on a budget that spans thousands of pages with virtually no time to review its contents. Equally troubling, the public, including small business owners and advocates, lack the opportunity to adequately review the budget before policymakers cast their votes. Politicians should not wait until the very last minute to present a budget, depriving constituents of their opportunity to be heard. Negotiations over the budget should also take place in a more public way because closed door meetings at the end of a legislative session do not foster confidence in the process.

State lawmakers should take immediate steps to mandate the budget be published with ample time for review. Substantive hearings on the budget should subsequently be held so that policymakers and the public have the opportunity to ask questions and provide their input. State budgets can have a profound impact on small businesses, so a transparent budgetary process is crucially important to the small business community.

Committees

Every bill that is filed in Illinois is sent to a specific committee, presumably to be vetted, debated and ultimately, to receive a vote. Legislation that is passed out of committee then heads to either the House or Senate floor. Too often however, committees are where bills languish until the end of the legislative session. Special interests use committee assignments as a vehicle to stop bills from receiving a hearing and vote. These bills stall in committee and never advance to the floor.

By failing to provide legislation a committee hearing and vote, politicians shield themselves from voting on a bill and avoid the transparency of a hearing. This should change. Legislation that receives a certain level of support from the public or legislators in Springfield should receive a committee hearing and vote. Special interest groups and particular legislators should no longer be able to silently defeat an important piece of legislation through the committee process.

Next Steps

Ensuring our legislative process is transparent and allows constituents, including small business owners and advocates, a fair opportunity to participate should be a nonpartisan issue supported by legislators on both sides of the aisle. This summer we will be shining our own light on these, and other systemic problems, and offering solutions to increase transparency. This will include policy initiatives specifically focused on creating more transparency in Springfield.

We will also be enhancing our capacity for grass-roots engagement, making it easier for engaged constituents that support the small business community to contact their local, elected politicians. Small business owners and advocates can make a huge impact by reaching out to their politicians about legislation. We have the critical mass to make a huge impact and let politicians know how important transparency is to the small business community.

• Elliot Richardson is co-founder and president of the Small Business Advocacy Council.