Jobs & Growth

In 1824, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.” Government in Illinois is breaking the backs of its citizens who currently work an average of 103 days out of the year to pay off their tax burden to state and federal government. What do we have to show for our hard work? Record deficits. And record unemployment. We must work to stop the flow of funds from the private sector to the public sector by demanding limited and accountable government in Illinois.

Illinois – with its nation-leading 7,000 units of government – ranks 48^th in the nation in job creation and faces record high unemployment. Yet our legislators enjoy the 5^th highest salaries in the nation at $68,000. Legislator salaries are 50% higher than the average Illinois resident who earns $46,000. When it comes to state spending, 1 out of every 4 general fund dollars goes toward public employee compensation. Politicians blame the current economic climate on the Great Recession and are asking Illinois taxpayers to pay an additional 67% in income taxes to pay for more government.

The truth is that Illinois’ fiscal mismanagement, runaway spending, unfunded obligations, high tax rates, and corruption have resulted in a hostile business environment that is unattractive to prospective employers. Over the last decade, Illinois has ranked 48^th in job creation and has fewer jobs today than it did a decade ago. And our future isn’t any brighter, ALEC ranks Illinois’ economic outlook as 44^th in the nation.

Illinois can’t spend its way back to prosperity. And the citizens of Illinois can no longer carry the burden of what Jefferson appropriately described as “parasites”. For the Good of Illinois is dedicated to a vital economic environment in Illinois and will empower citizens to break the shackles of state government.

Objectives

1. End our reputation of being a high-risk state by ending corruption and demanding fiscal responsibility.
2. Place future generations on the path to prosperity and develop a highly educated workforce by reforming public education.
3. Create a tax system that encourages job creation and economic growth by reducing income and property rates, and eliminating the estate tax.
4. Lower the barriers of doing business by enacting legal reform, streamlining licensing, and reducing fees and regulations.
5. Create job opportunities and increase the freedom and flexibility of workers by enacting “right to work” protections.