South Cook News

Illinois ranks among the worst states in the nation in which to do business and needs to gird itself better to become more economically competitive, a Chicago-area resident running against a three-term incumbent in the 35th District House seat said.

"Let the state become more competitive through businesses against other states, through lower taxes and less regulations," Herbert Hebein of Mount Greenwood told South Cook News. "Limit the power of politicians. Make it a state where you want to raise your family and be the best state to start a business."

That isn't how things are in Illinois right now, according to an influential business executive magazine's recent poll in which Illinois, for the fourth year in a row, ranked as the third worst state in the nation in which to do business. Government is at the root of much of that, Hebein said."We have too much government regulation and too much taxation," he said.

Rep. Frances Ann Hurley

"Our politicians abuse their positions and then the businesses cannot expand. The state is run backwards."

Hebein is the Republican candidate in the 35th District Illinois State House seat currently held by Rep. Frances Ann Hurley (D-Chicago). Hurley, former aide to former Chicago Alderwoman Ginger Rugai and Alderman Matthew O'Shea, was first elected to the 35th District seat in 2012 and is seeking a fourth term this year. Hurley and Hebein both ran unopposed in their respective primaries in March.  

The 35th House District is entirely in Cook County and includes the city of Palos Heights, townships of Orland and Palos, and villages of Alsip, Chicago Ridge, Merrionette Park, Oak Lawn, Orland Hills, Orland Park, Palos Park, Tinley Park and Worth.

Hebein's comments came a few weeks after Illinois once again ranked among the worst states at No. 48 in Chief Executive Magazine's annual poll "Best and Worst States for Business" released May 3. Illinois ranked behind of No. 47 New Jersey, No. 46 Connecticut and No. 45 Massachusetts and ahead of No. 50 California and No. 49 New York.

The best states in which to do business in the nation, according to Chief Executive Magazine's latest poll, are is No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Florida, a tie for No. 3 between North Carolina and South Carolina and No. 5 Indiana.

"Seem familiar?" Chief Executive magazine wrote in its article released with this year's poll. "That’s because those are the exact same positions each of these states has occupied in each of the last four years in our annual poll of CEOs about business climates."

The ranking says a great deal about the leadership of the state, Hebein said. "There is no 'leadership' in Illinois," Hebein said.

"Decisions are made based on votes," he said. "It isn't what government does that makes our state great, it is what government doesn't do that helps make Illinois great."

Taxes and waster are the most harmful thing in Illinois for businesses to overcome, survive and strive, Hebein said. "We are overtaxed," he said.

"We spend more and then tax more. We will slowly lose our freedom. We cannot just give to someone because then we have to take from someone else. Again all done for votes."

Lower taxes on businesses and less government regulation would turn the state around and make the state more business-friendly, Hebein said. "We need to reward business to retain them," he said.

"We must offer incentives for businesses to come here and not burden them with more regulations."