OfficeMax seeks Illinois tax break

Tucked in during the Illinois General Assembly’s special session to discuss the state’s pension crisis was a proposal to give a corporate giant a special tax break. According to the State Journal-Register, OfficeMax Inc. is asking the state of Illinois for tax breaks to keep the company’s headquarters in-state after the office supply chain’s merger with...

Tucked in during the Illinois General Assembly’s special session to discuss the state’s pension crisis was a proposal to give a corporate giant a special tax break.

According to the State Journal-Register, OfficeMax Inc. is asking the state of Illinois for tax breaks to keep the company’s headquarters in-state after the office supply chain’s merger with Office Depot Inc. is complete:

“OfficeMax CEO Ravi Saligram and state Sen. Tom Cullerton made their pitch Tuesday during a hearing on the state’s pension crisis. Cullerton is a Villa Park Democrat and is sponsoring legislation to provide incentives if the company keeps at least 2,000 full-time jobs at its headquarters.”

Instead of playing favorites, Illinois lawmakers should focus on making the state friendlier to all businesses. That starts by addressing the state’s corporate income tax rate, which is the fourth-highest in the industrial world.