Small business alert: Tax relief is waiting for you?

by Dan Proft In January of this year, Gov. Pat Quinn, House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton passed the largest tax increase in Illinois history. They proceeded to spend much of 2011 carving out special exceptions to the tax hike for politically powerful Illinois employers. This week, Sears and the CME Group...

by Dan Proft

In January of this year, Gov. Pat Quinn, House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton passed the largest tax increase in Illinois history. They proceeded to spend much of 2011 carving out special exceptions to the tax hike for politically powerful Illinois employers.

This week, Sears and the CME Group are expected to be the latest employers to receive special dispensations from the state.

There has been considerable gnashing of teeth by free market types over favored tax treatment for some at the expense of others. I should know. I’m one of those free market teeth-gnashers.

While I certainly do not blame companies for using their leverage improve their bottom line, I concluded that the Chicago bosses who control state government are not interested in comprehensive tax relief for Illinois businesses. They are interested only in serving potent business constituents while protecting as much of the revenue from the tax rate increases as possible.

But what if I’m wrong? After all, who am I to question the motives of public servants in Springfield? What if they really are interested in correcting the error of their ways and undoing the economic damage done to Illinois by their tax increases?

We did not need elocution from Rod Blagojevich, and we should not expect one from the legislative leaders or the governor. As with Blagojevich, maybe even the Democrats want the tax increase to go away?

There is only way to find out.

Every small and medium-sized business in Illinois should contact the offices of Gov. Quinn, Speaker Madigan and Senate President Cullerton (Contact Info BELOW) and tell them, “Hey, I get it. No mea culpa necessary. Mistakes were made. All I need is your commensurate relief from the state and corporate income tax hikes, and I’ll be on my way.”

Perhaps if they hear from enough businesses, the governor’s office will automate the process with a special web page and a promotional code so businesses could simply sign up for their proportional tax reduction online.

In ascribing authentic motives to state leaders as I have, I must assume they are anxious to hear from Illinois’ entrepreneurs and get these deals done before the New Year. Maybe the 1.1 million businesses in Illinois with fewer than five employees could go first since they represent 90 percent of all business enterprises in the state and thus are critical job creators and wealth producers.

Don’t wait. Call now. Messrs. Quinn, Madigan and Cullerton are presumably standing by to assist. Aren’t they?