Pro-business plan is best budget fix

In his life outside his duties as a state senator, Kyle McCarter is a businessman. And he plans to keep his business ties to remind himself that his votes as a senator have a real-world impact on the state's businesses.

It's a perspective some of his fellow legislators apparently have forgotten.

McCarter, a Republican from Lebanon, spoke last week to the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce. His plan to fix the state's financial quagmire by making it more business-friendly stands in stark contrast to the current administration's tax and spend approach. In fact, McCarter said that the latest budget proposal includes new sales taxes on 39 goods and services.

That's not exactly what we need to make Illinois more competitive with surrounding states.

What's the solution? McCarter says priority No. 1 must be job creation. That does two things: First, it puts Illinoisans back to work. And second, it brings sales and income tax revenues into the state's coffers.

With unemployment at double-digit levels in many parts of the state, creating jobs and a favorable business climate certainly must be among our highest priorities.

Judicious budget cuts – shared across the board – also must be part of the plan to right the state's fiscal ship.

A pro-business stance – not a bigger government bureaucracy – makes the most sense for bringing Illinois out of this current economic crisis.

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