Chicago City Wire

Republican political strategist Chris Robling fumes Democrats are doing what he believes they’ve always done when it comes to how they view and interact with the state’s small business industry.

“Illinois Democrats declared war on the small business industry years ago and right now with their ally, COVID-19, they are winning,” Robling told Chicago City Wire. “They have invited successful small business people from every neighborhood in the state to leave, and successful small business people facing the odds that are stacked against them are accepting the invitation.”

A new TrackTheRecovery.org analysis details how since the start of the year the state has lost more than a third of all its small businesses. Overall, data compiled by Harvard and Brown universities and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation showed as of Nov. 16, 2020 that the number of open small businesses dipped by some 35.4% compared to January 2020 with the industry also experiencing a revenue decline topping 39% since the start of 2020.

National Federation of Independent Business Illinois State Director Mark Grant argues running a small business in Illinois was already quite the challenge even before the pandemic hit, given such factors as higher property taxes and workers’ compensation.

Robling said he can see how the situation would leave many wondering if the governor ever takes the time to weigh just how much damage his actions are causing so many of the people whose interests he is supposed to represent. 

“I know the governor personally and he is a warm-hearted and generous person,” Robling said. “But before his hand lowered on taking the oath, he was a cog in the corruption machine and has behaved that way ever since.”