Chicago City Wire

Dan Proft, a radio host with Chicago's Morning Answer, expressed concerns about Illinois' government-centric nature, stating that politics permeates daily conversations and stifles business. This contrasts with Ken Griffin's praise for Miami's optimism and future focus. Proft made these remarks on the social media platform X.

"lllinois' main industry is not agribusiness, logistics or financial services, it is the anti-industry of government," said Daniel K Proft. "its business is giving builders of businesses the business. Think about the conversations you have on a daily basis in Illinois and how often politics insinuates itself into conversations. upon reflection, it should be unwelcome and in other places in America it is."

At the America Business Forum in Miami in November 2025, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin highlighted the differences between Miami and Chicago. He spoke of Miami's optimism compared to what he described as a decade of Chicago dinners focused on "crime, cronyism, [and] failed policies." Griffin linked entrepreneurial drive to civic confidence.

According to the 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index, Illinois ranks 37th overall. The index reflects structural features such as relatively high property taxes and an estate tax that can influence investment decisions. It compares how states design corporate, individual income, sales, property, and unemployment insurance taxes — providing context for entrepreneurs navigating Illinois’ policy environment.

The University of Illinois Chicago’s anti-corruption analysis identifies the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago region) as the nation's most corruption-plagued metro by federal convictions. Although totals have decreased from 61 per year in the 1990s to 28.5 per year from 2010 to 2019, this pattern supports Griffin’s theme of "cronyism" and the political saturation described by Proft.

Proft is a Chicago-based political commentator and activist, a longtime AM 560 talk-radio host, and a former 2010 Illinois GOP gubernatorial candidate. He co-founded the Illinois Opportunity Project and has led political committees and media ventures such as Local Government Information Services. His frequent commentary on state fiscal policy, public safety, and governance explains his sustained focus on Illinois’ political culture and civic climate.