Metro East Sun

Republican candidate Mike Babcock blames House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) for Illinois being labeled as the “least accommodating state in the country” for small business owners.

“Every policy, every action out of Springfield has only been to benefit the political elite and Madigan stands at the head of that operation,” Babcock told the Metro East Sun. “Two decades of him running the state has put us on an unsustainable path that can no longer be ignored.”

Illinois’ low marks come courtesy of a recent Thumbtack Small Business Friendly Survey of more than 7,500 small business owners and entrepreneurs. The Illinois Policy Institute reports the state was tagged with falling marks for its overall level of friendliness and regulations.

Rep. Monica Bristow

“This is all Madigan’s doing and, at some point and time, someone has to stand up to him,” said Babcock, who is running against Rep. Monica Bristow (D-Godfrey) in the 111th House District. “We can’t allow him to just keep handcuffing our business owners. Taxes, fees and regulations are all on the rise in Illinois. This political class has come to so dominate everything that anyone not submitting to its philosophy simply gets wiped out economically.”

Babcock, a Wood River Township supervisor who previously ran for the same seat in 2016 against Democrat Daniel V. Beiser, said he hasn’t seen his opponent do much to alleviate any of the lingering issues.

“She voted in favor of a progressive income tax and has already asked for a pay increase for lawmakers,” he said. “She aligns herself with Madigan and his agenda, and it doesn’t fit the values of the people of this community. That’s what I can tell you about what she’s shown us and what she stands for.”

The 111th District includes Madison and Jersey counties.