Small Businesses and Working Families Feel the Pinch in Illinois—Smoke-Filled Room—Episode 83

The big underlying question throughout this week’s Smoke-Filled Room was “how are we going to pay for it?”
 
With a $3.2 billion budget deficit and billions of dollars in additional requests coming in, Illinois taxpayers will be on the hook for a lot in the coming months.
 
Joining host Collin Corbett this week is NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley, lobbyists David Curtin and Josh Witkowski, and Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak.
 
Not much happened in veto session the past two weeks, but lame duck session is predicted to be a doozy starting January 2nd, and 2025’s session may be one of the most consequential we’ve had in a long time. Spend time with family and relax during the holidays but keep one eye on Springfield—in today’s episode, we help you know what you should be watching.
 
We of course cover the two big issues likely to dominate headlines in 2025: Illinois’ massive budget deficit and Pritzker’s immigration fight with Trump and DC.
 
We talk about how the high cost-of-living in Illinois is hurting everyone and is expected to get worse as concerns grow over our state’s energy future. Not only are renters and homeowners paying more, so are small businesses. And things are going to get worse if Springfield further hikes taxes in 2025.
 
We bemoan how difficult Springfield makes it on small businesses in Illinois and talk about how much better things would be for everyone in Illinois if our government actually supported small businesses.
 
We discuss how politicians fall prey to “good politics, bad policy” when they govern by press release instead of pursuing common sense, bipartisan legislation.
 
And we spend some time in Chris’ Chicago Corner, where they’re facing a budget fiasco of their own, while Johnson’s record-low popularity has already started the jockeying for the 2027 Chicago Mayoral race.

00:00: Introductions
03:03: Illinois Election Results Finally Final
07:24: As Costs Skyrocket, Concerns Mount Over IL's Energy Future
18:49: Good Politics, Bad Policy on Display with "Dignity in Pay Act"
25:31 Public Sector Unions Want Increased Pensions
30:57: Chicagoland Mass Transit Fiscal Cliff Further Pressuring the State's Budget
38:13: Immigration Battle Likely to Dominate Headlines in 2025
48:41: IL Government Continues to Overlook the Needs of Small Businesses
57:33: Soaring Cost-of-Living Hurting Both Employees and Employers
01:02:21: Gig Workers Continue to Be Targeted By Springfield
01:04:14: IL's Massive 2025 Budget Deficit Just the Tip of the Iceberg
01:16:56: Is Chicago's Budget Fiasco a Preview of Springfield in 2025?
01:20:32: 2027 Race for Chicago Mayor Already Underway
01:27:08: OG & Clown of the Week
01:32:50: Closing Thoughts