Private equity investor Gov. Bruce Rauner often says his goal is to make Illinois more competitive.
At a recent speech to business owners, he sang Illinois' praises. He says the state has the hardest working people, the best location and the most fertile farms.
The president of Wiley Office Furniture, Zach Hoffman, agrees with Rauner.
"Why aren't we the destination state for the Midwest? By every objective measure we should be leading--if not the country, at least the Midwest," he said. "So that would be something, a deserved title that we should have as a state, and he seems to be pushing us in that direction."
Hoffman is wary of the governor's pledge to raise the minimum wage to $10 over the next seven years.
He sees it as a compromise. Hoffman says he wouldn't be opposed to it if it's combined with Rauner's other proposals.
Rauner has long said the only way he'll go along with that minimum wage hike is if it's in tandem with his other pro-business plans.
Rauner says business owners had suffered from Stockholm Syndrome with the Illinois government.
"You know, you've been held hostage for a long time, and it's like, 'Oh please just don't hurt me.' It's like, well, no, no. This economy is yours. This government is yours," Rauner said. "This is your businesses, this is your life, these are your kids. This is the future of our kids and our grandkids."
The audience also applauded when Rauner talked about lowering businesses' workers' compensation costs, and capping companies' damages in lawsuits.
Neither has passed the General Assembly, and Rauner's expected to have a hard time getting that done.
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