Rock Island Today

The newly created Illinois Competiveness Council has one job: Find ways to cut red tape.

In an executive order announced in October, Gov. Bruce Rauner said he created the council to review the rules and regulations at every state agency.

Each agency will be represented on the council, which will examine regulations to ensure they’re updated and easily understood. They’re instructed to find and cut any unneeded requirements on businesses, social service providers and residents.

The council also will seek out public input. Citizens can weigh in using the Red Tape Reduction Portal, a website that explains the initiative and offers Illinoisans the chance to “report red tape.” In the end, the Governor’s Office believes cutting away useless bureaucracy could save at least $250 million over 10 years.

The move is good for Illinois and could do more than save money — it could create jobs, Brandi McGuire, Republican candidate for the District 72 state House seat, told Rock Island Today. McGuire said Rauner’s move will benefit the state in several ways.

“Eliminating red tape for Illinois business startups and expansions will allow our existing businesses to remain stable and expand,” McGuire said. “A District 72 company found that opening a new facility in Illinois took over 18 months for approval, while in Missouri, the same process takes only three months. The Illinois company placed their new facility in Missouri.”

McGuire said less red tape could encourage entrepreneurship. Regulations often work against small businesses because it’s expensive to follow the rules, according to the Illinois Policy Network, a public policy think tank. Entrepreneurs can get bogged down in complex regulations, which drive up prices and discourage innovation.

“We will have more Illinois citizens opening small businesses and following their dreams of work that they have a passion for and staying in Illinois,” McGuire said. “At the end of the day, this creates jobs for our citizens.”

Additionally, McGuire said cutting red tape could remove barriers for out-of-state companies that would consider doing business in the state, with the added benefit of cutting agency costs and making state government more efficient. It’s a key goal of  Rauner’s announcement, which cites international economics experts who said an eye on efficiency contributes to a society’s prosperity and quality of life.

“Our state employees are the best in the nation,” McGuire said. “Let’s give them a level playing field to help Illinois compete with other states for business.”