North Cook News

Jillian Rose Bernas is convinced too many lawmakers in Springfield now view their appointment as a self-serving proposition.

“It seems in the state of Illinois that career politicians in Springfield are more interested in inflating their importance than doing what is right by small businesses that create two of every three new jobs,” Bernas told the North Cook News. “I speak with small businesses in my community and they are tired of politicians telling them they are going to help them through this program or the other. What they tell me they want is for government to get out of the way and stop picking between losers and winners through regulations and taxing.”

With the first week of May marking National Small Business Appreciation Week, Bernas, a Schaumburg Republican running against Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg) in the 56th District, felt compelled to speak out on all the ways she thinks much of the legislation coming out of Springfield now serves as a disservice to small business owners.

Republican 56th House District Candidate Jillian Rose Bernas

“My opponent, Michelle Mussman, will stand at your door and tell you she supports your small business, but her votes in Springfield tell otherwise,” Bernas said. “According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses, she has failed small businesses, receiving a 25 percent on their last score card. Mussman’s approach to governance is to take more and more control away from small businesses and her constituents in general. Under the facade of offering help, she supports policies that give her and her fellow career politicians more and more control.”

Bernas said the combination of skyrocketing taxes, rigid workers' compensation rules and talk of a prevailing wage make it that much harder for small business owners in Illinois to compete with those in neighboring states.

“Politicians like Mussman are working against small business in favor of big businesses and interest groups,” she said. “You need me in Springfield to repeal the 32 percent increase on income taxes, support a property tax cap of 1 percent and work on policies that put Illinois businesses on an even playing field with competitors in neighboring states.”

As it is, Bernas said, the hits just keep on coming for what should be one of the state’s most valued communities.  

“Small businesses are not able to hire more workers and grow because more and more of their revenue goes toward taxes to finance a state that works against them,” she said.  

The 56th District includes Schaumburg and parts of Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Roselle.