Illinois could use a little ‘Texas’

Texas Governor Rick Perry is on a mission to lure Illinois businesses to Texas and Illinois politicians are none too pleased about it.

Perry had this to say about his visit to Illinois:

“Listen, we compete with each other. All businesses have to look at their bottom line, the legal system, taxes, regulations. And the beauty of America is that you have choices. We didn’t [pick on] Illinois. We did the same thing with California, and the folks there weren’t too happy either. But the truth is, I didn’t tell anyone anything they didn’t already know.”

Yes, Gov. Perry did not say anything we did not already know and of course our state leaders are angry about a Governor from another state coming here to lure our employers away. But these things would not happen if our state’s leaders spent as much time trying to improve the business climate in Illinois as they do trying to come up with pithy one liners.

While our state leaders continue to ignore the problem of lawsuit abuse that cost jobs and opportunities in the “Land of Lincoln,” Gov. Perry has been a strong proponent of lawsuit reform and has made Texas a destination for jobs.

Gov. Perry’s visit to Illinois is a reminder that we cannot continue to do things the same way in Illinois and expect a different result. The policies that have allowed the lawsuit industry to flourish are simultaneously driving businesses out of the state. When it comes to putting an end to lawsuit abuse and ultimately improving our jobs climate, Illinois could use a little “Texas.”