Dupage Policy Journal

Eighty-first District candidate for state representative Laura Hois (R-Downers Grove) looks at a new Coronavirus Small Business Survey by WalletHub that finds just over a third of all small businesses across the country say they can survive beyond three months in the current climate as another example of how government could be doing more.

“Our state government can be doing more as well, by ensuring federal financial support gets to businesses, revoking onerous regulations and removing the progressive tax from the ballot,” Hois told the DuPage Policy Journal. “Businesses and government should continue to work together to build plans to practice social distancing, follow cleanliness guidelines that enhance customer safety, reduce uncertainty and minimize risks going forward.”

Hois isn’t alone in her condemnation of federal bureaucracy, as 68 percent of all small businesses responding to the survey also said they feel the government is not doing enough to help them.

“During this time when lives, livelihoods and our state's economy are on the line, people are looking for leadership and our communities need to come together to help each other,” said Hois, running against incumbent state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville). “That is why I've been so moved by folks like my neighbor, Maria, who is sewing masks for local senior citizens' facilities.”

Since Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted his stay-at-home order in late March, the state’s unemployment rate has spiked by 1.2 percent to 4.6 overall. While the governor hasn’t indicated what he plans to do when the order is set to expire at the end of this month, Hois reasons that Pritzker really doesn’t have much of a choice.

“Many of the community businesses run by our friends and neighbors are hurting,” Hois said. “I urge folks to help by making sure they order online or buy gift cards locally to support these critical businesses.”