McHenry County Blog

A press release from State Senator Dan Duffy:

Duffy’s economic record earns perfect scores from NFIB, Chamber

The National Federation of Independent Business used to give away little metal statues of a Minuteman to those who showed highest support for its legislative program.

LAKE BARRINGTON, Ill. — Senator Dan Duffy (R – Lake Barrington) has received perfect marks for his handling of economic issues, according to the state’s top two leading business groups. The Senator was one of only three lawmakers to receive a 100 percent positive rating from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, in addition he was named a “Guardian of Small Business from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), earning a perfect 100 percent score from that group as well.

“The fact Sen. Duffy has a 100 percent rating reflects his dedication to helping small business grow jobs and help our ailing economy,” said NFIB/Illinois State Director Kim Clarke Maisch. “Since becoming senator, Senator Duffy certainly has not forgotten his small business roots. He is one of the strongest advocates on behalf of job creators and has actively sought to make Illinois a more welcoming place to do business.”

Founded in 1943, NFIB represents more than 11,000 small business owners throughout Illinois and works to ensure their rights and interests are represented in state government. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce has represented Illinois businesses of all sizes since being founded in 1919.

“I am honored to be recognized by two such distinguished organizations as the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the NFIB,” Duffy said. “Small businesses are the main engine for job growth. The reason is simple. Every large business was once a small business. Microsoft was a small business 30 years ago. Apple was a small business 20 years ago and Groupon was a small business less than 10 years ago.”

“My goal is to support policies that will encourage more entrepreneurs and small business growth in Illinois,” Duffy continued. “As legislators, we should be doing everything we can to encourage job growth. In order to do that, we must keep taxes low, eliminate corruption, balance the budget and restructure our long term pension liabilities.”

Senator Duffy is in his first term in the State Senate but has been a small business owner for 20 years.

16th district United States Representative Don Manzullo came to Crystal Lake’s American Community Bank to speak with members of the National Federation of Independent Business Tuesday night.

The main topics of conversation were taxes and paying for health care.

“We’re set for a barrage of tax increases,” Manzullo explained. “If you have a tax cut, the cuts expire in ten years. If you have a tax hike, it never expires.

“If you allow the tax cuts to expire, then you end up with a large tax increase,” the congressman explained.

“If the tax cuts expire, it would means the average family would pay $2-4,000,” he continued. “The child tax credit would be rolled back from $1,000 to $500.”

He talked of the cuts the Republican Congress had passed and President Bill Clinton signed, including the college savings accounts, the Roth IRA and the accelerated depreciation for business and ending the marriage penalty.

After two members of Congress got married and discovered they owed $35,000 more in taxes, “they became great advocates of tax relief,” Manzullo related.

The Republican explained that Senator John McCain voted against the tax cut package that Bush signed because it was not offset by spending cuts.

McCain has said he does not favor allowing those tax cuts to expire because that would be a tax hike.

Several people spoke of the deficiencies of a single payer government run health care system.

Manzullo told of a friend of one his staffers who went to Montreal, discovered a bladder infection after business hours on Friday and could not get treatment until Monday because it was not an emergency. To this day, she has related medical problems.

Manzullo explained that the health insurance he has as a member of congress is Blue Cross/Blue Shield. No dental insurance and chiropractic care just added this year.

“We pay $400 a month.”

When his wife Freda had cancer, it cost the family $10,000 in out of pocket expenses.

He favors allowing each American to write their own policies.

If they wanted coverage for just catastrophic illness, their premiums would be much lower than for those with first dollar coverage.

There was much more, of course, but it’s the first day of school on Wednesday and I’m the one taking our son to school.

Manzullo is being challenged by Barrington Hills Village President Robert Abboud on the Democratic Party ticket and McHenry County College Board member Scott Summers, a member of the Green Party.

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In the top photograph, U.S. Congressman Don Manzullo can be seen talking to Chris Dahm of Woodstoc’s Dahm Trucking and Lou Gajdzik of Stoxen Farms in Harvard. Below, Manzullo is seen talking to the NFIB members and prospective members. Pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.

16th district United States Representative Don Manzullo came to Crystal Lake’s American Community Bank to speak with members of the National Federation of Independent Business Tuesday night.

The main topics of conversation were taxes and paying for health care.

“We’re set for a barrage of tax increases,” Manzullo explained. “If you have a tax cut, the cuts expire in ten years. If you have a tax hike, it never expires.

“If you allow the tax cuts to expire, then you end up with a large tax increase,” the congressman explained.

“If the tax cuts expire, it would means the average family would pay $2-4,000,” he continued. “The child tax credit would be rolled back from $1,000 to $500.”

He talked of the cuts the Republican Congress had passed and President Bill Clinton signed, including the college savings accounts, the Roth IRA and the accelerated depreciation for business and ending the marriage penalty.

After two members of Congress got married and discovered they owed $35,000 more in taxes, “they became great advocates of tax relief,” Manzullo related.

The Republican explained that Senator John McCain voted against the tax cut package that Bush signed because it was not offset by spending cuts.

McCain has said he does not favor allowing those tax cuts to expire because that would be a tax hike.

Several people spoke of the deficiencies of a single payer government run health care system.

Manzullo told of a friend of one his staffers who went to Montreal, discovered a bladder infection after business hours on Friday and could not get treatment until Monday because it was not an emergency. To this day, she has related medical problems.

Manzullo explained that the health insurance he has as a member of congress is Blue Cross/Blue Shield. No dental insurance and chiropractic care just added this year.

“We pay $400 a month.”

When his wife Freda had cancer, it cost the family $10,000 in out of pocket expenses.

He favors allowing each American to write their own policies.

If they wanted coverage for just catastrophic illness, their premiums would be much lower than for those with first dollar coverage.

There was much more, of course, but it’s the first day of school on Wednesday and I’m the one taking our son to school.

Manzullo is being challenged by Barrington Hills Village President Robert Abboud on the Democratic Party ticket and McHenry County College Board member Scott Summers, a member of the Green Party.

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In the top photograph, U.S. Congressman Don Manzullo can be seen talking to Chris Dahm of Woodstoc’s Dahm Trucking and Lou Gajdzik of Stoxen Farms in Harvard. Below, Manzullo is seen talking to the NFIB members and prospective members. Pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.