Public trust in government has fallen to historic lows, and in that gap, businesses must reclaim an independent voice based on truth, balance and sustainable growth. For too long, the private sector, traditionally one of the most stabilizing forces in our civic system, has had its voice muted, restricted or ignored altogether.

Today, that silence is no longer sustainable. The stakes are too high, and the consequences of not acting are too severe.

Across Illinois and across the country, a subtle but unmistakable shift is emerging. Recently, we’ve seen events that signal the beginning of something long overdue: a revival of responsible and outspoken business leadership.

Jon Banner’s recent Tribune op-ed called on business leaders to reaffirm their role as practical stewards of civic responsibility. The United for Chicago coalition, composed of business, faith and civic leaders, came together to oppose the economic damage caused by immigration raids. That meeting emphasized an important point: Businesses are not just abstract entities; they are employers of families, contributors to communities and cornerstones of neighborhoods.

The coalition’s message was strong precisely because it was delivered without political posturing. No elected officials seeking attention, no partisan framing, just a straightforward acknowledgment of the economic and human costs of destabilizing the workforce that fuels our city.

Recently, Sara Albrecht, chair of the Liberty Justice Center, took the tariff fight to the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, representing the businesses and consumers harmed by policies created far from the shop floors, warehouses and small enterprises that feel their impact most acutely. Her stance was a reminder that when policy drifts too far from economic reality, it is business, not bureaucracy, that bears the burden.

These events are not isolated. They form a pattern. Business is beginning to speak.

But the truth is that it needs to speak louder, more consistently and with greater independence. Americans’ trust in state and federal government is waning. When confidence drops, leadership naturally shifts elsewhere. More and more, it falls on employers, innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators, those who understand the fragile balance between economic stability, workforce security, investment and long-term growth.

And yet, in Illinois, even the most respected business associations face structural constraints that limit their independence. Over the last decade, state grants, programmatic contracts and pass-through economic development funds have created quiet but consequential dependencies. These financial entanglements blur the line between cooperation and influence. When an organization’s budget is intertwined with agencies, genuine advocacy becomes difficult — not out of ill intent but out of mathematical reality.

Few associations can afford to openly oppose their funders. When they cannot, concerns about tax competitiveness, regulatory overreach or long-term fiscal health are downplayed for political reasons. This creates a troubling paradox: When clarity, conviction and honesty are most needed, advocacy becomes muted.

An example worth noting is the increasing trend of states moving away from federal tax policy. Michigan was the first to lead, followed by Massachusetts, and now Illinois has also shifted. While this may be politically convenient, these differences add new layers of complexity for multistate employers, manufacturers and service providers. The greater compliance requirements and uncertainty not only irritate businesses but also affect where they decide to expand, invest or relocate. Policymakers might view such decisions as fiscally responsible or driven by ideology, but without meaningful input from the business community, the resulting economic effects are often predictable and harmful.

When policy is crafted without partnership, capital follows the path of least resistance, too often across state lines.

Business has always held a natural seat at the civic table, one that transcends partisan cycles or ideological tides. Illinois has seen good and bad policy from all corners of the political spectrum. The goal of business leadership is not to pick sides, but to defend balance: predictable taxation, reasonable and consistent regulation, fair enforcement, and a climate that encourages innovation, investment and hard work.

When business stays silent, the extremes fill the void. And economies, local, regional and statewide, bear the cost.

Markets depend on trust, stability and clarity. When those elements erode, capital retreats. Companies slow hiring. Entrepreneurs delay investment. Banks tighten credit. Talent migrates elsewhere. These are not theoretical risks; they are patterns we have seen repeatedly in states where politics eclipse pragmatism.

Illinois, and our great city of Chicago, cannot restore economic confidence without an independent, unobstructed and unencumbered voice of business, one that is free from political influence, partisan pressure or financial leverage.

Business must lead again, not from ideology, but from discipline. The same rigor that drives strategic planning, operational efficiency and long-term value creation must be brought to public policy conversations. In that rigor lies the foundation of economic vitality. It is where jobs are created, communities prosper and states grow.

Silence is no longer an option. Not for Illinois. Not for Chicago. Not for business. And not for the future we hope to build.

Lou Sandoval is the former president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/opinion-business-immigration-raids-chicago-speaking-out/