'Clean Slate' law helps former inmates find work while boosting Illinois’ economy
Illinois businesses have been clear about one thing over the past several years: We need more workers. From factory floors to storefronts, employers across the state have struggled to fill open positions, even as thousands of capable, job-ready Illinoisans remain sidelined by old criminal records that no longer reflect who they are today.
That’s why both of our organizations — representing manufacturers and retailers in every corner of the state — strongly supported the passage of the Clean Slate Act. We applaud Gov. JB Pritzker for signing it into law as one of his first acts in 2026.
Clean Slate automatically seals eligible, nonviolent criminal records only after people have completed their sentences and remained crime-free for up to three years. Instead of forcing individuals to navigate a costly, confusing court process, the law requires the state to review and seal qualifying records on a regular schedule.
From a business perspective, Clean Slate addresses three urgent realities:
First, it expands the workforce at a time when Illinois needs it most. Manufacturers and retailers face persistent labor shortages in essential roles, from machinists, engineers, supply chain experts and warehouse workers to logistics staff, merchandise specialists, customer service associates and more. Clean Slate helps bring qualified, motivated workers back into the labor pool.
Second, it strengthens the economy by empowering these individuals with earning and spending power. When more people can work, more people earn wages. And when people earn wages, they spend them — in local stores, on housing, on transportation and on child care. This helps grow the state’s tax base without raising taxes.
Third, it improves public safety and workforce reliability. Stable employment is one of the strongest predictors of reduced recidivism, which means safer neighborhoods and lower long-term costs for law enforcement and corrections. For employers, it also means a more dependable workforce. Workers who are finally given a fair chance are often among the most loyal and motivated employees. The Clean Slate Act isn’t just compassionate policy. It’s competitive policy. And Illinois is better positioned for growth because of it.
Mark Denzler, president and CEO, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Rob Karr, president and CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Independent streak
It has been reported the voting population of this country is now 45% independent. That's because those voters feel neither so-called major party is doing them any good. In fact, neither party really exists right now, not in any efficient way.
One that is called Republican actually owns the name of the individual who runs it as a virtual dictator. A national party is identified by its main leader and his or her strength. The Trump Party leader projects every day the all-powerful strength of the country he mistakenly represents in corrupt, irrational, cruel and self-serving ways.
The other party, at least with the proper name of Democratic, was too weak to help its poorly prepared candidate win the last election over that infamous and dishonest guy, yet barely lost the popular vote. The problem for the losing party is it doesn't have any real leader at all right now and needs one strong and capable enough to win the independents against whoever the Trump Party leader decides should run in the next presidential election.
Ed Stone, Northbrook
Anti-Trump libertarian
A recent Sun-Times article proclaimed that Illinois Democrats "lament" Trump’s second term. What about the rest of us?
As a lifelong libertarian, it is rare that I agree with Democrats. But I, too, lament Donald Trump’s policies and procedures. Without citing specific examples, which would be so numerous as to fill the pages of several issues of the Sun-Times, Trump has no understanding of or respect for the law in general and the Constitution in particular. He has no understanding of economics and no regard for free markets, which have been responsible for this country’s prosperity. He does not oppose big government, only big government that he doesn’t control. And the list goes on.
On the few occasions when he stumbles on a policy with which I agree, his procedural execution is autocratic, violating the bedrock principle of the separation of powers and often trampling on individual rights.
It ain’t just the Democrats who find Trump lamentable.
William P. Gottschalk, Lake Forest
Dusting off old trophies
I spent two hours rummaging through boxes in our crawl space today in search of an old bowling trophy. You never know when you might need a pardon from our supreme leader.
Steven Fortuna, Naperville
Leave Greenland alone
As if running the United States wasn't demanding enough, with influencing global events added for good measure, now Donald Trump is flirting with poking his nose into benign Greenland. To what end? No new or heightened security threat involved, only a bigger burden to shoulder. How does this advance U.S. global interests?
Trump backers: Please explain.
Ted Z. Manuel, Hyde Park
Keep Bears in Illinois
"Pride and Joy of Indiana?" Hmm, that just doesn’t sound right. As I sang "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" after the Bears' loss to the Rams, I realized I would have to painfully say goodbye to my beloved Bears with such a move. Please, someone in Illinois step up and keep the Bears in Illinois!
Guy Karafa, Phoenix, Arizona