Because… Da boat of ‘em
Wednesday, Nov 9, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Jim Nowlan quotes economist Geoff Hewings, head of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory at the University of Illinois, “who has been tracking the economies of Midwestern states for decades”…
“My sense is that without a fundamental change in the fiscal conditions in Illinois (that is, a strategic plan to address the budget deficits), Illinois will continue to underperform surrounding states and lag, as before, in employment growth.
“We need a governor who knows how to negotiate, and we need a new Illinois House speaker with a vision for the state rather than an objective function of maintaining his powerful position.
“Firms have enormous flexibility as to where they can locate or expand their businesses. The one thing they need is confidence that they will not be hit with an unexpected tax increase. If there is a plan and it is followed (even with stabilizing tax increases), then businesses know the operating environment, and they can make decisions accordingly.
“We have incredible assets in the state — especially embodied in human capital and in infrastructure — but without some long-term, transparent strategy, we will just limp along.”
Headline explained here.
- Handle Bar Mustache - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
Way to go Dr. Hewings. Really winning friends and influencing the people who control a big chunk of your University’s budget.
This is just more lofty nonsense about “equal responsibility for the governor and speaker”
No - the Republican governor deliberately gutted higher ed, human services, etc.
Rauner did that. Not Mr. Madigan.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
=== Really winning friends and influencing the people who control a big chunk of your University’s budget===
That’s more than a little thuggish. You deal with a critical person by threatening to kneecap his employer?
And yet y’all are just so puzzled why your own boss is so unpopular these days.
Imagine that.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:21 pm:
Term limits for leaders.
That is what is needed.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:33 pm:
Nowland is right. I wonder what the will use to placate the large corporations when EDGE expires. Of course we may never know since Intersect Illinois is making deals that aren’t foia-able. Deals in the dark. Don’t worry the big boys will stay. They love Rauner and Intersect. Small companies. You get nothing except a larger tax bill. Sorry
- Deft Wing - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:39 pm:
” … and we need a NEW Illinois House speaker with a vision for the state rather than an objective function of maintaining his powerful position. (emphasis added)
Amen.
- MOON - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 4:01 pm:
Quit dreaming.
Madigan is the Speaker and deal with it.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
>If there is a plan and it is followed (even with stabilizing tax increases), then businesses know the operating environment, and they can make decisions accordingly.
Amen. A stable, balanced budget is the best thing we can do to improve the economy of this state. I’m not saying other things shouldn’t be done that won’t help as well, and I’m not saying I won’t disagree when something I value is either cut or taxed, but businesses have to be able to plan.
His statement would have had a little more impact and seemed more nonpartisan if he’d either put the “new” in front of both “governor” and “speaker” or in front of neither.
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 4:23 pm:
Planning and Illinois State government.
That’s a good one.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 5:25 pm:
Rauner says, No Budget? No Problem!
- Rabid - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 7:15 am:
Failure to plan is planning to fail. I want to see Illinois “baddest” negotiator perform live on blue stream
- Ahoy! - Thursday, Nov 10, 16 @ 8:42 am:
I believe we have a governor willing to negotiate and cut a deal, but we have a House Speaker who thinks negotiating is everybody else bending to his will. Look at all the press releases that have come out since the election, all want to work something out except one person.
4 out of 5 want to cut a deal, one of these things is not like the other.