42 Comments - Anon221 - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 10:36 am: Two and a half years of Rauner provin’ he can’t be “bullied” didn’t help. And, yes, it was more like his famous “dog years”. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 10:41 am: The quickest boost will be getting rid of the anchor weighing us down, sitting in the state’s most important office. - dlapine - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 10:42 am: Can any of that not be attributed to the lack of a state budget? People notice that, and intelligent new job seekers pay pretty close attention to something like that. Let’s see if that growth improves in the next year or 2 now that we have a budget. - TinyDancer(FKASue) - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 10:43 am: Chalk one up for the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and their “Illinois is Broke” campaign. - Perrid - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 10:44 am: I doubt you could attribute ALL of the to the budget impasse, but it certainly did nothing to help. - JS Mill - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 10:51 am: There is that pesky Minnesota again. I wonder what happened there besides paying their bills?/s - Ed - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 10:51 am: I think there is a mistake. Did you mean the IL-01, 04, 13, 16, and 17? I think you put the Illinois 12th by mistake. - annonin' - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 10:58 am: love all the negatives News Flash that same Census Bureau reports median salary in IL nearly $61K….surrounding states not close. So GovJunk has not wrecked everything - Sgt. Slaughter - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 11:00 am: We need more people and jobs for sure. But, the one thing we CANNOT do is loosen up regs on the coal/oil/nat gas industries. Yeah, we have a lifetime of reserves, and the potential to lead the country in energy production and good paying jobs, but there are some people and jobs that we just don’t want. /s - Galena Guy - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 11:00 am: Would be intwresting to see the age demographics of the folks who are coming and going. Might give a more complete understanding of what’s going on. - Sue - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 11:04 am: Yea it’s Rauners fault. Just give us another tax increase and cave in to AFSCME and everything will be fine - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 11:18 am: “Yea it’s Rauners fault. Just give us another tax increase and cave in to AFSCME and everything will be fine” No, Rauner has nothing to do with the last two and a half years. Everything is everybody else’s fault. There’s no personal responsibility from the folks who look for logs in their opponents’ eyes but don’t see them in their own. Rauner could have saved the state money by negotiating health insurance costs with state employees, but here we are, tied up in courts over the contract impasse, with tons of ill will and no savings for taxpayers on employee healthcare costs. Not smart or conservative. And yes, Minnesota blows away any rationale that we have to go full right wing to improve our economy. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 11:28 am: Probably hasn’t been good for the economy to spend nearly three years without a capital plan, gutting higher ed and piling on $10B in unpaid bills to Illinois vendors. Might be helpful for the state to focus on fulfilling its core functions, rather than deliberately sabotaging them. - Ghost - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 11:29 am: MI union town 2nd largest growth. MN high taxes and 15hr min wage greatest growth. Basically everything the GOP is fighting has created the largest growth in our neighbors - City Zen - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 11:32 am: ==Minnesota blows away any rationale that we have to go full right wing to improve our economy.== Minnesota taxes retirement income. And while Minnesota has been adding jobs, they are not in the preferred “gross value add” or high GDP sectors like Finance, Information Services, and Mining, which are losing jobs. So high bars don’t tell the entire story. IPI’s stats are the most concerning. If the people leaving Illinois not only outnumber those arriving but also make more, we are in for a world of hurt. - Arsenal - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 11:57 am: I’ve said this again in some similar threads, but this, more so than gaffes and staff drama, moreso than HB40, is what really imperils Rauner’s re-election. He’s just not delivered for anyone. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 11:59 am: “So high bars don’t tell the entire story.” You’re right, lest we forget—much higher incomes, full union rights and high union membership, which means higher pay in the vast majority of industries and occupations, nationwide. - Sue - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 12:02 pm: Illinois’ downward trajectory predates Rauner by a couple of Governors as did the loss of congressional districts buts let’s blsme Rauner anyway - Moody's Blues - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 12:06 pm: Ghost, help me understand your “MI union town 2nd largest growth.” All six states bordering Illinois now are right-to-work, Michigan included. (Yes, Michigan borders Illinois, in Lake Michigan, just as Illinois borders three other states in river waters). The graph only measures a one-year nightmare for Illinois, but does right-to-work explain the leakage of employers and jobs across our state lines? Also, we’ve gone from 27 U.S. House seats to 18 and the drop to 17 is assured. Late last year, number-crunchers at RealClearPolitics reported that “Illinois is close to losing a second seat” after the 2020 census. Lose one or lose two, this endless decline in congressional clout is miserable for Illinois. - anon2 - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 12:07 pm: Of the five districts losing the most population, four are mainly downstate. Only CD 4 is completely in the Chicago area. - Lucky Lou - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 12:17 pm: As soon as all those low down do nothing conservatives leave the state everything will be okay. Everyone else needs to line up behind Madigan and his many minions so that this wonderful, all knowing benevolent man can lead us out of the desert. We need to embrace the opportunity to increase taxes across the state so that all the neglected infrastructure can be addressed. We will also need to increase taxes further to address the ever growing pension shortfall. Fear not my fellow citizen, as these great public servants deserve a much better retirement than you could ever hope for yourself or your children. The State of Illinois is destined for great things. As soon as we can figure out how to increase our taxes while remaining on the government dole, we are all set. - @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 12:22 pm: “Illinois’ downward trajectory predates Rauner by a couple of Governors as did the loss of congressional districts buts let’s blsme Rauner anyway” From the Chicago Tribune: “Illinois’ population first began to drop in 2014, when the state lost 11,961 people. That number more than doubled in 2015, with a loss of 28,497 people, and further multiplied in 2016.” (emphasis added) http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-illinois-population-decline-met-20161220-story.html – MrJM - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 12:24 pm: “let’s blsme Rauner anyway” Poor Rauner, he’s a victim of the last 2 1/2 years, with no budgets, massive cuts to higher ed, debt skyrocketing, slow job growth, people leaving the state, social services decimated. Sorry for assigning personal responsibility to him. That belongs to those who are poor and need social services but shouldn’t get them because of bad life choices. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 12:25 pm: ===As soon as all those low down do nothing conservatives=== Rauner is not, by any measure, a social or fiscal conservative. ===Everyone else=== Oh boy, ===needs to line up behind Madigan and his many minions=== Take a breath, you’re hyper-ventilating. I say this as Rauner is allegedly losing Republicans by the trash can van full, and your concern is Madugan? ===We need to embrace the opportunity to increase taxes across the state so that all the neglected infrastructure can be addressed.=== When construction materials and labor to do the work starts taking pixie dust instead of money, or bonds are let for the financial equivalency of a pile of Hostess Twinkees, then this will make sense. ===We will also need to increase taxes further to address the ever growing pension shortfall.=== The ILSC made clear pensions are to be paid, so again, pixie dust or a huge pile of Hostess Twinkies won’t suffice. ===Fear not my fellow citizen, as these great public servants deserve a much better retirement than you could ever hope for yourself or your children.=== Jealousy isn’t becoming. You could’ve worked for the state or taken a job with a public pension. You chose not to. - LL - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 12:41 pm: Tongue in cheek escapes some of the less intelligent I guess. And just for you, a special heartfelt lol. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 12:45 pm: I’m guessing “LL” is - Lucky Lou - Yeah, your noted and well known snarky comments and tone should go without saying. lol What’s next, guess what you’re thinking you want for Supper? (That is snark) - Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 12:55 pm: Thank you Sue and Lucky Lou for proving my point about state worker disparagement. Word was right that you wouldn’t comment on the post yesterday but would be back today. Anyway, let’s have an economic lesson. Velocity of money Basically how quickly money is plowed back into the economy. More important than outflow of people is The 16 billion denied our own contractors (Although good news! My kids orthodontist finally got paid by my state insurance for the braces invoice almost 3 years ago. Yea! No more collection calls trying to recover the states portion! ) Anyway, that’s 16 billion or 10 with the bonds that isn’t getting plowed back Add no Capital plan for two years Add the destruction of private social services ( mom and pop) Add the destruction of higher Ed Your basically severely restricting the velocity of money Which in turn creates Illinois flight Which creates IPI, Tronc headlines Which creates the crisis Rauner wants to exploit Increase velocity of money Like Minnesota We’d be in a lot better shape - Louis IV - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 1:08 pm: ===well known=== And I didn’t think you noticed. That means a lot. In all seriousness, just think of all the time spent here over the years. Isn’t there something else you could gave done. The incessant blathering, not to mention your own special brand of snark. You’re better than that OW. Aim higher. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 1:16 pm: - Lucky Lou -, - LL -, - Louis IV - Your multiple personalities aside, Your concern for me and my aim is noted. If you could aim at one nickname that might hit the target better than the snark(?) To the Post, There is a difference between stagnant population and actually losing population, but when Congressional Districts’ populations rise, meaning 435 seats should be 1 million people (for argument’s sake and round figures) and the next census means 435 seats should be 1.1 million, a stagnant or population loss is amplified as to keeping seats when the population(s) in districts are increasing no matter what. - State Rep Mike Fortner - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 1:27 pm: anon2@12:07 - IL-01 is mostly in Chicago and Cook with a minority in Will, and it’s farther behind than IL-04. That puts two of the five firmly in Chicagoland. One can even make the case that IL-16 is in between Chicagoland and Downstate since much of its population is in the Ring Around the Collars. - ChrisB - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 2:39 pm: I suppose the commenters here would blame Gov. Rauner for losing a seat in the 2010 census, too. - cover - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 2:44 pm: = One can even make the case that IL-16 is in between Chicagoland and Downstate since much of its population is in the Ring Around the Collars. = Is that the district that the next map will apply Wisk detergent to? - wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 3:59 pm: –I suppose the commenters here would blame Gov. Rauner for losing a seat in the 2010 census, too.– Illinois population grew by 3.3% or 440,100 between the 2000 and 2010 censuses. You could probably attribute most of that to immigration. That’s usually how it works in wealthy, mature economies with negative replacement growth. See Europe and Japan. If you’re confused about how Congressional representation works, it’s share of population, not growth of population. - City Zen - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 4:47 pm: ==Illinois population grew by 3.3% or 440,100 between the 2000 and 2010 censuses.== USA population increased 9.7% over that same time period. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 5:17 pm: ==Illinois population grew by 3.3% or 440,100 between the 2000 and 2010 censuses.== USA population increased 9.7% over that same time period.– So what? Did you expect that Illinois growth rate would be close to that of Texas, Florida, Arizona, California? How and/or why? Immigration from Mexico, birth rates, air conditioning, interstate highways, jet engines, water and power projects — you think they might trump that pop tax as influencers? - Arizona Bob - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 6:42 pm: @wordslinger ==Illinois population grew by 3.3% or 440,100 between the 2000 and 2010 censuses.== USA population increased 9.7% over that same time period.– So what? Did you expect that Illinois growth rate would be close to that of Texas, Florida, Arizona, California? How and/or why?== The how is changing the corrupt “people exist to serve the government” culture that has run Illinois into the ground. The whole system from capital to education is set up to benefit the public worker and contractors FAR above that in the private sector, and the political support and money that brings to the pols. It’s very successful in that. The problem is that when you have government that time and again devastates industries (gas taxes, soda and sales taxes, increasing income taxes and Blago’s trucking fees that killed the industry in Illinois are some examples) businesses know that Illinois governments will do whatever is necessary to maintain their patronage base, and there are better places to go where business is considered more than a temporary revenue source. NO business, no jobs. No jobs, no workers. NO workers, no market for business creating a cycle. Pretty simple, but no elected official cares to break it… - wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 7:34 pm: –NO business, no jobs. No jobs, no workers. NO workers, no market for business creating a cycle. Pretty simple, but no elected official cares to break it…– Yeah, just like that. Well, Bob,it is sad that Illinois lost a remarkable renaissance man like yourself, what with your building nuke plants, roads and bridges, teaching at high schools and universities, running GOP candidates on the South Side and so much more back in your day. You remember saying all that stuff? You should put it all in a book before you forget. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 8:01 pm: Illinois is economic disaster. without Chicago the state would be like Mississippi - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 8:59 pm: Minnesota has a strong history of high quality public services and a state government largely free of corruption. And Illinois? Let the laughter commence. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 3, 17 @ 9:30 pm: The IMA has been talking about the manufacturing jobs numbers for more than a year. Illinois trails the Midwest in manufacturing job growth - every other state has grown and Illinois has lost jobs since the recession ended. Z - Sue - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 2:17 am: Word- you must have been a great math student- if the other jurisdictions have a faster growth rate then Illinois- their “share” of the population for congressional districts will be bigger thus Illinois will lose seats - Arizona Bob - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 12:53 pm: @wordslinger Well, Bob,it is sad that Illinois lost a remarkable renaissance man like yourself, what with your building nuke plants, roads and bridges, teaching at high schools and universities, running GOP candidates on the South Side and so much more back in your day. You remember saying all that stuff? = I don’t just remember saying it, Word, I remember doing it. I don’t get involved in that much anymore. I’ve got late stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and if I don’t get a lung transplant soon I’ll be taking a permanent dirt nap. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.