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* Hmm…
Illinois ranked third while Wisconsin placed 42nd in the most recent Bloomberg Economic Evaluation of States index, which includes personal income, tax revenue and employment.
Illinois gained 32,000 jobs in the 12 months ending in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found. Wisconsin, where [Gov. Scott Walker] promised to create 250,000 jobs with the help of business-tax breaks, lost 16,900. […]
Illinois ranked behind only North Dakota and Michigan in the Bloomberg economic index, which also measures home prices, mortgage delinquency rates and the equity performance of companies headquartered in each state. The index ranked Wisconsin 42nd among the states when comparing the fourth quarter of 2011 with the same period of 2010.
* The NFIB sees a different world, however…
First, we invited Walker for a very simple reason — he has turned his state around. While we fully agree not all of his policies would work in Illinois, we agree with his general philosophy — which is that jobs and prosperity are created by the private sector and government should get out of the way. Our members wanted to hear his side of the story. Goodness knows they’ve heard plenty from his critics, whose public tantrums and bullying tactics have attracted international media coverage.
It’s also worth noting that Walker has acknowledged that perhaps he moved too aggressively in the beginning and that he should have taken more time to build broader support for his reforms. However, it is important to note that swift action meant an even swifter economic recovery for his state.
* And Gov. Pat Quinn reacted via press release to news that Illinois’ unemployment fell to 8.8 percent while 9,100 jobs were created in March…
“Our commitment to putting Illinois residents back to work is paying off. For the seventh straight month, unemployment numbers in Illinois have continued to fall. Last month, unemployment fell to 8.8 percent – the lowest it has been since February 2009. Today’s number is a testament to our solid efforts to create good jobs in Illinois.
“During March alone, we created 9,100 jobs. Since Illinois began its recovery in January 2010, we have added more than 142,100 private sector jobs. And the good news is that these jobs are being created in growing fields that pay a good wage: education, health services, professional sectors and manufacturing. In fact, today an international healthcare company announced plans to expand in Illinois.
“Baxter International, Inc. is the latest company to choose to expand operations in Illinois. Baxter will create more than 200 new, high-tech jobs as it expands a manufacturing facility in Round Lake. Baxter Chief Scientific and Innovation Officer Norbert Riedel is a member of my Innovation Council, which is one of the many tools we have implemented to help meet the needs of growing companies.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 9:50 am
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- we agree with his general philosophy — which is that jobs and prosperity are created by the private sector and government should get out of the way. -
You know, I believe in a strong private sector and do think there are ways the government could make things easier for businesses, but if Walker’s philosophy works so well why are they at the back of the pack in job creation?
Comment by Small Town Liberal Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 10:01 am
–..we agree with his general philosophy — which is that jobs and prosperity are created by the private sector and government should get out of the way.–
Where is that philosophy reflected in Walker’s actions? All he talks about is giving away taxpayer money to poach existing businesses. And that ain’t working.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 10:03 am
NFIB: “We invited Walker for a very simple reason — he has turned his state around.”
In much the same way that that North Korean rocket’s in-flight disintegration “turned it around.”
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 10:33 am
They are free to bring in anyone they want as a speaker. As long as personal credibility isn’t an issue for them, they ought to consider Ted Nugent. I hear he’s got some open spots on his dance card.
Comment by Aldyth Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 10:57 am
Rich - that is a great headline. Reminds me of the old NY Post(?): “FORD TO NY: DROP DEAD”
Comment by paddyrollingstone Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 11:01 am
“And that ain’t working.”
The spending cuts ain’t helping, either.
“government should get out of the way”
Government is a big spender and is vital to any economy, so this doesn’t look like such a good idea. The question is always how much should government tax and spend, not that it should “get out of the way,” in my opinion.
I can’t help but feel Illinois pride, after all the bashing this state got from people like Walker.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 11:06 am
At least WI does not want their Medicaid doctors to work at a loss.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 11:16 am
“At least WI does not want their Medicaid doctors to work at a loss.”
I have no reason to believe that Illinois wants its Medicaid doctors to work at a loss.
Didn’t Wisconsin have higher state income taxes for years (if not even now)? This could be why Wisconsin is better able to pay Medicaid doctors.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 11:34 am
Wisconsin can improve the standings.Just hire some Illinois statisticians preferably some with state government experience.
Comment by earl Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 11:45 am
The NFIB is now an arm of the big corporations. They do absolutely nothing for small, local, independent business. Regarding supporting local small business they say “We don’t care where you spend it on the macro level, we just add up the total cash receipts.”
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2012/0324/Cash-mobs-a-new-boost-for-local-business/%28page%29/2
Comment by anon Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 12:09 pm
Our State is showing slow but steady progress,
Quinn seems to have grip on how to be a Governor.
If Madigan jumps on board we can continue to grow.
I might be over optimistic but I think were going in the right direction.
Comment by mokenavince Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 12:43 pm
=== jobs and prosperity are created by the private sector and government should get out of the way ===
1. Arguing that the private sector creates jobs is like arguing that bears poop in the woods. Bears don’t do it because they like too, but because they have no other choice.
Likewise, “job creation” is a waste product for the private sector; where they can create profit without creating jobs or by reducing them, they ALWAYS do.
2) “Prosperity” for whom?? Not the middle class, the working poor, or the 1 in 25 Americans that the private sector deems must remain unemployed in order for our labor market to be “fluid” and our economy “healthy.”
3. Yeah, because getting government out of the way has worked so well on Wall Street, in the housing market, and at BP.
That said, Anon 12:09 is 100% correct: the NFIB has a credibility gap. Try to name one issue where they differ with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and global corporations.
Where was the NFIB when Wal-Mart was taking a wrecking ball to Main Street businesses across America?
Where were they when Amazon.com was putting anyone left out of business?
Where are they now that the insurance industry continues to reap huge profits in the health care sector at the expense of every small business owner in America…killing off health reforms that would have provided credits for small employers.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:49 pm