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* UPDATED x1 - Walker also tones it down * Indiana tones down boasts as poaching effort appears to stall

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* Way back in October of 2011, the Indiana Business Journal did a story on the Hoosier State’s attempts at poaching businesses from Illinois. The story included this number…

So far this year, 16 Illinois businesses have said they plan to consolidate or locate operations in Indiana, creating a projected 1,564 jobs in the state, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. That includes four consolidations or relocations in central Indiana that are projected to yield as many as 424 jobs. [Emphasis added.]

Back then, Indiana officials were crowing constantly about their attempts to woo businesses and jobs from Illinois…

Within three days of Illinois’ decision to raise personal and corporate income taxes, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. received 30 unsolicited e-mails from companies interested in exploring business opportunities in Indiana. One of the e-mails, said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Mitch Roob, lamented: “The new marketing slogan for Illinois must be: ‘Come for the higher taxes, stay for the corruption.’”

Also from back then…

Daniels told WLS Radio’s The Don and Roma Show, that while Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants a casino to stop Chicagoans from gambling in Hammond, Indiana, Emanuel should have other concerns.

“What he ought to worry more about is the stampede of businesses leaving Illinois. You know your traffic gal Wendy left out one traffic hazard, you stand near the state line now you might get hit by a moving van,” Daniels said Thursday.

“We are talking and signing up businesses left and right…”

* But Indiana has a new commerce secretary these days, and he’s being a bit more diplomatic about his state’s activities…

Indiana Commerce Secretary Dan Hasler, a former executive at the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and an Illinois native, said Indiana never had a goal for the number of businesses it wanted to poach.

“I think it’s about what we expected,” Hasler said of the 1,563 jobs and $294.1 million in investments that firms with Illinois connections plan to make in Indiana. “The situation for a business operating in Illinois and Indiana is so dramatically different. [Emphasis added.]

“I was just with a group of site selectors this morning. I said, ‘You know what, everyone wants Illinois to do better.’ We are better served by a strong Midwest than just a strong Indiana.

“I can guarantee you most people in China don’t know about Indiana. But they have heard about the Midwest, the breadbasket, the heartland of America, Chicago, that’s what we need strong, and we will all benefit from that. But some of our neighboring states need to get their game on.”

And check out the numbers highlighted in the first and last excerpts. In October of last year, Indiana officials claimed their state had poached 1,564 jobs from Illinois. Several months later, their number is one job less than that: 1,563.

Kinda makes you wonder whether Indiana’s poaching effort has stalled, or their numbers can’t be believed.

*** UPDATE *** Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is also taking a far more conciliatory approach these days…

Mr. Walker sought to downplay recent friction with Mr. Quinn, which arose after the two governors battled over who would be home to specific companies and plants.

“I’m not here to poach businesses,” Mr. Walker said. In fact, “it’s in our best interests to have a strong Illinois and particularly Chicago.”

The reason is that Chicago’s international stature helps lure companies to the region that otherwise never would have considered locating in Wisconsin, Mr. Walker said. If they come to Chicago, they may expand north of the border.

Will wonders never cease?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 10:04 am

Comments

With Daniels headed to Purdue it will be interesting to see what Mike Pence does with those efforts. To me he always seemed more interested in social issues than economic stuff which could help Illinois if he spends more of his time on church state stuff.

Comment by Shore Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 10:10 am
Who is Daniels selling that phony-baloney to on Dona and Roma? Folks in Northwest Indiana? They know a little better.

Daniels has a history of phony job creation numbers.

–Where the Indiana Economic Development Corporation claims tens of thousands of new jobs, 13 Investigates documented empty factories and undeveloped corn fields all across the state. WTHR’s investigation found at least 40% of Indiana’s 100,000 “new jobs” promoted by the IEDC and Governor Mitch Daniels have never come, drawing the governor’s ire.

“You seem to have a blindingly clear view of what is perfectly obvious,” the governor said of the Eyewitness News investigation. “In a recession, a lot of businesses have to change their plans.”–

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=12550137

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 10:13 am
Plus, don’t their numbers include Illinois companies expanding in Indiana? Would this include a new Walgreens in Indiana? I think they might be playing a little games with their numbers, but to be fair, we do that too.

Comment by Ahoy! Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 10:14 am
It’s not good to just get jobs in a state. Jobs have to also provide good wages and benefits. Corporate profits are at an all time high, and wages are at an all time low: http://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/corporate-profits-just-hit-time-125500490.html

The author says in the article that America is creating “a few million overlords and 300+ million serfs.”

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 10:14 am
Is this today’s post on the latest installment of Caterpillar’s threat to move saga?

Wish the Trib story could’ve actually pointed out the Cat-union negotiations/Aurora strike in its piece and whether Cat may just be using this HQ study to rattle sabers as part of that.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 10:15 am
–Stealing businesses was never the point of Indiana’s “Illinoyed” campaign, Hasler said.

“I don’t want to poach Illinois companies…”

No, it just seemed that way. But months later when it’s clear that the highly creative and clever “Illinoyed” campaign was a failure, even with phony numbers, that’s the way you spin it.

Free drink on Mitch, though, for the “U-Haul” reference on Don and Roma. It’s been a while since that’s been used. Apparently, he hasn’t gotten the memo.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 10:43 am
Walker’s quote makes me think someone read Lance Pressl’s study to him. We’re not in competition with each other people. We’re one region economically speaking and we are in competition with the rest of the world.

Sorry Wisconsin and Indiana, but you need Chicago and NE IL to continue to grow and thrive. We need each other.

Cooperative economic development and more uniform policies throughout the region need to replace the old way (especially the mindless subsidy / competition business).

Comment by Siriusly Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 10:49 am
I think the changes in tone have much more to do with the fact that neither Walker nor Daniels are in contention for the VP spot anymore.

So, no need to waste time, money and effort bashing the President’s home state.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 10:55 am
–“I’m not here to poach businesses,” Mr. Walker said. In fact, “it’s in our best interests to have a strong Illinois and particularly Chicago.”

The reason is that Chicago’s international stature helps lure companies to the region that otherwise never would have considered locating in Wisconsin, Mr. Walker said. If they come to Chicago, they may expand north of the border.–

Who said that? Jimmie Walker? Hershel Walker?

Where are the home-grown Illinois haters? Unloading their U-Hauls (that one’s on me)?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 10:58 am
The Indiana troll going to Purdue ought to cause an enrollment drop there
Meanwhile did anyone ask Walker about fees he collects when he comes to bang his jaws around?
Next payday? August 9 Paymaster: Heartland Institute

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 11:13 am
The simple realities are that the three states are doing roughly equally well/poorly in this recession, given their relative sizes.

Walker’s campaign ads on job growth were outright lies, and he has now claimed he never really tried to poach Illinois business. Daniels’ administration is relatively pro-business, and there is a lot of talk among smaller companies, but very few of them have actually moved from Illinois to Indiana so far. Illinois has led in attracting overseas companies, given its international status.

A regional growth strategy in the global market is a hard sell for these two governors, because “Chicago” would have to lead the brand for it to be effective.

Comment by mark walker Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 11:15 am
“Walker’s campaign ads on job growth were outright lies”

I didn’t see the ads, but some Walker supporters were saying that once the recall election passes and there’s more political stability, jobs will pour into Wisconsin.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 11:40 am
wordslinger asks, “Where are the home-grown Illinois haters?”

There are a mess of ‘em down here is southern Illinois. I hear all the time how people would love to move out of state but can’t for one reason or another. But you and all the other commenters miss the reason why. It is not geographical. It is based on policy. And we believe high taxation and corruption coupled with policies which harm workers and reward incompetence and laziness are what is wrong with Illinois. And other Govenors with that same philosophy would naturally want to see those policies end in a neighboring state so the region does well.

Comment by Dwight Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 11:45 am
Dwight, give it a rest already.

Do you know what would happen to SIU-C and EIU if Chicago-area kids had to pay out of state tuition? Do you know what would happen to your prisons and your census counts if Chicago-area prisoners were excluded from the population? Do you know what would happen to your roads, bridges, parks and schools if Chicago-area tax money was eliminated?

For almost two centuries, southern Illinois politicians have specialized in grabbing all the pork they can. You can’t possibly support more than a tiny fraction of that spending without outside money.

The problem with too much welfare is that the recipients get comfortable enough to fashion themselves as “fiscal conservatives.”

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 11:55 am
…And don’t even get me started on southern Illinois’ pristine reputation for clean government. Sheesh.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 11:58 am
–I hear all the time how people would love to move out of state but can’t for one reason or another.–

LOL, that’s the pioneer spirit that won the west. Hard to believe life is holding you back.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 11:58 am
Toning it down… I wonder what they are up to? Maybe this is their way to welcome Quinn into the anti-worker ideological camp.

Comment by Crime Fighter (fka Honestly) Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 12:05 pm
This is too easy.

From a 1/19/11 op-ed in the Trib by Walker and the Fitzgerald Gang:

–Businesses make decisions based on trends, and the contrast between Wisconsin and Illinois could not be greater. Wisconsin is heading in a pro-growth direction. Illinois is not. Add in Wisconsin’s high quality of life — there’s a reason Illinois residents enjoy so many weekends and vacations up here — and suddenly moving to Wisconsin is a smart business move.–

Yeah, you weren’t trying to poach Illinois business (after the fact, when it didn’t work). You were just waiting for the crumbs to fall off the table from the global city of Chicago. That’s what you say today, anyway.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-01-19/news/ct-oped-0119-wisconsin-20110119_1_tax-rate-tax-increases-lower-taxes

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 12:18 pm
Well - the Indiana governor must be making it all up because he siad there was one less job added than he had said earlier. Wow - that is a huge .064% difference. Can’t believe any of his numbers now. As far as paying in state tuition for Illinois colleges/universities, have you compared what the out of state tuition charges are for somoe of our neighboring states? They are very competitive if not less expensive for Illinois students when compared to the Illinois in-state tuition charges.

Comment by johhnypizza Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 1:04 pm
===because he siad there was one less job added than he had said earlier. Wow - that is a huge ===

That’s not the point. Either you are being deliberately obtuse or are just plain dumb. Look at the dates that the two numbers were announced, man.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 1:06 pm
Sounds like the kind of thing you might say when you’re afraid of losing a business.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 1:59 pm
=== The simple realities are that the three states are doing roughly equally well/poorly in this recession ===

Not exactly true, Mark.

Since Illinois enacted its income tax increase, we’ve added roughly 50,000 private sector jobs.

Indiana — I will confess — has added roughly 85,000 private sector jobs.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, has LOST 2,000 private sector jobs.

I’ll give credit to Indiana. Lowering their corporate income tax rate just after Illinois’ went up was smart. How they’ll pay for it over the next four years will be interesting to see. Its not clear that the tax cuts were sustainable.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 3:38 pm
My point would be this:

Whether its 1,563 jobs from Illinois or 1,564, that’s not even a tenth of a percentage point in Indiana’s unemployment numbers.

If Poaching is their economic development strategy, its doomed to fail.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jun 26, 12 @ 4:51 pm
–“I can guarantee you most people in China don’t know about Indiana. But they have heard about the Midwest, the breadbasket, the heartland of America, Chicago, that’s what we need strong, and we will all benefit from that..–

“I’m not here to poach businesses,” Mr. Walker said. In fact, “it’s in our best interests to have a strong Illinois and particularly Chicago.”

–The reason is that Chicago’s international stature helps lure companies to the region that otherwise never would have considered locating in Wisconsin, Mr. Walker said. If they come to Chicago, they may expand north of the border.–

Anytime the Illinois haters, the Chicago haters, from and including the WSJ edit board, suburban GOP GA members, Downstate lunatics who think Chicago is stealing from them, GOP Illinois Congressmen and the Civic Committee want to rebut Gov. Walker and Gov. Daniels econ chief, we’ve all got our ears on.

Same goes for the Cap Fax U-Haul crowd. VMan, how about a song? “The Sound of Silence,” perhaps?

But let the record show, in tough times, when your state and communities were under attack by malevolent whack jobs, you cut and ran and engaged in hateful ignorance to aid those trying to steal your neighbors jobs.

Have a nice day.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 27, 12 @ 1:14 am
Like it or not, as goes Chicago, goes the Midwest. The unfortunate part is so much is wasted on bad policy and ineffective decisions, that we’re all losing out to other regions. I have no love for Chicago politics, but the success of Chicago dictates the well-being of not only Illinois, but the Midwest when you examine the bigger picture. I think that is what frustrates me most, even as a downstater. I get that we need Chicago to succeed, and that’s why I am constantly sickened by the shenanigans that take place regularly. Daley was downright awful in so many respects, yet so brilliant in others. You just wish from the outside looking in that you could pull the best attributes out and leave the corruption, favortism and politics behind. (sigh)That said, more power to SE Wisconsin and NW Indiana for being as competitive as possible to take advantage of the positives of Chicago/Illinois while trying to minimize the negatives. Let’s just be glad for Illinois that Chicagoland doesn’t border a Texas or North Carolina type atmosphere.

Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Jun 27, 12 @ 1:42 am
“But let the record show, in tough times, when your state and communities were under attack by malevolent whack jobs, you cut and ran and engaged in hateful ignorance to aid those trying to steal your neighbors jobs.”

Definitely worth repeating.

“Have a nice day.”

That, too.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 27, 12 @ 2:04 am