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* Another day, another job poacher…
Gov. Rick Scott sent letters to Illinois business owners this week, telling them to book a “one-way” ticket to Florida and set up shop in the Sunshine State.
In the letter, Scott touts Florida’s economic recovery, low taxes and shrinking state debt. He continues his “It’s working” theme by painting Florida as a state that has undergone an “incredible economic turnaround” under his watch. In contrast, Scott writes, Illinois is raising taxes and has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.
“While Florida’s economic formula is working, we know Illinois’ formula of more taxing and more spending ISN’T WORKING,” Scott writes.
The letter, sent to 100 Illinois CEOs, is here.
* But…
Florida’s economic development organization planned to create a similar ad campaign [as New York’s], touting the state as “The Perfect Climate for Business.” Some saw the brand logo—which features an orange business tie—as sexist, and lawmakers have opted not to fund the advertising effort.
The Legislature is also cutting Scott’s “economic incentives” budget, reducing the amount of money the governor can use to draw businesses to Florida with tax breaks and grants.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:11 pm
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Isn’t there a gubernatorial election on Illinois next year? One must wonder if the Republican Governors Association is behind this crap.
Comment by Wndycty Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:17 pm
And New York is advertising on Chicago sports channels about how folks should come to that Garden of Eden
Guessing all hands we stay put
But radio and tv happy for the ad buys
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:17 pm
Did they mention the whole State of Florida is prone to sink holes?
Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Native Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:21 pm
Sometimes having the President be from your State just doesn’t pay off. I’m willing all these Republican governors are targeting Illinois because we’re the home to the face of the Democratic party.
Comment by Just Me Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:29 pm
I think Scott was just sending out resumes. He’ll be out of a job pretty soon, either from the next primary or general election. Not a popular guy.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:33 pm
“Love the recent flooding up in Illinois? You’ll adore the hurricanes down in Florida!”
“Come for the tax breaks. Stay for the shoddy infrastructure.”
“Be part of Carl Hiaasen’s next novel.”
Comment by Boone Logan Square Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:34 pm
This is starting to look like vultures circling a corpse…
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:34 pm
While everybody seems to want to lay blame on the guvs from Texas and Florida, here’s another angle on this. If the state of Illinois was not the national poster child for corruption, poor management in state government — $100 billion underfunded pensions, $9 billion in unpaid bills and one credit downgrade after another — other states would not be trying to poach our businesses. Illinois has the reputation as a state that is unfriendly to business and that’s why the vultures are circling. Instead of blaming Texas and Florida maybe the hacks in Springfield (and some posters) should take a good look in the mirror. Have a great day.
Comment by Jim Muir Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:37 pm
Not trying to be smart here, but if you were another state targeting companies to come to your state wouldn’t you target Illinois?
Budget issues that may lead to tax increases on the heels of a just passed tax increase. Generally a bit tough to do business in and the like.
You may think it is some sort of GOP conspiracy, but it wouldn’t explain the New York State ads…
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:38 pm
At least we don’t have alligators and crocodiles and pythons, oh my!
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:00 pm
What the Governor says is true. If the shoe fits…
Comment by frmrdav Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:07 pm
The grass is not always greener on the other side. I for one am not a big fan of waiting in line for hours which is what Floridians did this November on election day. Florida has demonstrated that they can’t handle the election process on more than one occasion.
Comment by Ggal Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:13 pm
It is hard to argue, we are and have been mismaged for years. It is staring the legislature right in the face, but their collective heads are buried in the ground. We have become one big Detroit, and the other states are picking what’s left off the bone.
Comment by Fan Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:20 pm
–It is hard to argue, we are and have been mismaged for years. It is staring the legislature right in the face, but their collective heads are buried in the ground. We have become one big Detroit, and the other states are picking what’s left off the bone.–
That’s absurd. Where do you get this stuff?
Illinois’ GDP is larger than 45 other states. Chicago metro’s is the fourth largest in the world.
How much influence do you think the General Assembly has on the global economy?
Do you think the Michigan legislature’s actions were the cause of Detroit’s decline?
Where do you make these connections?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:28 pm
@Fan
“We have become one big Detroit, and the other states are picking what’s left off the bone.”
I see a career in extreme hyperbole in your future.
Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:28 pm
== Illinois’ GDP is larger than 45 other states. Chicago metro’s is the fourth largest in the world. ==
I think that alone explains why we are a ‘target’…
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:37 pm
Trying to poach Illinois businesses is not a smart economic development strategy. Scott’s time would be better spent figuring out how to stop the spread of the rat-sized African land snails that have invaded his state.
Comment by Going nuclear Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:45 pm
How can some of you possibly try to defend the state of this state? Billions in debt, businesses and residents fleeing, a pension system that could collapse under its own weight (from years of mismanagement from both parties) and on and on and on. And the most important thing on the mind of those in charge is who will run for what office in 2014 - which is comparable to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Again, if Illinois was not in a downward spiral caused by pure mismanagement, other states would not be trying to lure businesses to relocate.
Comment by Jim Muir Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:53 pm
I must have been mistaken then. Our pensions are current and so are our bills. My bad fella’s.
Comment by Fan Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:58 pm
Get over it; the Rick’s are targeting Illinois because they know that’s where the money is. Some of the largest Presidential campaign donors are in Cook County.
Comment by Angry Republican Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 5:00 pm
@Jim,
“How can some of you possibly try to defend the state of this state?”
I don’t think anyone is trying to say that the state doesn’t have issues. Unlike some though, it’s a little much to say that we are on our deathbed, and have nothing to offer.
And the States that are trying to poach our business are not all peaches and cream either.
Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 5:01 pm
Pat Quinn is looked upon as the closest thing to a human pinata by the other state governors. Is the state of Illinois as badly run and in as bad a financial shape as these other governors would lead you to believe? My guess is “probably” but I really don’t know. However, “perception” is everything when it comes to utilizing the media and manipulating the minds and opinions of the masses. Pat Quinn would seem to need to hire a new PR person for himself (and for Illinois). Illinois is perceived by the rest of the country as a wounded wildebeast wearing high heels with sand in it’s eyes walking across a vast savannagh inhabited by thousands of lions when it comes to our current image.
Comment by Muffin Man Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 5:04 pm
And yet Pat Quinn still managed to beat the GOP candidate. Go figure.
Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 5:20 pm
Trying to grab a business from another state by hyping your attributes is one thing. Trying to entice them by bashing the state they are in is like a guy trying to pick up a girl by pointing out all the flaws of her current boyfriend. She might leave the current guy but that doesn’t mean they hook up with him.
Comment by Been There Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 6:06 pm
Florida under Scott is just more fodder for Hiaasen, Dorsey and White and all their great satire.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 7:37 pm
I’d move my company to Florida or Texas if it were practical to do so. Unfortunately, it is not so I am stuck with a state in which the government that thinks that raising income taxes and having a high cost workman’s compensation program will create jobs. Get real people. Illinois is not a business friendly state. This is fertile ground to poach businesses.
Comment by Silent Majority Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 7:55 pm
Wow, just wow! Some people are in some serious denial. This state is tanking. The DEMS are just trying to see how far they can penetrate the surface.
Comment by Fan Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 8:01 pm
The allmighty metro Chicago GDP eh?
via Crains Business…
Chicago’s growth trails most big cities
Chicago comes out a laggard in a Brookings Institution study measuring growth in the 300 largest metro economies in the world from 2011 to 2012.
Read more: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130126/ISSUE01/301269973/chicagos-growth-trails-most-big-cities#ixzz2RSTm6m3i
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Comment by anon Thursday, Apr 25, 13 @ 2:38 am
–Chicago comes out a laggard in a Brookings Institution study measuring growth in the 300 largest metro economies in the world from 2011 to 2012–
Wow, can two things be true at the same time? Chicago has the world’s fourth largest economy but a lower growth rate than less mature, smaller economies?
My brain hurts trying to process those two facts.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 25, 13 @ 8:44 am