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* But, yeah, Illinois Democrats should just keep right on talking about how they’re stopping Rauner’s agenda instead of coming up with their own ideas…

For a third quarter in a row, Illinois had the worst African-American unemployment rate in the nation, according to a new analysis by the Economic Policy Institute.

In the second quarter of 2016, covering April through June, the African-American unemployment rate was highest in Illinois at 15 percent. It represents the third straight quarter of Illinois having the highest African-American jobless rate in the nation.

Texas had the lowest African-American unemployment rate, 6.1 percent, in the second quarter of 2016. Texas is one of 17 states where African-American unemployment rates were below 10 percent last quarter, according to the left-leaning think tank.

Ugh.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:07 pm

Comments

Add to this the prospect that Rauner will probably not request the “work requirement” waiver for SNAP in November and you’ve got a perfect storm for places like East St. Louis, IL.

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:13 pm
Further proof the dems are killing the lower and middle class. Don’t believe the narrative they help those classes.

Comment by Piece of Work Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Democrats need to step up and decide that if they want to serve their constituents reports like this should make them, collectively, active in putting forth a solution that could be cobbled together and make the governor, and actually put the governor, notice the state needs to do better.

At some point Democrats need to deliver and jobs, minority jobs, would be a big step to building governmental goodwill, and seek business-friendly ideas that create jobs, outside the Turnaround Agenda.

These numbers need to be unacceptable and should be a call to action.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:25 pm
=Add to this the prospect that Rauner will probably not request the “work requirement” waiver for SNAP in November and you’ve got a perfect storm for places like East St. Louis, IL.=

I didn’t know about that, thanks for sharing.

It will have a double whammy for schools as well.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:30 pm
The title of this post sums it up perfectly

Comment by JDuc Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:30 pm
undoubtedly due to the the demographics of Illinois the vast majority of the unemployed African Americans live in Cook county which has enjoyed Democratic rule for over 7 decades - time to let change happen

Comment by Lech W Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:38 pm
One more example of Illinois dealing in the extreme and Texas dealing in moderation.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:53 pm
A mental exercise for the Dems: image that Rauner being a venture capitalist, declares success in 2018 and decides to move on to a new challenge. The Republicans nominate a thoughtful civic type (think a younger Jim Edgar) who exudes moderation. Your union voters are getting older. Younger people are looking for something else. What will you offer?

Comment by uptown progressive Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:59 pm
A stable, balanced budget is the main thing that will positively impact Illinois’ economy. Michael Madigan has consistenly said this should be done with a combination of cuts and revenue. However, much like Governor Rauner’s “reforms,” his statement lacks specifics and real numbers. His caucus doesn’t campaign on the need for revenue either.

Part of me wants to cut them some slack because I think it would be disastrous if they weren’t there to try to stop Rauner’s destruction (and they’re not doing a very good job from the perspective of human services and higher education). How can they win an election admitting it will take more than the fantasy of “cutting waste and being more efficient and gutting those exhoribant pensions?”

But, Quinn campaigned on this for his re-election against Bill Brady. And quinn won in a very Republican year. He did lose to Rauner, but I don’t think was because he was continuing to be honest about the need for revenue.

So, for both Democrats and Republicans, I do think there’s a decent precedent for campaigning on real numbers, and that voters can handle more information than numerical fantasies.

Comment by Earnest Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:13 pm
Agreed - my party has been been more reactive rather than proactive on, not only this, but other issues.

We are always going to be ready for the right fight, but also need to think out of the box and begin formulating positions and programs that will address the serious issues we have.

Comment by illini Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:14 pm
The African American unemployment rate, especially in Cook County, is an embarrassment. The democrats should take a very hard look at themselves and take most of the blame. The African American community has learned over time that the GOP really hasn’t had anything to offer them since the 1960s, but they really should be treated better by the democrats.

That being said, before people start talking about how awesome it is in Texas and the Texas miracle and whatnot, I am going to throw this out here from the US Census:

Income and Poverty

Median household income (in 2014 dollars), 2010-2014

Texas: $52,576 Illinois: $57,166

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2014 dollars), 2010-2014

Texas: $26,513 Illinois: $30,019

Persons in poverty

Texas: 17.2% Illinois: 14.4%

This doesn’t even account for the oil crash since it is from 2014, so these numbers may start getting worse over time.

There is also this study from UT Austin about employment and wages by race in Texas from 2013:

http://liberalarts.utexas.edu/iupra/_files/Income%20and%20Poverty%20Brief_7.1.13.pdf

Comment by benniefly2 Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:24 pm
As Mike Madigan said, the most important issue facing Illinois is the budget deficit. He’s correct. All Illinoisan’s job prospects will be helped by its elimination. Properly funding social services, paying off the backlog of bills that Rauner has run up, and funding Higher Ed would help too. First things, first. Restoring a functioning Illinois economy with a proper mix of public and private spending is what’s needed.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:26 pm
Seriously PublicServant, when 20-25% of the spending is going for the $113 billions in government pension cost that were run up in the past and somehow this is Rauner’s fault?

Comment by Arock Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:36 pm
Mike Madigan has not passed a balance budget for over a decade but now it is a problem?

Comment by Arock Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:38 pm
Just a question to ponder… What percentage of those unemployment figures may be attributable to the “squeezin’”???

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:38 pm
Wow that’s bad. Really really really bad compared to everywhere (except maybe Pennsylvania). All partisanship aside, we need some action on this. And now.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:39 pm
- Arock -

Read McKinney on pensions, get back to us

Also, Rauner is required to propose a budget, a balanced budget. Rauner refused to do so.

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:43 pm
The unemployment rate among African Americans in Illinois for the second quarter of 2015 was 11.5%, so a 3.5% year over year increase is pretty remarkable.

It should probably also be noted that the study doesn’t even provide an unemployment rate for African Americans in more than half the states, so a place like Wisconsin could be worse, but difficult to statistically track.

Comment by Juice Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:45 pm
- benniefly2 - Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:24 pm:

Illinois is hostile to African Americans this is why so many are moving down south particularly Texas. The cost of living is much lower and there is no income taxe, so you might want to adjust your figures for that.

Comment by atsuishin Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:51 pm
No one seems to have an easy time of it but there are def people who have it worse than

I kind of assumed the best remedy to all of the Chicago shootings is jobs. Maybe that sounds too simplistic?

How do we get them back or something close to the old jobs?

Comment by Belle Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:52 pm
===Illinois is hostile to African Americans…===

Cite please?

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:54 pm
Also black unemployment goes beyond Madigan, he is just representative of the attitude Dems have toward AAs: they’re taken for granted. As long as AAs give up there votes to Dems they will not receive any attention from Dem politicans.

Comment by atsuishin Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:56 pm
The worst part is every tax increase is a regressive tax which punishes people for spending money.

If only poor people could pay the same effective tax rate that Rauner and Thump have been paying.

Comment by Chicago 20 Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:59 pm
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 3:54 pm:

You should leave Oswego more. Maybe a trip to englewood, n. lawndale or robbins would open your eyes. There are third world conditions here which would not be tolerated in any civilized society. Don’t pick a fight with me over the disgraceful conditions of Americans Americans in this state.

Comment by atsuishin Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 4:00 pm
You used the word “hostile”.

You said Illinois, as a state, was hostile.

Please cite where the state itself is hostile.

Not picking, I want clarity to your words.

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 4:03 pm
===You said Illinois, as a state, was hostile.===

Are you looking for academic study? My sources are a lifetime of living in the chicago area. From grinding segregation to third world levels of crime to high rise public housing complexes to lack of jobs illinois is a hostile place for African Americans. This is why 200,000 evacuated from chicago and why more are leaving by the day. Hope I am being clear enough.

Comment by atsuishin Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 4:13 pm
Where is it not hostile?

Chicago, along with Boston, is one of the most segregated cities in the United States, that’s true and I understand your lifetime of experiences, even though you blindly think o may not know anything about segregation or Cook County.

My point in this is Illinois, with 15% AA unemployment is awful. There has to be better. If you’re saying Texas is more welcoming, how do you measure that, given the criteria you just listed for me in your experiences.

With respect.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 4:22 pm
==If you’re saying Texas is more welcoming, how do you measure that, given the criteria you just listed for me in your experiences. With respect.==

Texas has more jobs, a lower unemployment rate, low taxes and lower cost of living.

It is not a utopia, and of course there is racism there. but I rather my family be there than here.

Comment by atsuishin Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 4:31 pm
===It is not a utopia, and of course there is racism there. but I rather my family be there than here.===

Hostile was the wrong criteria, given that trade off above.

With respect. Thanks, appreciate the give and take. Sincerely.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 4:37 pm
McKinney states the pension problem was pre-Rauner and happened on Madigan’s watch. Fact is Madigan has passed a lot of unconstitutional budgets over the years and hasn’t passed a constitutional one yet under Rauner.

Comment by Arock Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 11:48 am