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In wake of abortion law, Pritzker recruiting Texas-based companies

Posted in:

* Politico

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has written to the CEOs of several Texas-based companies urging them to bring their businesses north in response to the Texas law that essentially bars abortions as early as six weeks.

“I invite you to consider a new home base — one that embraces the 21st century,” he wrote in a series of previously unreported letters to Oracle, Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard, Match.com and others.

Pritzker, who worked in the corporate world much of his life, refers to Texas lawmakers as “radical legislators” who “functionally eradicate[d] the autonomy of half the state” by enacting a law he says cuts off access to basic health care and family planning.

And if abortion rights aren’t enough to sway the CEOs, the liberal Democratic governor pressed voting rights, too. “Illinois welcomes you — we’ll even greet you with same-day registration,” he wrote.

Pritzker’s letters are being sent out as Illinois — which enshrined abortion protections into state law in 2019 — is feeling the ripple effect of the Texas law.

Planned Parenthood says it’s ramping up staffing in Illinois as it’s been seeing more patients from Texas in the weeks since the law there went into effect.

Texas’ neighbors, Oklahoma and New Mexico, haven’t been able to handle the influx, so patients are heading to Illinois instead. And Planned Parenthood of Illinois foresees that continuing to increase, said its president and CEO Jennifer Welch.

“We’re expecting there will be copycat laws that will bring more patients from other states,” Welch said. “We don’t know who will do it next. Will it be Missouri? Indiana? Or South Dakota? We don’t know what other state will be next, but we’ve seen a number of states preparing to do the same type of abortion ban.”

A sample letter is here.

* Mark Maxwell

Sen. Darren Bailey (R) said he’d reverse the plan former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law.

“One of the first things that I also want to work to eliminate is taxpayer funded abortion in the State of Illinois,” Bailey said. […]

House Democrat Kelly Cassidy said the new Texas ban on all abortions after six weeks enlists civil suits, not state power, to restrict abortion, a tactic she says is designed to reverse the high court’s super-precedent.

“We built a firewall around Illinois for this eventuality. This is exactly the kind of case. It’s going to make Roe fall,” she acknowledged.

Republicans are responding to Pritzker’s letter, with Bailey calling it a “stunt,” writing in a statement, “taxpayer-funded abortion is radical and wrong, but Pritzker champions it.”

Sullivan’s campaign said, “If JB Pritzker is serious about attracting businesses to Illinois, he should stop writing letters and start lowering taxes, and make Illinois a business-friendly state.”

Thoughts?

…Adding… Gary Rabine…

“Businesses are leaving Illinois because of the hostile business environment Governor Pritzker has fostered,” Rabine said. “If Pritzker ever had to build a business, he would realize that you need to first take care of your existing customers before marketing and selling to new customers.

Illinois having the highest job loss per capita of any other state makes it obvious to me or any business leader that we must make our business policies and tax environment competitive and rewarding to our loyal Illinois businesses first. Once accomplished under a Rabine administration, I would build an All-Star team of business development leaders to go after every state and allied country selling the story of the new business thriving Illinois.

I know to most this is just common sense, unfortunately we are lacking common sense in the Pritzker administration.”

According to a WalletHub report released in March, Illinois has the highest combination of state and local taxes in the nation on top of one of the most abusive business regulatory environments in the country.

* Related…

* Texas abortion doctor lawsuits filed by allies may go nowhere. The challengers—including one from Illinois—are pro-choice, likely dooming the cases.

* Can Cook County cut ties with companies that donated to Texas abortion ban backers? A county commissioner aims to find out.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:27 am

Comments

  1. Bailey, winning I-70 south in the primary.

    Setting up a gravel-road ***-beating in the general.

    Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:32 am

  2. Kudos for JB for trying to bring businesses and jobs to Illinois. Although, it is hard to compete with Texas. 1) No state income tax . 2) Right to work state. 3) Loser pays legal fees in state court. That’s a lot to overcome. But, hope springs eternal.Maybe next census Illinois will grow in population like Texas.

    Comment by Wednesday Morning Quarterback Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:34 am

  3. I would have included references to the TX GOP’s efforts to enable Covid by prohibiting mandated vaccines and masks.

    Comment by Norseman Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:35 am

  4. “I will fight to my last breath to keep this recent Texas abomination from infecting our state,” Pritzker said”

    Nice straw man. Jb needs to brush up on the constitution “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,… are reserved to the States”. Illinois and Texas have vastly different laws and none of them can “infect” any other state without the vote of the people.

    Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:38 am

  5. ==with Bailey calling it a “stunt,”==

    Much like Bailey’s “stunt” saying he’d get rid of the law when he has zero chance of doing so.

    Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:39 am

  6. ==Pritzker’s letters are being sent out===

    This and more, please. About time people started seeing and hearing about the good in a blue state.

    ===he should stop writing letters===
    I know this is rhetorical, but even if you’re trying to get him to do something else, why not this too? Sounds amateurish.

    === “stunt,”===
    I guess if you’ve got nothing, Bailey, that’s what you run on.

    Comment by Jibba Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:41 am

  7. Go get Apple.

    Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:41 am

  8. Darren Bailey knows that he has no chance of becoming Governor of this state. Likely he doesn’t care. He seems more intent on inflicting permanent damage to a party that is helpless in stopping him.

    It’s going to be a long road back for the ILGOP.

    Comment by Pundent Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:42 am

  9. Can anyone explain how mandating mask-wearing (and even vaccination if it comes to that) as a public health matter is an invasion of privacy but sticking the government’s nose in the private reproductive matters of those who can bear children is freedom?

    Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:49 am

  10. More of this JB. Raid Texas’ businesses, hit ‘em the pocketbook.

    Comment by workingfromhome Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:49 am

  11. Poor souls. Imagine thinking Illinois can hold a candle to Texas in any category, except maybe former governors in prison.

    Comment by Road Glider Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 10:58 am

  12. ==with Bailey calling it a “stunt,”==
    The cynic in me thinks that all politics have become a series of stunts, designed to distract us from reality.
    “Bread and circuses”

    Comment by Bruce( no not him) Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:00 am

  13. If anything…

    What this does is put the Texas abortion law in the conversation here in Illinois, allowing and encouraging that discussion to abortion, and highlight, for Dems, the abortion issue is bigger than just the law, and puts the GOP in a posture of defense, especially those who voted against the last abortion law signed by Rauner but opposed by the collective GOP.

    Why not reach out? Why not make this an issue? Why not… put out there that Illinois is a place “where women’s rights matter”… if anything, that’s what this is, even if zero companies come here.

    If a company relocates, it’s gravy.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:00 am

  14. === Imagine thinking Illinois can hold a candle to Texas in any category, except maybe former governors in prison.===

    I’d start with women’s rights.

    I’m sure suburban women in Illinois aren’t worried how Texans use candles when their electricity grid fails, let the Texans hold those candles while women’s rights are trampled.

    How’s that?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:02 am

  15. I think, unfortunately, most Texas companies will figure out that it is cheaper to fly their employees to Illinois for an abortion than it is to move their headquarters here.

    Comment by A Jack Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:03 am

  16. I doubt this is gonna pressure any Texas-based CEOs but there are some unhappy college-educated workforces right now in parts of Texas, so any additional firepower JB can give them, indirectly, to complain to their bosses, is all good.

    Comment by ZC Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:05 am

  17. I agree. It is a long, slow road back for the ilgop. No more madigan to attack, no strong candidates to challenge pritzger lr duckworth, and no fair tax to attack since it failed. I think the ilgop is going to regret the fair tax failing come campaign season. Cant bludgeon the dems with a law that didn’t pass. If griffin and uhlien ever decide to close their wallets, the ilgop might as well lock the doors and put up the “for sale” sign.

    Comment by Imaginary brass rings Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:05 am

  18. Road Glider-

    Imagine what Illinois could do if they got back from the G what Texas does in taxes and FMAP?

    Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:06 am

  19. can also boycott. AT&T donated a bunch to the pols who support the ridiculous laws. drop your coverage. who else is based in Texas who has not taken action? SW Air?

    Comment by Amalia Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:07 am

  20. Match.com is the parent company of Tinder. Make sure JB doesn’t ask them to swipe left.

    Comment by City Zen Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:09 am

  21. A very incomplete effort by the governor.

    Could have also hit Texas on a nightmare non-response to Covid, radical gun laws that allow untrained to open carry firearms most anywhere, the collapse of the Texas electric grid last year, and efforts to suppress voting rights so bad the Texas House Democrats fled the state.

    Abortion rights are important, I just don’t get the singular focus.

    Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:09 am

  22. Texas didn’t become America’s second largest state without providing a great business environment. Eat your heart out Illinois…

    Comment by Quaking Boots Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:09 am

  23. ==Imagine thinking Illinois can hold a candle to Texas in any category, except maybe former governors in prison.==

    I recommend you don’t check each state’s median income or education rankings.

    Comment by supplied_demand Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:10 am

  24. === Texas didn’t become===

    A possibly dangerous place for women’s rights overnight.

    Signed laws and overtly anti-women policies make Texas a less than great state when half the human race are made less.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:12 am

  25. Bailey can take his arse to Gilead with the rest of the old men making anti-women legislation these days. So glad we have leaders who respect women’s choice in Illinois.

    Comment by A-Man Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:12 am

  26. == Imagine thinking Illinois can hold a candle to Texas in any category ==

    Why would I need to imagine it.

    While I admit this is only anecdotal, starting this spring after the texas power outages over the winter, I started seeing more license plates from Texas here in the suburbs than I have ever seen in my decades living here.

    Something is causing a large number of people from texas to be showing up in the metro area with their personal vehicles. And it isn’t vacation.

    Maybe they are coming here for temp work. Maybe they are moving here. Either way, they are coming here in numbers I haven’t seen before.

    Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:16 am

  27. Ya. Good luck with that

    Comment by Betty Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:23 am

  28. No complaint whatsoever with Pritzker’s soliciting Texas businesses, but I suspect the real business effect of the law will be on businesses considering moving there, not those that have already relocated. I think you can make a good argument to such businesses that the deep red states are going to do all sorts of crazy things, including some that your workers will despise and may get you boycotted. Our economic house isn’t in the best shape, but between our infrastructure and general political sanity, in the long term the state’s a good bet.

    Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:25 am

  29. == Imagine thinking Illinois can hold a candle to Texas in any category ==

    Illinois 11th in Education vs. Texas at 34th
    Illinois 29th in Health Care vs. Texas at 31st
    Illinois 12th in Opportunity vs. Texas at 39th
    Illinois median income at $65k vs. Texas $60k

    Guess we’ll also glaze over the electrical grid failures as well..

    Comment by A-Man Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:25 am

  30. === Good luck with that===

    The goal has already been achieved.

    Any businesses that even consider a move is gravy.

    This has little to do with poaching, and everything to do with inserting the Texas abortion law into the political discussion in Illinois.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:25 am

  31. ==Although, it is hard to compete with Texas.==

    How about (1) Consistent power, (2) Less flooding.

    Comment by Jocko Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:33 am

  32. As has been mentioned, the Gov needs to broaden his message: environmental protection (draws some businesses to pollution-friendly TX, but a negative for many others); climate change will make Texas hotter and growth areas like Houston will see more impacts from hurricanes; water availability is a big concern, especially in west TX; because the power grid is isolated it is more vulnerable to disruption; if you want to have a workforce that includes women and minorities, TX is doing its best to drive them away.

    With respect to “low taxes” wait until you see your grocery bill…the money has to come from somewhere.

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:35 am

  33. At least we have electricity in the winter.

    Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:35 am

  34. Illinois 11th in Education vs. Texas at 34th. Based on what measure
    Illinois 29th in Health Care vs. Texas at 31st. May as well say tied
    Illinois 12th in Opportunity vs. Texas at 39th. That’s a totally subjective measure.
    Illinois median income at $65k vs. Texas $60k. Irrelevant given the cost of living and tax burden are lower.

    Comment by Road Glider Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:44 am

  35. Road Glider

    Then move to Texas. I get so sick and tired of people bellyaching about Illinois and how much better it is somewhere else. Fine. Move. Good riddance to you.

    Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:48 am

  36. - Road Glider -

    Now do the power grid… and women’s health rights.

    The goal of the exercise is to make women’s health in Illinois an issue, and make any GOP gubernatorial nominee, no matter who that eventually is, a threat to women’s health.

    It’s fun thinking this is about relocating businesses…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 11:49 am

  37. Very smart. Too bad these GOP candidates aren’t savvy enough to pivot on the issue.

    Comment by Southside Salami Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:06 pm

  38. “Illinois 11th in Education vs. Texas at 34th. Based on what measure?”
    Methodology is here:
    https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education

    Comment by 17% Solution Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:13 pm

  39. ==I recommend you don’t check each state’s median income or education rankings.==

    If that’s what’s important to those Texas companies, they’ll choose Massachusetts.

    Comment by City Zen Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:15 pm

  40. Anyone want to wager the letter is a bust. Pritzker is good at one thing- political theater- Texas has attracted more California Companies in the last few years along with their employees. Low taxes- right to work- business friendly legislation and few unions. Yea - good luck Governor

    Comment by Sue Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:17 pm

  41. Lefty lefty - in a word -hypocrisy.

    Comment by Huh? Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:17 pm

  42. “Illinois 12th in Opportunity vs. Texas at 39th. That’s a totally subjective measure.”
    Sure, Karen
    Methodology is here: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity

    Comment by 17% Solution Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:18 pm

  43. - Sue -

    As a woman, are your medical rights safer in Texas or Illinois?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:18 pm

  44. It’s refreshing to see a governor selling the benefits of the state rather than selling it out as Rauner did.

    Comment by Norseman Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:19 pm

  45. ==If that’s what’s important to those Texas companies, they’ll choose Massachusetts. ==

    I was responding to the (obviously false) idea that Illinois does not hold a candle to Texas in any category. This is moving the goalposts.

    Comment by supplied_demand Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:22 pm

  46. The Cook County play is a political stunt by Morrison who will for sure have a primary because of his defund the police vote in a Moderate District. He barely beat Shneider last time and that was with tons of money from JB and Preckwinkle. Re map looks a little more D but that defund vote isn’t popular up in his district.

    Comment by Hard D Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:29 pm

  47. I like that JB did this. This is what they did here in Illinois in the past. Turnabout being failrplay and all.

    =2) Right to work state. 3) Loser pays legal fees in state court.=

    A lot of people would see those as additional reasons why Illinois is better than Texas. Most workers do not see suppression of wages as a virtue.

    =with Bailey calling it a “stunt,” =

    The stunt man himself calling out a stunt?

    =Jb needs to brush up on the constitution=

    I see you quoted the constitution but did so incorrectly. So maybe a brush up for you is in order. Glass houses and all.

    Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:31 pm

  48. “As a woman, are your medical rights safer in Texas or Illinois?”

    As a white male — I have nothing more to add to the discussion.

    Comment by Shark Sandwich Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:32 pm

  49. You don’t have to believe in a law to benefit from a law. I’m glad Mr. Braid brought his suit because it shows that Texas’s law is crazy.

    Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:33 pm

  50. ===As a white male===

    Ironically, allegedly, a white woman, wrote that for Bruce Rauner.

    I am curious to - Sue -‘s thoughts on that, especially since this letter and the political intent is “mostly” about the Texas law and a little about successfully poaching business.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:37 pm

  51. A political advertisement for his Pritzker’s base.
    it actual impact will be meaningless.

    Comment by Unconventional wisdom Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:37 pm

  52. As a woman
    I’d feel perfectly safe in Texas
    You know there are dozens of birth control methods
    Available if one chooses to be responsible

    Comment by Betty Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:43 pm

  53. ==Anyone want to wager the letter is a bust.==

    Considering HP and Oracle decided to move about a year ago and probably put a year or so of research into scouting new sites, the time to woo these companies was 2018/19. They were obviously anxious to bail on California, something I would’ve expected JB to know, considering 1871 and all his tech connections.

    ==This is moving the goalposts==

    Into the parking lot.

    Comment by City Zen Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:43 pm

  54. Texas has recently taken a hard extreme turn in its laws concerning women’s rights, voters rights and immigration. While these companies may not move their businesses over this, they will think twice before expanding there and new businesses will think twice before now locating there.
    I agree this was about putting women’s health issues front and center, but I do believe there will be tangible conquences to the legislation passed by Texas.

    Comment by Fool on the Hill Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:44 pm

  55. ===the time to woo these companies was 2018/19.===

    The Texas abortion law was not passed in 2018… or 2019. Keep up, please.

    Are you always this disingenuous to things?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:47 pm

  56. NPR’s Morning Edition also had a segment on Pritzker’s letter.

    Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:56 pm

  57. I forgot the link.
    https://www.npr.org/2021/09/23/1039987399/chicago-uses-social-issues-to-encourage-businesses-to-leave-texas

    Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:57 pm

  58. Waah, it’s a bust. Waah, it’s too late. What a bunch of whiners. It’s just a letter, not a $100M PR campaign. So what if he wasted an hour. He took a shot and did what he could and must do, which is the job of the governor. Unlike his predecessor. If he gets somebody, great. If not, he’s put it out there in the public consciousness. You get nothing unless you ask. I’d expect an R gov to tout our achievements, even if he or she emphasizes different things.

    Comment by Jibba Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 12:58 pm

  59. Tactics and policies embraced by the current crop of GOP candidates in Illinois will ensure that the GOP remains a super minority in our state. Keep beating that drum boys and leading your party off the cliff.

    Comment by Manchester Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 1:09 pm

  60. “the time to woo these companies was 2018/19″

    Making now an excellent time to woo them for 2024/25.
    Doesn’t take an Oracle to see they might feel a need to move behind Texas laws like this

    Comment by Shark Sandwich Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 1:12 pm

  61. Good on the Governor for sending the letter. He should be actively doing that all the time.

    That being said, some of the holier than thou responses I’m seeing on here have me shaking my head.

    In 1969, the populations of Texas and Illinois were virtually even at 11.04 Million. Since then, Texas has grown to 29 Million and Illinois has grown to 12.7 Million.

    Stay holier than thou all you want, but Texas’ population growth over the last 50 years is 13.5x what Illinois’ has been. They’ve obviously done some things that people like and people want to be a part of and there are no signs of that changing any time soon.

    Comment by AD Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 1:26 pm

  62. Businesses are not a monolithic thing. They’re made up of the people that work there and their beliefs. And large businesses today see the benefits of attracting a young diverse workforce. And the tech industry particularly embodies that. So it’s important to keep those issues in mind as stares adopt laws that are seen as largely exclusionary to the workforce that companies covet.

    Comment by Pundent Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 1:30 pm

  63. === some of the holier than thou responses===

    Now Texas is a “victim” to the holier than thou? lol

    This is about a state that others are finding dangerous to women’s health rights.

    Today. Now. Not 1969.

    If Pritzker can box in his GOP opponent, if Dem in the statehouse chambers can put the scare into voters because of Texas… what are we really talking about… 1969 Texas?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 1:34 pm

  64. here’s hoping you are never Breakthrough Betty.

    Comment by Amalia Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 1:40 pm

  65. Texas isn’t a victim . They aren’t worried about a state that went from number 5 in population to number 6.

    Comment by Illinois Proud Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 1:42 pm

  66. ===They (Texas) aren’t worried about a state===

    No. It’s that Illinois could be the next Texas in women’s health.

    That’s the fear going on. Women’s health. Poaching businesses is the vehicle to remind women voters… in Illinois.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 1:45 pm

  67. ===They’ve obviously done some things that people like===

    No doubt. How did they make the weather so much better there?

    Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 1:47 pm

  68. It’s all nonsense. Improve the business climate here and maybe you’ll have a chance. Otherwise, this is just a publicity stunt.

    Comment by Baseball Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 1:52 pm

  69. === I think, unfortunately, most Texas companies will figure out that it is cheaper to fly their employees to Illinois for an abortion than it is to move their headquarters here. ===

    That is a 19th Century approach to a 21st century problem.

    This is about whether companies like Oracle, Dell, HP, Tesla and Apple want their brand tied to a homestate that is hostile to women, African Americans, Latinx, and LGBTQ communities.

    It affects their sal3s and their talent recruitment and retention, an$ frankly how they respond impacts their internal culture and the threat or likelihood of discrimination suits from within the company.

    Ask Uber and Nike what a brand crisis is like and what it costs to fix.

    To this day, when you think of Nike most people think of Michael Jordan and sweatshops almost simultaneously, and the sweatshop story broke 30 years ago.

    Comment by Jubenal Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:00 pm

  70. ===Improve the business climate here===

    Is that you, Bruce Rauner?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:01 pm

  71. ===Otherwise, this is just a publicity stunt.===

    And harmless to Illinois.

    But tech companies have been saying for years that they make location decisions on where their employees want to live. Austin, for one, has been a huge draw because it’s a cool place. If employees no longer want to live there, those companies may very well move on. I expect that recruitment, already tough, got even more difficult.

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:01 pm

  72. Maybe I’d feel different about this if Texas in its recruiting of businesses touted their new abortion law is a reason to move to Texas as much as Illinois and other places are using the Texas abortion law as a “Texas negative”

    Not one comment here that was “pro-Texas” was also touting the Texas abortion law as good or a positive.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:09 pm

  73. “Otherwise, this is just a publicity stunt.”

    Every poaching attempt by any governor is a publicity stunt. That is the whole point. Every governors that cares about their state does it.

    Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:09 pm

  74. ==Oracle, Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard, Match.com and others.==

    If any of these companies are swayed by the Governor’s offer to move to Illinois, Springfield would be a great place for these companies to relocate. Langfelder, need to start getting it into gear and focus less on trying to get sports facilities, new restaurants and unessential businesses into Springfield and instead focus on luring multimillion dollar corporations and manufacturing into the city and area. Legacy Pointe would be a great place for a corporate business park, by Scheels, if no other retail is going to go there. Definitely would be better than a sports complex that sits empty most of the year.

    Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:11 pm

  75. =“Illinois welcomes you — we’ll even greet you with same-day registration,” he wrote.=

    Noticed this statement and it got me thinking about its implications I did some checking to find out more about this. Could not find any information as to how citizenship was verified.

    So I called Rep Luft’s office to try to hopefully find an answer. According to his staff such verification is not required as no checks are made on this matter.

    Does anyone out there know if this is the situation. That citizenship is not verified. Or is it and Luft’s office is wrong.

    Comment by Unconventional wisdom Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:25 pm

  76. Rich - Re: Comment at 11:58 am “If some one desires to be updated with latest technologies than he must be pay a quick visit this web page and be up to date all the time.” Have you been spammed again? Can almost hear “Ees Moose and Squirrel”‘accent just reading that.

    Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:27 pm

  77. ===citizenship was verified===

    Have you ever registered to vote?

    What do you need to do that?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:29 pm

  78. Meh, people go where the jobs are, it’s rarely the other way around. Yes I know, a Silicon Valley company isn’t going to relocate to screen door Kansas, but it’s not like Texas doesn’t produce thousands of new college grads every year that actually want to stay in Texas.

    - It’s that Illinois could be the next Texas in women’s health. -

    I think women care more about mammograms and cervical cancer than terminating a pregnancy, I’m sure that’s still readily available in Texas.

    Comment by GSD Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:33 pm

  79. ===No doubt. How did they make the weather so much better there?===

    That’s amazing. I didn’t know their weather had changed so dramatically since 1969 when we had the same population as them. Try again.

    Comment by AD Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:37 pm

  80. === I didn’t know their weather had changed so dramatically since 1969===

    Air conditioning.

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:38 pm

  81. ===Air conditioning.===

    That made me think of - Wordslinger -.

    ===I think women care more about===

    It’s one thing to *see* what’s at play, the idea that Illinois (with what the governor is insinuating) is a better choice in women’s health…

    … it’s quite another to guess what women actually think.

    Whole different thing.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:41 pm

  82. ===Texas didn’t become America’s second largest state without providing a great business environment.===

    A dodgy power grid and depriving women of health care do not make for a good business environment.

    Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 2:42 pm

  83. You’re missing one aspect of the big picture. States didn’t become “business friendly, RTWFL” overnight. It took time to build an awareness and coalition. Might this be the start of an awareness of the advantages of blue states? Good education, reliable energy and transportation, assured human rights, plentiful water, safer from climate change? Taxes pay for things, and here is what you get that is an advantage for your business.

    I’d be hawking that all day long for the next 100 years, and occasionally it will make a difference.

    Comment by Jibba Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 3:19 pm

  84. ===I think women care more about mammograms and cervical cancer than terminating a pregnancy, I’m sure that’s still readily available in Texas.===

    It’s not, though — Texas has a long-term shortage of women’s health practitioners. It can be a pain in the *ss to access obstetrical care, mammograms, etc., even with very good health care. They literally cut four million dollars from funding for cervical cancer screenings last year — much of which was shifted into “abortion prevention.”

    Comment by Suburban Mom Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 4:15 pm

  85. = If Pritzker ever had to build a business =

    Queue an 1871 response in 3…2…1…

    To the post: A letter is just that. Good luck, DCEO.

    Comment by Dirty Red Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 4:24 pm

  86. - If Pritzker ever had to build a business -

    Says the guy who also inherited his.

    Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 4:44 pm

  87. ===“If Pritzker ever had to build a business…”===

    Rabine has nothing to it.

    He’s an empty suit to the discussion. A mere Facebook commenter at this point.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 4:58 pm

  88. “Imagine thinking Illinois can hold a candle to Texas in any category”
    Might want to find the list of Nobel Prize laureates before you post next time.

    Comment by Proud Papa Bear Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 5:29 pm

  89. Did I just see an Indiana casino commercial on TV, saying face masks are optional? Ugh. They’re asking for COVID spread. Texas is an anti-mandate state with a dark age abortion law. The right wing can have red states on a silver platter, in terms of policy—except Texas is trending bluer in national elections.

    Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Sep 23, 21 @ 6:36 pm

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