Doug Whitley is President/CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. Below is Part III of Doug Whitley's five part series concerning the mounting economic pressures on Illinois's state government finances.
Respond Directly to Doug
March 13, 2013
Illinois by the Numbers: Five Alarming Trends to Watch Part III
Monday and Tuesday's messages examined the most serious underlying issues facing our state today - significant population and job losses, the aging of Illinois' populace, rising poverty levels and the state's growing tax burden.
These trends and the resulting problems - from depleted revenues to the public pension crisis - make it evident that Illinois must act in order to avoid a downward spiral of job losses and economic decay.
Some leaders believe the answer is to help Illinois residents by increasing taxes and providing more services. Others say we must make drastic, across-the-board cuts to stanch the fiscal bleeding. By pursuing policies that foster job creation, however, we can let the economy do much of the heavy lifting.
The Solution: Jobs and Economic Growth
Imagine if we were able to close the "jobs gap" suggested by the Brookings Institute and add 500,000 more people to Illinois' workforce - the tax revenue and economic benefits generated would be tremendous.
Illinois' elected leaders need to come together and find a way to make that goal a reality. We cannot be complacent about small job growth numbers. If we continue on the current path, our businesses and residents will be taxed out of Illinois or will continue to look beyond our state for greener pastures and peace of mind.
We should establish a reputation as a state full of highly educated and hard-working people. Illinois should want to be recognized as a land of opportunity that will be a magnet for employers, job seekers, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
We need employers to stop asking, "Why does our government make it so hard to do business in Illinois?" and start attracting jobs, investments and human resources to our state. Without a robust economy and restored focus on fiscal responsibility, we won't be able to make needed public investments in areas such as quality education and infrastructure. It's a recipe for financial disaster and a horrific legacy to leave to younger generations.
Members of the Democratic Party control the levers of power in this state - the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Cook County Board President and Mayor of Chicago are all Democrats. Additionally, as a result of the last election, the Democrats have secured super majority control of both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly. Now, they need to lead by adopting and embracing an aggressive jobs agenda.
Populist pandering by touting another increase in the minimum wage, asking publicly traded corporations to post their tax returns on the Internet, or raising taxes on Illinois businesses that engage in international trade is not business friendly and won't grow jobs.
Illinois needs a better program. One that opens doors, speeds response time, demonstrates support for private initiatives, provides leadership, gets results, works efficiently, and is generally dedicated to making things happen to encourage investments and job growth in Illinois. Success begets success. That is why we must address employers' needs, recognize achievements and create momentum that compels people to want to be a part of growth initiatives occurring in Illinois.
Creating a better business climate and promoting job opportunities for Illinois citizens should be a bi-partisan goal, because the results are in the best long-term interests of every Illinois voter, taxpayer, employer and family.
More than one-quarter of our state's residents are 18 years of age or younger. To help ensure a brighter future for them - and to make Illinois an attractive place for them to live and work - our priority must be to pursue policies that assure Illinois is dedicated to being a robust, job-making machine.
Illinois Demographic Snapshot:
Total number of residents in 2010 census: 12.8 million (12,830,632)
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Message from the President - Copyright ©2013 The Illinois Chamber of Commerce
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