-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
“Unions are pouring millions of dollars into the Illinois GOP primary for governor next week, and for good reason. The outcome will very likely help determine whether Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn wins re-election in November.” http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303795904579430913829482386
How DuPage County is merging and purging government units and what it means for Illinois. Comment: Resurrecting Illinois demands that this be done on a huge scale all across the state. That’s extraordinarily hard, politically, because it means politicians’ friends lose jobs. Kudos to County Board Chairman Dan Cronin for charging ahead. If you want to see how complex this gets, see Senator Dan Biss’ piece here about dissolving townships. http://www.bettergov.org/a_smart_streamlining_test_case/
Comment: The $50 million pissed away on this “anti-violence” program could have put roughly 100 additional cops on the street for five years. How many lives might that have saved? http://www.suntimes.com/26091424-761/almost-7-of-anti-violence-fund-went-to-politicians-husband.html
Updated March 13, 2013 By: Mark Glennon Illinois, we already knew, pays a penalty rate to borrow money because of its bad credit rating, which taxpayers ultimately bear. What we didn’t know is that, beyond that credit penalty, we pay a still higher rate because of our dirty reputation. An analysis by the Fiscal Futures Project at the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs found that even after controlling for different credit ratings and fiscal, economic and financial factors between Illinois and other states that sold bonds between 2005 and 2010, the yields on Illinois bonds were
“Fundraiser attended by actors and others in the movie industry.” via Pantagraph.com | News from Associated Press.
http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/illinois-state-employees-union-again-lobbying-for-back-pay/article_d37d306c-18af-5506-92db-bba7ea4ed417.html
“Illinois has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, and it has been a priority of mine to find a financially responsible and commonsense way to extend unemployment benefits for those in need of them,” Senator Kirk said. http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2014/03/kirk-proposes-five-month-unemployment-insurance-extension.html
The mayor announced the Chicago Department of Transportation has formed “strike teams” to systematically fill in potholes on major arterial streets every Monday and Friday for the next several weeks. http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Emanuel-Chicago-Pothole-Strike-Teams-249320201.html
Inequality may be the result of global economic forces, but it matters in a local sense. A city where the rich are very rich, and the poor very poor, is likely to face many difficulties. It may struggle to maintain mixed-income school environments that produce better outcomes for low-income kids. It may have too narrow a tax base from which to sustainably raise the revenues necessary for essential city services. http://chicagoist.com/2014/03/09/chicago_ranks_eighth_in_income_ineq.php?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067
After years of starts and stops toward major gambling expansion, is Illinois closing in on a deal? Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been pushing Gov. Pat Quinn to approve a casino for the city along with several others. There’s long been a push to allow slot machines to be added to the state’s horse racing tracks, too. – See more at: http://www.rebootillinois.com/infographic/taxes/will-more-gambling-bring-a-jackpot?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=rbtsocial#sthash.xuOkOxVC Proponents claim expansion will bring in another $200 million in revenue, bringing total gambling revenue to $600 million, less than 7% of the back bills the state owes. http://www.rebootillinois.com/infographic/taxes/will-more-gambling-bring-a-jackpot?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=rbtsocial
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