-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Caterpillar follows Topgolf Entertainment Group, OpTic Gaming, Boeing Global Services, Addus HomeCare and thousands of residents from Chicagoland to North Texas. So what’s the biggest economic difference between the third- and fourth-most populous metros in the country?
Summary and audio linked here.
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Full interview and summary linked here.
SIGN UP HERE FOR OUR FREE WIREPOINTS DAILY NEWSLETTER
The Corporate Conga line leaving Chicago and Illinois is the canary in the coal mine — for a failed state and city.
Citadel leaving Chicago as well.
Another feather in the cap of the asshats in IL government disconnected from reality.
I keep hearing companies don’t make location decisions based on taxes. Then there’s articles like Hinz “Texas GOP gives Illinois businesses reasons to stay away” which I assume is implying things like abortion access is important to employers? Professional women won’t take that promotion and move to Dallas because they can’t easily get an abortion?
Ironically, professional women (outside of Hollywood of course) are the least likely of all demographics to get an abortion.
Only prob with Texas is the “Begger Thy Neighbor” policy, in that they poach well-established businesses TO their state, which spends near the bottom, 49th, only Mississippi lower, on education.
I have been to DFW, one of the ugliest metros I have ever seen, no beauty at all, just sprawl, and the summers are 95-100 degrees 4 months of the year
And they have their share of issues and crime as well, in fact, a hell of a lot of it
I agree Illinois has major issues, no doubt, and people are bailing, but DFW is def no nirvana
There’s no such thing as a ‘nirvana’ but DFW is preferred by many, many corporations to Chicago.
Is anyone in Illinois government, Chicago government, Cook County or anyone in Springfield in any department or agency reading these numbers? It is a total embarrassment to Illinois. The Illinois politicians are bad enough, but where are the so called professionals at DOT, State Board of Education, Department of Commerce, Revenue, Tourism, Housing, Governor’s office, Speaker’s and Senate President’s staffs? We used to have highly respected and talented folks running these agencies that could offer some solutions to their bosses– even if the head guy was a political dolt. Unelected staffers do have life after government, but where are these… Read more »
The communist can read, the communist understands what these figures and stats mean. The communist probably occasionally skims the headlines and comments here at Wirepoints too. They, like everyone else, is well aware of the declining fortunes of the state. But the communist cares not. Communism is a religious cult of destruction. The communist didn’t even try to convince Boeing Global, CAT, Addus, TopGolf or any other company to stay in IL. They didn’t even lift a finger to try and make them stay. Our communist leadership, especially JB, told these companies “don’t let the door hit your a$$ on… Read more »
That was before diversity became our strength. I bet we have the most diverse leadership around now.