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Economy
Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
9:25am
Fri Sep 3, 2010
3 comments

Fourth Quarter Optimism From Illinois Businesses?

It's a pretty speculative report, but a new survey from a California-based staffing firm shows that executives in Illinois might start hiring again during the next three months:

A report released Thursday by Robert Half International said a net 12 percent of Illinois executives expect to hire more employees in the fourth quarter, an increase of 11 percentage points over sentiment measured in the third quarter. The company’s survey showed 19 percent of executives planned to staff up, while 7 percent were expecting to cut staff. Subtracting the 7 percent from the 19 percent generated the net 12 percent figure.

Those jobs couldn't open up soon enough. The national jobs report for August, released this morning, was bleak. Back home, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services found that child support payments collected from unemployed Illinoisans last fiscal year was the same as the amount collected over the past three years combined. Most of that money was garnished from measly unemployment benefits.

PI Original
by Micah Maidenberg
3:51pm
Thu Sep 2, 2010
2 comments

Gangs, Crime, and Unemployment (VIDEO)

Crime

With debate about Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis' gang leader sit-down at a fevered pitch, some neighborhood advocates think elected officials need to spend equal time talking about job creation.

Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
11:00am
Thu Sep 2, 2010

An Additional Minimum Wage Fact Check

The AP intervened in the Illinois governor's race yesterday, fact checking Gov. Pat Quinn's heavy criticism of GOP nominee Bill Brady's minimum wage stance. The press service correctly points out that Brady's position has switched as the campaign has progressed; initially, he told the media that he favored lowering Illinois' minimum wage of $8.25 per hour to the federal level of $7.25 per hour, but now he says the state should freeze its minimum wage rate until the lower federal figure "catch[es] up." Reporter Deanna Bellandi then whacks Quinn, who has told voters that Brady wants to cut wages, for "overstat[ing] Brady's past comments."

Although this short piece is helpful for folks just getting acquainted with the debate, we'd have liked to see the AP go even further by questioning Brady's assertion that Illinois' wage rate puts the state at a "competitive disadvantage." The Indiana Business review, studying job growth figures between 2003 and 2005, found that "Illinois' increasing minimum wage rates did not reduce overall employment growth for private employers." This tracks with national research, as well. For more context, check out our minimum wage posts here and here.

PI Original
by Micah Maidenberg
3:45pm
Wed Sep 1, 2010
1 comment

Chicago's Privatization Debate Hits The Public Health Department

City Hall

It isn't clear why Mayor Daley apparently sought additional contracting powers for the head of a city department earlier this summer. But with privatization worries at an all-time high, public service workers are trying to figure it out.

PI Original
by Micah Maidenberg
9:46am
Wed Sep 1, 2010
2 comments

The GOP's Love Affair With Indiana

State Budget

Illinois Republicans love to praise Indiana for its fiscal discipline. But is the Hoosier State a perfect model for state government?

Quick Hit
by Micah Maidenberg
3:28pm
Tue Aug 31, 2010
1 comment

Durbin And Giannoulias On Debt, Stimulus, And Timing

Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic candidate for Illinois' U.S. Senate seat, gave a speech in Chicago today focusing on fiscal policy and the federal budget. According to a write-up of the address by Crain's columnist Greg Hinz, Giannoulias said that cutting the national debt "should be our No. 1 fiscal priority when we arise out of the current recession."

Note the timing contained in that statement. As New York Times columnist Paul Krugman recently argued, it's not that government debt isn't a concern. Rather, Congress and the president should wait to prioritize the issue. A premature move toward fiscal austerity, before GDP rises and unemployment drops, could send the economy tumbling.

We heard similar notes from U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin last week when he told the City Club of Chicago the federal government must consider "careful" spending cuts (he singled out defense and agriculture as two potential areas for cuts) after further debt-financing of unemployment aid, infrastructure projects, and education. The timing issue is worth keeping in mind as debates about the national debt, the last Bush Administration's tax cuts, and stimulus programs continue to dominate headlines.