Democrats focus on jobs; GOP: What took so long?
SPRINGFIELD - Faced with double-digit unemployment and upcoming elections, Democratic lawmakers have begun turning their focus to creating jobs in Illinois, bristling at criticism from Republicans wondering where the ruling party has been on that subject the last few years.
"I think they want to create the perception that they care about job creation and creating new businesses," said House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego. "But only time will tell if they'll practice what they preach."
Last month, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, announced the formation of the Bipartisan Job Creation Task Force. And while the group has met only once for an organizational meeting, its membership has swelled to nearly 50 lawmakers.
The move comes as the state's economy - and budget - remains plagued with problems. Rising unemployment has tamped down tax collections, leaving Illinois with both an unemployment rate hovering near 11 percent and a budget deficit expected to exceed $12 billion - more than 40 percent of all state spending for a typical year.
Republicans hope to flip the tables on the ruling Democrats come November, and many political observers say the economy and lingering political inaction in Springfield could boost the GOP's chances.
Democrats swept control of state government in the 2002 elections. After 2006, they held the state House and Senate, governor's office and every other statewide office.
Against that backdrop, the sudden creation of not one, but two jobs task forces by Democrats in an election year is met with cynical snickers in some political corners. Madigan's announcement was preceded by Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn's formation of the "Illinois Economic Recovery Commission," which he too said would focus on creating jobs and finding ways to "strengthen Illinois' business base."
"It's another way to generate activity but not produce any results," said Illinois Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno from Lemont. "And we need results.
"It's so easy to form a commission and say you're going to study something, because there are issues that feel good and they are important to people. But again, until these recommendations are implemented, it's a waste of everyone's time."
State Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat assigned to oversee the House jobs group, takes umbrage at such political criticism and any suggestion that this task force is merely cover for Democratic candidates in a tough election year.
"I do not chair task forces that create fluff," Lang said.
He pointed to similar efforts he's led regarding mental health laws and debt collection, both of which yielded new state laws.
Lang said tax breaks and other business incentives are just a few possibilities of what could be examined by the jobs task force.
Democratic lawmakers have moved to help businesses recently.
Earlier this month, tax incentives were easily approved for Keystone Steel & Wire, a struggling Peoria-area steel firm, and U.S. Steel in Granite City. The deal extends the companies' exemption from paying millions in state utility taxes.
Lang said he wants the task force to focus on what attracts businesses to Illinois and what keeps others away.
"So if some state is stealing our businesses, then we want to figure out why," Lang said.
State Rep. Mark Walker, a Democrat from Arlington Heights, is one of 47 current members of the task force. He hopes to use that opportunity to push for converting O'Hare International Airport into a "free-trade zone." Under the proposal, O'Hare would serve as a hub for overseas shipments to be received for packaging or assembly before shipping to the rest of the country.
For her part, Radogno said if Lang's task force is serious, it should help pass legislation overhauling the state's workers' compensation laws, restrict legal awards and cut back business fees.
In 2003, a series of business fees and taxes were raised by Democratic powers and then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to come up with millions to help balance the state budget.
"So anything we can do - and rolling back some of these fees is part of that - is creating more jobs and getting people working and having more people paying taxes," said Cross, who pointed out that Gov. Quinn's jobs commission was the brainchild of House Republicans. "We're not Johnny-come-lately on job creation, but I think the Democrats can accept the fact that now, unemployment is (greater than) 10 percent and jobs are going to be a major issue in the next elections."
The Illinois House jobs group next meets Jan. 28 in Rockford.