Worse (now 48th, was 46th in 2010): Illinois is among the worst states for business, says Chief Executive magazine. The Wall Street Journal on March 20 listed Illinois “near the top of any fair survey” for worst-run state in America.
- Worse (now 31st, was 30th): The business tax climate also is going in the wrong direction, according to the Tax Foundation. Illinois has dipped from an already below-average ranking in 2010.
- Still 48th: No surprise, then, that employers are steering clear. The American Legislative Exchange Council says Illinois’ rate of job creation trails 47 other states, leading only Ohio and Michigan.
- Worse (now second-worst, was ninth): The latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data — for January, seasonally adjusted — rank unemployment rates from a high of 9.2 percent in Rhode Island to a low of 2.6 percent in North Dakota. At 8.7 percent, Illinois ties with Nevada for second-worst. Illinois now has 376,099 fewer nonfarm jobs than in January 2008 — a drop of 5.9 percent.
- Worse (now 47th, was 38th): Our overall economic performance, based on broad variables such as gross domestic product, has declined sharply and now ranks among the very lowest of the states, ALEC calculates.
- Worse (now 48th, was 47th): Worse yet, the same study says our economic outlook is miserable and dropping — due to factors such as burdensome taxes and a high number of public employees as a share of the population. Illinois ranked a somewhat better 43rd in 2008.
- Worse (now 17th, was 16th): Median household income of $55,137 — the amount of money coming in — has fallen. In inflation-adjusted dollars, it has dropped $1,098 per Illinois household from $56,235 in 2008, says the Census Bureau. Among other states, Maryland tops the list with a median income of $71,122; Mississippi trails at $37,095.
To be sure and to be fair the above rankings are mostly due to the dysfunction of the State of Illinois and its 6,963 local fiefdoms. But Durbin and the 2016 winner are limited in their negotiating powers for trade and funding sources to bring back home to the state.
Don’t be surprised if the US Senate race in Illinois is decided by the state economy.
I get the feeling there may be surprises with this race.