Illinois chronic budget problems have become a significant challenge in efforts to attract companies and jobs to the city, top executives at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday.

At the same time, relations with state economic development agencies have improved since the ouster of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

It has a very direct impact on what were able to accomplish in attracting businesses to Springfield and Sangamon County, Chamber executive vice president Erich Bloxdorf told a meeting of The State Journal-Register editorial board.

Bloxdorf said prospective companies are concerned about higher taxes, but are even more concerned the problem is getting worse.

Its one thing to have a state budget crisis if youve got a specific plan to address that. Theres just too much uncertainty, he said.

Chamber president and CEO Gary Plummer said relationships with state agencies have improved since the Blagojevich administration.

A lot of the things we saw the first couple of years I was here, while he (Blagojevich) was in office, seemed to be a little more political or public-relations oriented, and didnt have much substance, whereas the current administration is trying to be more responsive, said Plummer.

Click here to read the full article.

“With unemployment in Illinois above the national average, we should not make Illinois even less competitive by raising the state income tax,” Congressman Kirk said.  “Alexi Giannoulias’ plan to increase state and federal income taxes would put our economic recovery at risk.  I oppose tax increases in Washington and I urge state lawmakers to oppose the Quinn-Giannoulias tax increase in Springfield.”

Yesterday, David Vaught, the Director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, told Bloomberg, “We’re going to pass a tax increase in January.  We expect it is going to be substantial.”

Earlier this year, Alexi Giannoulias called for a state income tax increase.  He also said he would allow federal tax relief to expire.

As Chicago Public Radio reported:

“Illinois is one of only two states projecting a deficit for the end of the current fiscal year, as well.

“Despite a gaping budget shortfall, Illinois is planning to boost its spending this year by 15.1 percent, according to the study…

“…Illinois is also predicting a 17.9 percent uptick in revenue collection for fiscal year 2011, which Merriman says is simply wishful thinking. The study calls the state’s budget situation ‘tenuous at best.’“

“State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias issued little warning that this would happen to Illinois,” Kirk spokesperson Kirsten Kukowski said.  “Rather than criticize the leaders of our state who are leading it to financial infamy, he has used little of his office’s voice or authority to describe our state’s deteriorating fiscal position.  Treasurer Giannoulias lost $73 million in Bright Start college savings and watched our state’s financial situation become the worst in the nation.  Now Treasurer Giannoulias wants to raise state income taxes to fix the mess he and top Illinois leaders created.  It’s time to change direction and elect fiscal conservatives who will cut spending and turn our economy around.”

Despite recent misleading statements from his campaign, Alexi Giannoulias was caught on videoearlier this year calling for a state income tax increase.

Foreign policy debate on August 21st in Ottawa, economic policy debate on October 15th in Alton, wide-ranging debate October 19th in Chicago

Congressman Mark Kirk today proposed seven U.S. Senate debates and candidate forums beginning August 21st in Ottawa, Illinois – the date and location of the first of seven Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858.

“Our country faces serious issues at home and abroad,” Congressman Kirk said.  “I look forward to a thoughtful series of debates and forums to discuss the complex economic and foreign policy challenges before us while demonstrating the clear choice facing voters in this election.”

In addition to a foreign policy debate on August 21st in Ottawa and an economic policy debate on October 15th in Alton – the dates and locations of the first and last Lincoln-Douglas debates – the Kirk campaign’s proposal includes:

August 21: A foreign policy focused debate in Ottawa, Illinois hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

August 22: A Middle East policy candidate forum in Northbrook, Illinois hosted by To Protect Our Heritage.

August 25: An agriculture and jobs candidate forum in Bloomington, Illinois hosted by the Illinois Farm Bureau.

September 2: A wide-ranging debate in Springfield, Illinois (proposed hosts: WICS-TV, the Citizens Club of Springfield and the University of Illinois-Springfield).

October 15: An economic policy focused debate in Alton, Illinois (proposed host: KTVI Fox St. Louis).

October 19: A wide-ranging debate in Chicago, Illinois hosted by the League of Women Voters and ABC 7.

October 21: A wide-ranging debate in Carbondale, Illinois (proposed hosts: Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, WSIU-TV and the Southern Illinoisan).

State’s leading business advocate for small and independent businesses; which account for 98 percent of employers, endorses Kirk

ROCKFORD – The National Federation of Independent Business today endorsed Congressman Mark Kirk for U.S. Senate citing his commitment to pro-growth, pro-jobs policies that will turn the Illinois economy around and put people back to work.

Speaking at a Rockford-area small business, Ever Ready Pin and Manufacturing, Congressman Kirk pledged to add private sector jobs with pro-growth, pro-employment policies that allow employees to succeed.

“You cannot talk about creating jobs without talking to Illinois job creators,” Congressman Kirk said. “I am honored to earn the support of small and independent employers across Illinois who share my vision of lower taxes, fiscal discipline and economic growth. My opponent may think government creates jobs, but the reality is– employers like Ever Ready Pin and Manufacturing are the real job creators. We need policies that help small businesses add employees rather than policies that add government spending and higher taxes.”

With over 10 percent unemployment, our number one priority must be creating jobs and getting our economy back on track. The Illinois NFIB is the leading advocate for small and independent businesses which account for 98 percent of employers.

“The Illinois NFIB is proud to endorse Congressman Kirk because he is a proven leader willing to stand up for small businesses,” said Kim Maisch, State Director of the Illinois NFIB. “Congressman Kirk’s Small Business Bill of Rights is exactly what is needed to help spur job growth in Illinois and we look forward to working with him as our next U.S. Senator to enact this much needed legislation.”

To protect small business owners from higher taxes, rising costs and increasing government red tape, Congressman Kirk has proposed a Small Business Bill of Rights, also endorsed by the NFIB. A strong supporter of Illinois agriculture, exports and infrastructure, Congressman Kirk brings a proven record of working across party lines to stand up for Illinois jobs.

Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias supports federal and state income tax increases that would further reduce Illinois’ competitiveness and drive more jobs from the state. Giannoulias also supports reinstating the death tax, refuses to take a position on a potential VAT tax and opposes a worker’s right to a secret ballot in a union election.

Republican Mark Kirk stopped in Rockford to talk about his small business bill of rights.  It includes 10 points designed to create jobs, lower taxes, reduce costs, and cut red tape.   Some points include secret ballots in union elections, creating tax credits for green energy, and make immigration laws easier to comply with.

“I believe we need to lower taxes and cut spending to stimulate our economy. I believe that a state income tax hike right in the teeth of the great recession would make us even less competitive than we are today,” says Kirk.

Kirk’s opponent, Alexi Giannoulias, says he also has a plan that supports small businesses and creates jobs.

Click here to read the full article.

New Misleading Giannoulias Said: “Now, you know, there are some people who in a perfect world we never would have done business with.”

• FACT: Broadway Bank was aware of Michael “Jaws” Giorango’s mob record when they loaned him money. “Demetris Giannoulias said the bank learned of Giorango’s bookmaking and prostitution promotion convictions from a spring 2004 Tribune report detailing those cases… He said he asked Giorango about the convictions and Giorango said, ‘It’s in the past. I don’t do that anymore.’” (Chicago Tribune, 4/2/10)
• FACT: Alexi said he knew Giorgano had “legal problems.” “Giannoulias insisted he only knew that Giorango had ‘some legal problems’ while he was servicing the loans, declining to say whether he knew they were criminal in nature.” (Chicago Sun-Times, “Giannoulias: I Take It Back,” 4/27/06)
• FACT: Alexi knew about Giorango’s past and thought he was “a very nice person.” “He described Giorango as ‘a very nice person’ and questioned whether Giorango actually was a criminal. ‘Is he a crime figure?’ Giannoulias asked. ‘I don’t know what the charges are that makes him this huge crime figure.’”  (Chicago Tribune, 3/15/06)

Misleading Giannoulias Statement: “You look at the credit worthiness of the borrower, you look at the appraisal of the property…You don’t do criminal background checks on who they give loans to.”

• FACT: Alexi made loans despite full knowledge of criminal backgrounds. “‘If every time someone got arrested the bank threw them out, I think it would be a problem,’ Alexi Giannoulias said. ‘We look at the commercial viability of loans, and that’s where we make our credit decisions.’”  (Associated Press, 4/8/06)
• FACT: We are supposed to believe that a community bank helped mobsters finance a casino riverboat marina in South Carolina because it was a good investment. “‘From a commercial standpoint, it looked like a loan that should be made,’ Giannoulias said, adding he was unaware the marina was used to dock a SunCruz Casinos riverboat.” (Chicago Tribune, 4/9/06)

Misleading Giannoulias Statement: “I wouldn’t know what a mafia guy looked like if he walked down the street.”

• FACT: Alexi Giannoulias visited mobster Michael “Jaws” Giorango in Miami. “Giannoulias said he traveled to Miami ‘about a year or two ago’ to inspect property the bank had financed for Giorango and met with him there. Giannoulias declined to provide details of that meeting.” (Chicago Tribune, 4/27/06)
• FACT: Alexi admitted meeting Giorango at the bank “a few times.” “But Giannoulias said that since he became a full-time senior loan officer, he has met Giorango at the bank ‘a few’ times.” (Chicago Tribune, 3/15/06)

Key Unanswered Questions for Alexi Giannoulias:

1. Why did you visit Michael “Jaws” Giorango in Miami?

2. How long did you meet with “Jaws” in Miami?

3. Who else participated in those meeting with “Jaws”?

State’s leading business advocate for small and independent businesses; which account for 98 percent of employers, endorses Kirk

ROCKFORD – The National Federation of Independent Business today endorsed Congressman Mark Kirk for U.S. Senate citing his commitment to pro-growth, pro-jobs policies that will turn the Illinois economy around and put people back to work.

Speaking at a Rockford-area small business, Ever Ready Pin and Manufacturing, Congressman Kirk pledged to add private sector jobs with pro-growth, pro-employment policies that allow employees to succeed.

“You cannot talk about creating jobs without talking to Illinois job creators,” Congressman Kirk said. “I am honored to earn the support of small and independent employers across Illinois who share my vision of lower taxes, fiscal discipline and economic growth. My opponent may think government creates jobs, but the reality is– employers like Ever Ready Pin and Manufacturing are the real job creators. We need policies that help small businesses add employees rather than policies that add government spending and higher taxes.”

With over 10 percent unemployment, our number one priority must be creating jobs and getting our economy back on track. The Illinois NFIB is the leading advocate for small and independent businesses which account for 98 percent of employers.

“The Illinois NFIB is proud to endorse Congressman Kirk because he is a proven leader willing to stand up for small businesses,” said Kim Maisch, State Director of the Illinois NFIB. “Congressman Kirk’s Small Business Bill of Rights is exactly what is needed to help spur job growth in Illinois and we look forward to working with him as our next U.S. Senator to enact this much needed legislation.”

To protect small business owners from higher taxes, rising costs and increasing government red tape, Congressman Kirk has proposed a Small Business Bill of Rights, also endorsed by the NFIB. A strong supporter of Illinois agriculture, exports and infrastructure, Congressman Kirk brings a proven record of working across party lines to stand up for Illinois jobs.

Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias supports federal and state income tax increases that would further reduce Illinois’ competitiveness and drive more jobs from the state. Giannoulias also supports reinstating the death tax, refuses to take a position on a potential VAT tax and opposes a worker’s right to a secret ballot in a union election.