Issue Position: Job Creation

Issue Position

Creating jobs for working families is the most important issue facing Illinois today. Families are struggling to hold on, and we must work hard to increase job opportunities in all sectors of the economy to get people back to work. In the long term, we must emerge from this recession with an economy that is stronger than the one we entered it with. That means working to create sustainable new industries and economic priorities. It means focusing on retraining workers for the next generation of jobs, and creating a solid infrastructure from which our economy can prosper.

It also means creating an environment that is supportive of our small businesses. The high cost of workers compensation and its affect on job creation has long been a major concern of businesses in our community and throughout the State. It took a coalition approach to address this issue, and I believe the bill we passed to reform the workers compensation system will make a significant impact, saving Illinois businesses as much as $700 million each year.

I am also spearheading an exciting new initiative that is designed to leverage our state's strong intellectual capital to accelerate new science- and technology-based start-up companies. As the co-chair of the new Legislative Research and Development Caucus, we have been working to help new start- up companies connect new research with companies interested in bringing the research to market.

In addition, we are working in complementary paths to ensure we have an educated workforce and a good transportation system (roads, trains and airports) that are critical components job creation and business development in our region.

These efforts reflect longstanding values and beliefs. As we move forward:

- I will make sure we focus on the strengths of Illinois economy for the next generation, not the previous one. That means focusing our strong intellectual capital, and energy resources, into new businesses and jobs.

- I will work to invest in new, green and sustainable industries that support and create the new, green jobs of the next century -- renewable energy, smart grid, plug-in hybrid technology.

- I will also work to provide access to affordable broadband and WiMax to connect small businesses across the State, creating for the digital age what the roads, canals and railroads did for Illinois more than 150 years ago.

- I will work to rebuild our community infrastructure and human capital to make Illinois a more attractive place to start a business.

- I will work to provide job retraining programs so that our State's skilled, experienced workers can re-enter the workforce.

- I will work to create more technology transfer opportunities (converting research into products) within our state's powerhouse universities, and create partnerships between our research institutions and businesses to stay at the forefront of innovation.

- I will also make sure we make the best use of O'Hare Airport, our lifeline to the global economy, and use it as an engine for global economic partnerships and growth.

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