Quinn for Illinois

Jobs and Growth

Like President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Governor Quinn believes that the best social policy ever devised is a good job. It’s the best way to fight poverty. It’s the best way to fight crime. It’s the best way to keep families together.

 “This is a choice between pay stubs and unemployment checks,” Governor Quinn says. “Under my plan, Jobs and Growth for Illinois, we will create jobs today and set the stage for longterm, sustainable growth over the years to come.”

Vision for the Future

Governor Quinn’s vision is of an Illinois that grows more jobs, fosters more new businesses and becomes more attractive and competitive on the global playing field. His vision is of an Illinois where commerce flourishes and families prosper--and where hard-working men and women have the opportunity to have jobs, to be paid good wages for their labor and to advance in their careers.

Courage under Fire

Nineteen months ago, the State of Illinois was facing an unparalleled crisis – a national economic recession compounded by years of financial mismanagement by previous administrations and the General Assembly.  Knowing the challenges ahead, Governor Quinn rolled up his sleeves, and got to work.

Putting Illinois Back to Work

Governor Quinn is focused on accelerating Illinois’ economic recovery—bringing jobs to Illinois, growing our economy, and putting people back to work.

The Quinn Plan for economic recovery is focused on public and private investment – using state funds strategically to accelerate our economic growth and to keep and grow jobs in Illinois. The plan is focused around the following areas:

1. Tailored tax credits
2. Encouraging small businesses
3. Outreach to the business community, meeting with CEOs
4. Investment in public infrastructure

Public Investment

• Signed the first capital infrastructure bill in 10 years. The capital plan will put over 439,000 people back to work, rebuilding and strengthening our roads, bridges, hospitals, and schools;
• Negotiated the new Illiana Expressway (connecting I-55 to I-65) will bring 14,000 new jobs to our state. The collaboration will strengthen our relationship with Indiana, relieve congestion, and bring additional economic development to northeastern Illinois;
• Signed a bill updating our 25-year-old telecommunications laws. The new regulations will create thousands of jobs, update consumer protection, and encourage investment in broadband and wireless technology across the state.

Private Investment

• Proposed and signed a $2,500 targeted small business job creation tax credit, helping create 20,000 jobs;
• Spearheaded the Put Illinois to Work jobs program, which uses federal dollars provide subsidies for employers hiring people near the poverty line. The program matched over 26,000 people with good paying jobs and training this summer. The Governor recently extended the program;
• Governor Quinn signed into law a program for state's hard-hit auto industry.  As a result, Ford is building the new, fuel-efficient Ford Explorer in Chicago, creating 1200 new jobs;
• Governor Quinn kept Navistar in the state, and helped them expand, creating or retaining 3,000 permanent jobs, and an additional 400 construction jobs;
• Prepared incentive plans for over 90 companies – like Ford, Boeing, Navistar and UPS - to bring them in Illinois, keep them in Illinois, and grow them in Illinois.

Since Governor Quinn took office, Illinois has become a significantly stronger economic competitor. In the first half of 2010, one in 10 jobs created in the United States was created in Illinois; we’ve added 12,000 new manufacturing jobs alone.  And today, our state continues to outpace the nation in recovering from the global recession.

We have made progress, but Governor Quinn knows we certainly have more work to do. As we recover, Governor Quinn’s plan will rebuild our foundations, keeping us on the road to recovery and ensuring a sound Illinois’ economy for the future. 

The Governor is committed to keeping Illinois moving forward, working with employers – large and small – to help them expand and employ more Illinois workers.

Campaign of Contrasts

Republican nominee Bill Brady’s plan for creating jobs consists of tax cuts for the rich, which he admits will add $1 billion to our deficit, and rolling back worker compensation protection. He has proposed lowering Illinois' minimum wage, and analysts estimate that his reckless budget cuts would put 128,000 Illinoisans out of work.

Governor Quinn believes in a couple simple ideas: an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work; a living wage to allow hard-working residents to pay their bills; and that the recovery will be fueled by small businesses and devoted individuals, not wealthy elites and multinational corporations.

If you want to support these basic truths and strengthen the fabric of our state, please spread the word about Governor Quinn.