Fixing jobs losses and budget problems

Decatur/Highland . . . The Illinois economy and budget problems continue to spark most of the conversation in district meetings this week, according to State Senator Kyle McCarter.

Jobs, jobs, jobs

“No matter where I go in the 51st District, creating jobs is clearly the number one concern,” said McCarter.

The week ended on a low note when the Illinois Department of Employment Security announced the state’s unemployment rate had jumped from 10.5 percent in September to 11 percent in October.  That’s the highest it has been in 26 years.  Just one year ago, in October 2008, the unemployment rate was 6.8 percent.

“In Clinton County, I heard from local business owners who talked about the high cost of Illinois’ worker’s compensation, in Macon County I spoke with one business owner involved in real estate who said his industry just can’t afford any new regulations, and at a townhall meeting in Sullivan workers’ compensation was a concern that could drive an increase in the county tax levy.  Clearly, the high cost of doing business in Illinois is not only impacting private sector business but local government too, and means taxpayers will be called on to carry the burden.”

Senator McCarter says real action is needed on the part of Illinois government to help turn the economy around.

“We must address this situation with the same intensity as we are seeing it deteriorate,” said McCarter.  “We can prepare our students to compete in a world economy and we can take positive steps to improve worker preparation and training but without making Illinois more jobs friendly those efforts will fall short.”

The budget mess

Meetings this week also included discussions about Illinois’ budget crisis.  McCarter contends that across-the-board budget cuts are a way to begin addressing a ballooning budget deficit of multiple billions of dollars.

“To begin to get this budget crisis under control will require sacrifice and we need to let everyone know what is expected of them,” said McCarter.  “That not only means letting citizens know what to expect but giving the government bureaucracy a clear picture of the part they will need to play.”

McCarter has advocated a 5 percent across-the-board budget cuts so that any sacrifice is shared equally.  He says it’s a simple approach that is understandable so everyone, citizens and bureaucrats alike, know what to expect.  The 51st District Senator says Indiana is considering a similar plan.

According to McCarter, budget problems are beginning to have a negative trickle down effect on local government which relies on state funding.  At a townhall meeting in Sullivan, the senator learned about new challenges by that community to keep its senior citizens center open.  The delay in state funding could lead to closure of the center.

“I’ve said it before and it bears repeating, Illinois’ fiscal problems are directly tied to mismanagement,” said McCarter.  “True, the U.S. economy is in recession but, Illinois received billions of dollars in additional revenue in the previous six years and all of that money was spent to grow the size of government to a level we cannot sustain.”

Leadership counts

The Senator also spoke this week in Highland with high school students and with young business professions at the Decatur Leadership Institute.

“I spoke about the importance of leadership and being faithful in the task that you have been given.  There are others who will look up to you to see how you perform.  Faithfully serving can lead to new opportunities for greater leadership in the future,” said McCarter. 

US Route 51

McCarter also visited Vandalia this week for the unveiling of proposals related to the U.S. Route 51 improvements.  Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) officials presented proposals for Route 51 bypasses at Ramsey and Vandalia.  IDOT is currently soliciting public comment on the next major components of the improvement project.

“We’ve witnessed increased work on US Route 51 in recent years thanks in large part to the efforts of the U.S. Route 51 Coalition and the leadership of my predecessor, Senator Frank Watson,” said McCarter.  “Route 51 is vitally important for the future economic growth of the region.”