Economy & Jobs
“The economy in Illinois is in ruins, wemust take action now to bring companies and good jobs back to Illinois. Both the republicans and democrats have had their shot at leading this state in the last decade — and look at us now.”
–Scott Lee Cohen
Cohen Economic Action Plan
Since Scott began campaigning for state office in 2008, the number one issue with Illinois residents has been the economy. For most people this means finding and keeping a job, and earning enough money to have a decent life. That is why we started holding Job Fairs — to help the people of Illinois get jobs right now.
Three simple, powerful steps to jumpstart our economy:
1) Re-stimulate the economy. Scott is committed to recruiting new businesses and manufacturers to locate in Illinois, to encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation within our great state, and to helping existing businesses to thrive.
How do we accomplish this? With a laser focus, accountability, and action that helps both businesses and workers. We will re-build confidence in our state economy by providing an economic environment that promotes growth and spurs private businesses to hire. Scott will cut red tape and bureaucratic bottlenecks; invest in infrastructure; and support small businesses by increasing access to capital and reducing the cost of doing business in Illinois.
Cohen’s pragmatic economic policy is not be based on tired “republican” or “democratic” thinking, but on fresh independent thinking about what matters to Illinois – a robust economy and high-paying jobs. Scott will implement a full-scale marketing program to attract new businesses to Illinois. If need be, he will personally “market” Illinois opportunities to other states and even other countries.
2) Connect people with current job openings now. We will hold Job Fairs in every corner of the state. The efficient distribution of information is crucial to helping the unemployed get jobs. A Cohen administration will set up a Job Database that all employers, public and private, can use to post openings. There are good jobs available now, people need easier ways to find them.
3) Restructure Jobs Incentive Plan. Tax breaks only go so far. If elected, Governor Cohen will implement a cost-benefit analysis of business taxes and regulations. In order for businesses to invest long-term and create good middle-class jobs in Illinois, we must provide incentives that are more fundamental than tax breaks. We must commit to smart infrastructure investments — the most powerful incentives for businesses to move to Illinois. The infrastructure that moves people, products, capital, and information quickly, cheaply, and securely is at the heart of a thriving economy.
Scott decided to run for state office when he saw then-Governor Blagojevich focusing more on his legal problems than on bringing companies and a growing economy back to Illinois. Under Blagojevich and Quinn, Illinois has fallen to 48th in economic performance (Illinois Policy Institute). The Cohen Economy Action Plan will get Illinois back on track.
With the right economic policies, Illinois can prepare the groundwork for a major industrial and technological boom. We can nurture and grow America’s next major corridor for advanced manufacturing and green technology. We now spend only a pittance on economic development in the state of Illinois. We need to do more. The Cohen Economic Action Plan provides the necessary initiative and leadership to jumpstart our economic development.
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