McHenry County Blog

A press release from State Rep. Mike Tryon:

Rep. Tryon Co-Sponsors Several Key Jobs Bills

SPRINGFIELD…..State Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) has signed on as a co-sponsor of five key job creation bills.

Several House Republicans spoke at a press conference at the Illinois Capitol Monday afternoon and announced a “Pro-Growth” Jobs Package which includes measures to reduce workers compensation fraud, ease business regulations, simplify licensing requirements and extend tax credits for research and development.

“In Illinois, work does not have to be the primary cause of an injury for an employee to receive workers compensation benefits,” said Tryon. “This unfair practice is costing Illinois businesses millions in unnecessary costs each year. We have to implement a higher causation standard for these claims.”

Tryon pointed to U.S. Labor statistics and current unemployment comparisons between states as another reason why legislators need to renew their commitment to job creation.

“Unemployment continues to hover at close to 9%, which is unacceptable, said Tryon. “These bills will go far in encouraging businesses to locate, stay, and expand in Illinois so people can find the jobs they are seeking.”

The jobs package announced Monday includes:

• HB 107: Establishes a Workers’ Compensation primary causation standard to qualify for benefits
• HB 2892: Eases regulations on businesses; expedites and simplifies licensure; cleans out superseded or bypassed Illinois laws and administrative rules
• HB 2891: Makes permanent the Research & Development Tax Credit of 2012 and adds biodiesel and ethanol research as qualified R & D activities
• HB 2230: Reduces the cost of setting up a LLC in Illinois by 50%
• HB2890: Accelerates the Corporate Tax Rollback to promote economic growth

“This is exactly the kind of legislation that lawmakers need to enthusiastically support,” said Tryon.

“I hope each of these bills receives widespread bipartisan support.” The bills will be heard at the committee level over the next few weeks.

Here’s the mailing that arrived on September 18th from GOP State Rep. candidate David McSweeney:

Here’s the back of the mailing:

McSweeney is running against Dee Beaubien (Ind.-Madigan).

A press release from Congressman Randy Hultgren.  This is the second attack on Quinn.  The first was about a week ago.

Hultgren: Governor Quinn’s Anti-Jobs Policies Have Cost 1,000 Illinoisans A Job

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement after Caterpillar Inc. announced that it will not be building its new North American plant in Illinois; the plant would have brought 1,000 jobs to the state.

“Governor Quinn’s agenda of crushing tax increases, endless spending, and regulatory uncertainty have cost 1,000 Illinoisans the potential for good-paying jobs with Caterpillar,” said Hultgren.

“With one in ten Illinoisans looking for a job, our state needs policies that will promote private-sector growth and job creation.

“Instead, the governor and his allies in Springfield have continued to push an agenda that discourages new investment in the state, and worse, drives business out of Illinois altogether.

“While today’s news is sobering, I hope that it will serve as a wakeup call for Governor Quinn.

“With the General Assembly currently in Springfield, he should immediately call for the repeal of his job-crushing tax hike, and work with them to improve Illinois’ business environment.”

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See also,

• Caterpillar plant to Texas
• Caterpillar to South Dakota

Press releases from Congressmen with connections with McHenry County:

Roskam Statement on January Jobs Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor announced the national unemployment rate is 8.3%:

“It’s encouraging to see more Americans employed and unemployment dropping, but the Obama economy is simply not working for the millions still out of work. Unemployment is still above 8 percent effectively three years after the “stimulus” passed. Yet even still, the Administration’s putting their political agenda ahead of American jobs. Just last month President Obama unilaterally blocked the creation of 20,000 private-sector American jobs when he rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline expansion. This comes in addition to the Senate blocking 29 House-passed jobs bills that would help our economy. It’s time for the Administration and Senate Democrats to change direction and finally embrace bipartisan job-creating solutions – a win for Americans.”

Manzullo Issues Statement on January’s Jobs Report

[WASHINGTON] – Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) issued the following statement this morning in response to the January jobs report. The Labor Department reported that 243,000 jobs were created in December and the national unemployment rate dropped to 8.3 percent:

STATEMENT:

“It’s wonderful to see some people returning to work, but we need to do much more to strengthen our economy and help employers create even more jobs. While 243,000 Americans returned to work, the long-term unemployed – those without jobs for more than 6 months – remained essentially unchanged at 5.5 million people. There are still too many Americans who want to work but can’t find a job. My American Jobs Agenda would go a long way to help our employers expand and create jobs.

“Things are looking much brighter in northern Illinois. Just last week, I was able to greet the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner when it stopped in Rockford on its maiden tour of international airports. The production of that amazing airplane will generate $16 billion in contracts for just one Rockford company – Hamilton Sundstrand – and many more local companies will benefit through sub-contracts. In addition, we were ecstatic to learn just yesterday that Chrysler – now owned by Italy’s Fiat — plans to add 1,800 jobs by this summer at the Belvidere Assembly plant to build the exciting new 2013 Dodge Dart, the first Chrysler vehicle to incorporate Fiat architecture, similar to that used in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Things are definitely moving in the right direction, and I strongly encourage the Senate and the Pr

Hultgren Statement On January Jobs Report

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement regarding the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ January jobs report.

“While these numbers are a small step in the right direction, it’s clear that President Obama’s policies just aren’t doing what our economy needs,” said Hultgren. “Unemployment has now been stuck above 8 percent for 36 straight months – 3 entire years. Moreover, this week the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected that unemployment will actually rise towards the end of 2012 and into 2013.

“What our economy, and American workers, need are predictable pro-growth policies to encourage private sector job-creation. The House has passed 27 such bills, all with bipartisan support, that would cut spending, shrink the size of government, and cut the red tape that’s holding small businesses back. Another stagnant jobs report underlines the need for the Senate to act on those bills immediately.

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All three of these Congressmen will be attending the Patriots United Pro-Life Breakfast at D’Andrea’s Banquet Hall at the intersection of Routes 14 and 31 tomorrow morning. The event starts a 7:30 and costs $35.

An email from Congressman Peter Roskam:

As Gov. Quinn gives his State of the State Address later today, it’s important to consider this past year’s record. The last year has served as a crystal clear example that tax increases did not help Illinois’ economy nor did it help our worsening fiscal crisis.

-          FLASHBACK: January 2011: Gov. Quinn Signs Record Tax Hike Into Law. Raises individual income taxes by 67 percent and corporate income taxes by 30 percent.

Since the Quinn tax hike, the state’s unemployment – previously dropping precipitously down to 9% – jumped right back up to 9.8%.

-          BY THE NUMBERS: Illinois’ unemployment rate increased the most in the entire country in 2011; Now the 7th highest unemployment rate in the U.S.

While neighboring states tackle record debt and fight to make themselves the most competitive for job growth, Illinois’ heading in the other direction. Neighboring states like Missouri, Wisconsin, and Indiana have all gained jobs this year while Illinois lost over 72,000 in the past year alone.

Illinois can do better than economic policies that take money out of its people’s pockets and jobs out of Illinois. As these charts prove, Illinois is heading in the wrong direction.

View the charts below or on Facebook where they were exclusively posted this morning.

A bit more from Congressman Peter Roskam, who, unless the Democrats’ re-apportionment map is overturned, will represent the Algonquin Township part of McHenry County after the 2012 elections:

Roskam: Imagine How Much Stronger our Economy Would Be if the House-Passed Jobs Bills Became Law

“Just imagine what things could be like if those were called up, passed, and signed into law. Our economy would be game on. We would be roaring forward and we wouldn’t be having a conversation stumbling around unemployment in the mid-eights.”

WASHINGTON – Chief Deputy Majority Whip Peter Roskam (IL-06) gave the following remarks at the GOP leadership press conference about November’s unemployment numbers.

Transcript:

“The question isn’t really, where are we today?

“The question is, where should we be? Remember the Obama Administration promised the American public that if the stimulus bill passed, right now we would be under six and half percent unemployment.

“And instead we’re over eight and a half unemployment.

“So think about the remedies, think about the opportunity moving forward.

“As has been previously mentioned, over twenty bills are pending – jobs bill that are pending – in the United States Senate.

“Just imagine what things could be like if those were called up, passed, and signed into law.

“Our economy would be game on. We would be roaring forward and we wouldn’t be having a conversation stumbling around unemployment in the mid-eights.”

The press releases which follow are in the order in which they arrived:

Rep. Manzullo Issues Statement on November’s Jobs Report

[WASHINGTON] – Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) issued the following statement this morning in response to the November jobs report. The Labor Department reported that 120,000 jobs were created in November and the national unemployment rate dropped to 8.6 percent, although the Illinois unemployment rate is at 10.1 percent:

STATEMENT:

“We expected to see some job growth as the stores staffed up for holiday shopping. While the latest jobs report offered minimal gains, it’s always nice to see people returning to work. But we must do much more. Employment in manufacturing has remained essentially unchanged since July and the number of jobs in construction has shown little change, on net, since early 2010.

“My American Jobs Agenda would go a long way to help our employers expand and create jobs that have the greatest potential to generate output and jobs from other sectors of our economy.

“The uncertainty our employers face over their tax liabilities and health care costs continues to discourage job creation in this weak economy. The President needs to stop threatening tax increases that will put more Americans on the unemployment lines. We need to work with our employers to help them create jobs by reducing their cost of doing business as well as eliminating unnecessary regulatory burdens that stifle growth. A great start would be for the Senate to stop stalling and act on the 25 jobs bills the House approved earlier this year that the Senate continues to ignore. We need to send these bills to the President so we can give our employers the confidence they need to put Americans back to work.”

Hultgren Statement On the November Jobs Report

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement regarding the November unemployment report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Our nation’s jobless rate has now been stuck at or above 8 percent for 34 straight months and at 9 percent or higher for 28 of those months,” said Hultgren.

“While the unemployment rate in November dropped, it’s important to remember the main driver for that: 315,000 Americans who gave up looking for work and therefore cannot be counted as unemployed. In fact, those exiting the workforce last month greatly outnumbered those who found jobs, which is a troublesome sign for the future.”

“Clearly the current economic policies have failed and we need an immediate change in direction. That’s why the House Republicans have passed, and will continue to pass, pro-growth, pro-jobs bills that will restore the confidence our nation’s job creators need to build, invest, expand, and put Americans back to work.

“Unfortunately, more than 20 of those bills, which would lower taxes, restore reasonable regulations, reduce spending, and create a smaller, less intrusive federal government, continue to languish in the do-nothing Senate which refuses to address the needs of unemployed Americans.”

Roskam Statement on House Passage of Latest Jobs Bill

WASHINGTON – Chief Deputy Majority Whip Peter Roskam (IL-06) issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 3010, the Regulatory Accountability Act, the twenty-fifth House-passed jobs bill sitting in the U.S. Senate.

“Small businesses are the engines of our economy, yet Washington continues to burden them with excessive regulations that only make it harder to survive, let alone grow.

“The Regulatory Accountability Act, would enact stronger transparency, accountability, and cost-benefit requirements for new Washington regulations – the latest in a series of steps to help get Washington off the backs of job creators. House Republicans have now passed twenty-five bills just sitting in the Senate, all of which would remove barriers to job creation and grow this economy. It’s long past time for Senate Democrats to stop blocking these jobs bills. Just imagine how dynamic our economy could be if all twenty-five became law.”

What Local Job Creators Are Saying About the Regulatory Accountability Act

Chicago White Metal President and CEO Eric Treiber

“Chicago White Metal supports the responsible development of regulations that are intended to apply to American businesses, and specifically American manufacturing. We believe that the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011 (H.R. 3010), will help insure that burdensome and onerous regulations are not unnecessarily imposed on the business community.”

Domtar Vice President of Government Relations Thomas Howard

“As a major North American forest products manufacturer, we recognize our federal government’s responsibility to promulgate appropriate regulations to protect our society. A stable and predictable regulatory environment is needed to provide that capital investment is made consistently and efficiently. As we engage in spending planning, we need to do so in a coordinated and complementary manner. H.R. 3010 is an important step in meeting this goal.”

Boise Inc. Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs Virginia Aulin

“This legislation will help give businesses the certainty it needs to provide economic growth by enhancing the regulatory process. An important objective of this legislation would be to expand public participation before regulations even are proposed,” Ms. Aulin stated.

Rep. Walsh: The Time to Get Serious about Job Creation is Long Overdue

WASHINGTON – Today Congressman Joe Walsh released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor and Statistics announced the unemployment rate remains above eight percent.

Walsh stated: “Our economic crisis is far from over. The U.S. unemployment rate has remained above eight percent for the past thirty-four months, and this month alone roughly 315,000 Americans left the workforce and gave up hope that they will actually find jobs. Long term unemployment is the highest it has been in years. It is time for the President to get serious about creating jobs and not just keeping his job.

“The President and his liberal allies continue to think that higher taxes, overregulation, and more stimulus spending are the solution to this economic mess. They’re wrong; it doesn’t work. Washington needs to get big government out of the way and let the private sector create jobs and grow. The House has passed over twenty of these jobs bills while the Senate has yet to pass even one of them.

“As Chairman of the Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access, I know firsthand that we need to get big government out of the way and let small businesses grow and create jobs. Big government and liberal policies are strangling American small businesses and the American people are the ones suffering.”

All four Congressmen with connections to McHenry County weighed in on the unemployment numbers released today.

Below you see their press releases in the order in which they arrived:

Roskam Statement on October Jobs Report

WASHINGTON, DC – Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (IL-06) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor released their October jobs report showing the national unemployment rate is 9%:

“Nine percent national unemployment is the latest reminder that Senate Democrats need to immediately take up the House’s “Forgotten 15” job-creating bills that are still stalled in the Senate. House Republicans have passed significant bipartisan commonsense solutions that would remove barriers to job creation for America’s economy – yet the Senate still refuses to act.

“Our economy is still suffering from the over-taxing, over-regulating and over-spending policies of the last years from the Democrats that have run Washington. It’s been over two and a half years since the stimulus first passed, yet trillions in debt later, unemployment is still 9% – well above the 8% peak promised by this Administration.”

Manzullo: October Jobs Report Dismal

[WASHINGTON] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) issued the following statement this morning in response to the dismal October jobs report. The Labor Department reported that just 80,000 jobs were created in October, the lowest monthly total in four months:

STATEMENT:

“This latest dismal jobs report is extremely frustrating. At numerous business roundtables I have held across northern Illinois, I continue to hear the same story. Employers are uncertain about their tax liability and their health care costs, and they are nervous about creating jobs in this weak economy. I can’t blame them. They need to know what their costs are going to be next month, next year, and in five years in order to justify investing in their companies. My American Jobs Agenda would go a long way to help our employers expand and create jobs.

“I urge the President to stop threatening our job creators with tax increases. Let’s work with our employers to help them expand their businesses so they can put people back to work. The House has now approved more than 20 jobs bills that are languishing in the Senate, including some that are supported by the President. I implore the Democrat-controlled Senate to stop stalling, act on these bills and send them to the President so we can give our employers the confidence they need to put Americans back to work.”

Hultgren Statement On The October Jobs Report

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement after the October jobs report showed that the economy added only 80,000 jobs last month.

“Another month of dismal economic news underlines the need for the Senate to take immediate action on the twenty-two jobs bills that we have sent them,” said Hultgren. “It’s clear that after thirty-three months of employment at or above eight percent, the private sector isn’t looking for more big-government ‘stimulus’ spending. Instead what the private sector needs is what House Republicans are working hard to create – a pro-growth, pro-jobs economic environment, with low taxes, reasonable regulations, and certainty that Washington bureaucrats will not punish them for their hard work.

“The twenty-two bills we have passed do exactly that. The majority of these bills passed with bipartisan support and all are commonsense proposals that would help spur domestic energy production; make it easier for small companies to register and conduct IPOs; and cut costly, burdensome red tape. I urge the Senate to consider these bills immediately, and help us create a pro-growth environment that will enable the private sector to put Americans back to work and get our economy moving again.”

Additional Background:

A full list of the bills awaiting Senate action is available here.

Unemployment has been at or above nine percent for 28 of the last 30 months, and above eight percent for 33 consecutive months.

Congressman Joe Walsh Statement on the October Jobs Report

Washington- Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor and Statistics announced that 80,000 jobs were created in October with the unemployment rate falling to nine percent.

Walsh stated: “Americans want to get back to work. While the numbers released today show a slight improvement in the U.S. unemployment rate, it still is not enough. Unemployment has hovered at nine percent for twenty eight out of the last thirty months, and this trend will continue until we implement a real plan with real solutions. The Senate is currently sitting on twenty jobs bills that have been passed by the House.  Every day the Senate refuses to vote on them, is another day of lost economic growth and job creation.

“Earlier this week I along with fellow Republican Study Committee Members released the ‘Jobs Through Growth Act’ which puts forth an across-the-board plan for robust economic growth and job creation.

“This act simplifies tax codes and offers regulation and energy reforms which will free up the economy and help American job creators to create jobs and put America back to work. This act also includes language from my bill to index capital gains tax inflation (H.R. 2945) which will offer tax relief to American families and small businesses.

“The ‘Jobs Through Growth Act’ gets government out of the way and let’s American businesses grow.  That will create jobs, not more useless stimulus spending from the President.

“I know small business is the key to job creation, not big government. Private business cannot thrive and create the jobs America needs until the government steps aside.”

A press release from Congressman Peter Roskam.  Roskam seems to be the only candidate for Congress in the 6th Congressional District, which covers all of Algonquin Township, the most southeaster township in McHenry County.

Roskam Applauds House Passage of Access to Capital for Job Creators Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (IL-06), issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 2940 – the Access to Capital for Job Creators Act – to increase accessibility to capital for small businesses to allow for growth and job creation.

The legislation, introduced by Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, would free potential small business investors from paying high registration costs with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“The House has passed yet another bipartisan solution that removes barriers to job creation for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

“The Access to Capital for Job Creators Act would ensure small businesses have additional access to capital they need to keep our economy moving.

“By reducing excessive Washington-imposed regulations, businesses will be able to grow and innovative, bolstering the pro-growth environment needed to improve the economy and create jobs.

“Instead of continuing to play politics, I urge Senate Democrats to vote on this promptly, as well as the “Forgotten 15” jobs bills that remain stalled in the Senate.”

A six by eleven inch post card concerning the Democrats income tax hike follows by about a week David McSweeney’s first mailing, a biographical piece.

The address side follows:

Below is the back side:

McSweeney labels himself  “an independent conservative” who will bring “real change.”

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While I was at Sam’s Club tonight, I talked to one of the employees. I was telling about the cold, driving rain predicted for Wednesday and how one had to be nuts to stay in Illinois for the winter.
He told me a friend who is a security guard had just moved to Florida.

I asked him why.

The answer?

Illinois taxes and better job opportunities in Florida.

McHenry County Blog has a regular reader who has taken his small business to Florida. Six or seven local people lost their jobs when he left.