Jobless in Illinois

By   /  May 16, 2013  /  Commentary, Illinois WatchBlog  /  No Comments

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By Scott Reeder
Illinois has the nation’s second-worst unemployment rate.
At 9.5 percent, it’s two percentage points higher than the national average of 7.5 percent.
Two percentage points might not seem like much on paper, but that equates to 130,000 people.
That’s more than the entire populations of Peoria, Springfield or Elgin.
Think about it – that’s how many jobs [...]

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A hammock not a safety net

By   /  May 4, 2013  /  Commentary, Illinois WatchBlog  /  No Comments

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By Scott Reeder
A few years ago, I was talking to a new college graduate who was moving to an expensive, distant city where she didn’t have a job.
I asked, “How will you support yourself?”
She shrugged and said her parents had money and would support her whether or not she found work.
I couldn’t help but think, [...]

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Illinois’ income tax turns 44

By   /  April 18, 2013  /  Commentary  /  No Comments

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By Scott Reeder
SPRINGFIELD — Forty-four years ago this week, Illinois began collecting a state income tax.
Folks from Cairo to Chicago filled out their IL-1040s for the first time back in 1969 and the state began to transform.
And not in a positive way.
State government has ballooned during the past four decades and the government’s thirst for [...]

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Government needs to be held accountable

By   /  April 10, 2013  /  Commentary  /  No Comments

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By Scott Reeder
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As the Transportation Safety Administration agent rummaged through my suitcase she picked up my tube of toothpaste, shook her head and said “no.”
The tube went sailing into a waste basket filled with bottles of suntan lotion, cans of shaving cream and other odds and ends the TSA considers too dangerous [...]

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Don’t kiss snakes and other great laws from the Land of Lincoln

By   /  April 2, 2013  /  Commentary  /  1 Comment

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By Scott Reeder
SPRINGFIELD – Years ago, I covered an East Moline City Council meeting where a fellow stood up and called for banning  the sale of nonalcoholic beer to minors.
He quickly added he didn’t want to ban root beer – just the stuff that tastes like the alcoholic beverage.
The aldermen nodded their heads appreciatively and [...]

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