| The Economy |
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Unemployment is a serious problem right now and we have to do more to create jobs. This has been my number one priority since I started this campaign in October of 2009. Lower unemployment will improve the quality of life for working families and strengthen the economy overall. My plan to create jobs in Illinois and jumpstart our economy has three parts.
 1) I want to increase tax credits for small businesses for all new hires to help local people find work in their neighborhoods.
We have to explore ways for small businesses to maximize depreciation deductions when they are just starting to increase cash flow in those critical early years. This will help keep small businesses running longer and more people in the community employed. 2) I believe that is essential that we invest in alternative energy and green manufacturing to create jobs that can't be outsourced, lower energy costs, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Green technology is going to be a driving force in the future economy and I will fight to make Illinois a national leader in this industry by working with business, labor, and other engaged parties. We cannot afford to let this opportunity pass Illinois by. 3) Business leaders across the country agree that we need to make engineering, research and development, and new technologies a higher priority. This change needs to start in the classrooms and on college campuses in Illinois and across the state. We need to do more in manufacturing new technologies because China is already ahead of us in wind technology and wind power technology. What's worse is that right now that the US is graduating 1/7th as many engineers per year as China and India combined. This needs to change if we are going to be more competitive in this economy going forward. |
