Back to the real world

1 comment April 20th, 2009

I spent the last eight days in Texas where some folks are talking about seceding from the Union. Texans don’t seem as worried about the economy as we here in Illinois do.

With good reason. A report released while I was there said Texas is well positioned for the economic recovery. The state is ranked 10th in economic competitiveness, according to Rich States; Poor States: The American Legislative Exchange Council’s State’s Economic Competitive Index.

Illinois is in the bottom 10, at No. 44. You can read the report HERE.

Speaking of the Illinois economy… State Sen. Dave Syverson was here for a 1 hour 45-minute grilling by the editorial board.

Syverson was touting the Senate Republicans’ fiscal plan, which focuses on reforms meant to cut state spending. Pension reform and Medicaid reform are big subjects in the report. On Thursday, Gov. Pat Quinn will meet with the editorial board so we’ll get his take on the state budget. Quinn is proposing a hefty tax increase.

Syverson thinks the Republicans’ plan can either eliminate or reduce Quinn’s tax proposal.

Back to Texas. If you ever visit, I highly recommend the Fort Worth zoo. It was founded in 1909 and is the oldest zoo in Texas. It consistently ranks as one of the top zoos in the country.