SPRINGFIELD (Jan. 27, 2016) – Today, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner will deliver his second annual State of the State address. Experts on issues related to taxes, the state budget, pensions, economic reform and criminal justice reform from the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute are available for interviews to provide reaction to the governor’s speech.

Experts available:

In Chicago:

• Ted Dabrowski, vice president of policy, Illinois Policy Institute
• Michael Lucci, vice president of policy, Illinois Policy Institute
• Diana Rickert, vice president of communication, Illinois Policy Institute
• Jacob Huebert, senior attorney, Liberty Justice Center public interest litigation center

In Springfield:

• Kristina Rasmussen, executive vice president, Illinois Policy Institute

Background information: 

On pensions:

• Illinois has more than $111 billion in state pension debt.
• A new report on education funding shows 89 cents of every new dollar for education goes to pensions – not classrooms.

On Illinois’ economy:

• Illinois had 3,000 fewer jobs at the end of 2015 than it did at the beginning. That is the first year that Illinois has suffered a net job loss since 2009.
• In 2015, Illinois’ population shrank by 22,000 people due to outmigration from the state. Illinois was the only Midwest state that experienced a shrinking population.
• Wages for Illinois blue-collar and low-income workers is the lowest in the Midwest after accounting for cost of living expenses.

On Illinois’ manufacturing sector collapse

• Illinois lost 14,000 manufacturing jobs in 2015 and was one of the only Midwest state to suffer manufacturing job losses in 2015.
• Illinois’ manufacturing sector suffered the worst losses since the Great Recession and is still down 104,000 manufacturing jobs from January 2008
• Many manufacturers cite Illinois’ high property taxes, unreasonable workers compensation costs and uncompetitive economic policies as reasons for moving out of the state.

On Illinois’ criminal justice system:

• Illinois prisons are dangerously overcrowded at 143 percent capacity of inmates.
• Illinois spends $38,268 per year to incarcerate each prisoner in the state. That is the highest incarceration cost per inmate in the Midwest.
• More than 45 percent of Illinois’ prisoners are incarcerated again within three years after being released from prison.

Experts are also available via phone or Skype.

For bookings or interviews: Nathaniel Hamilton or Diana Rickert (312) 607-4977