State Unemployment Rate Reaches Lowest Level Since 2008

CICERO - As Illinois' unemployment rate fell to its lowest point in more than five years, Governor Pat Quinn today visited an innovative and growing local manufacturer, United Gasket Corporation, to discuss the state's ongoing economic recovery from the worst recession since the Great Depression. Illinois' unemployment rate has dropped to 7.9 percent - its lowest level in more than five years and lower than when the Governor took office. Today's event is part of the Governor's commitment to driving Illinois' economy forward.

"Illinois is making a comeback," Governor Quinn said. "Today's news that unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since 2008 is further proof that our economy is expanding and creating jobs. Companies like United Gasket Corporation are hiring, small companies are being created and larger companies are growing and adding more workers."

"While we know we have much more work to do to create more jobs and growth in Illinois, this is good news and we must continue driving our economy forward," the Governor said.

The Illinois unemployment rate hit a new five-year low in April when it fell to 7.9 percent, according to data released earlier today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. More people working pushed the rate down 0.5 points, the lowest rate since December 2008 and largest monthly decline in the history of this data series that began in 1976.

Since taking office and inheriting decades of mismanagement, the Governor has enacted worker's compensation reform and unemployment insurance reform to make Illinois a better place to do business, in addition to major fiscal reforms such as pension reform and Medicaid restructuring that are restoring fiscal stability to Illinois. Today Governor Quinn is pushing a new tax cut for businesses that provide job training. By lowering the cost to train workers, this will make it easier for businesses to create new jobs and ensure workers have the skills to drive a 21st century economy.

The Governor is also proposing to reduce the fee to establish a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) by more than 90 percent, from $500 to $39 - the lowest in the nation. Formation as an LLC encourages entrepreneurs to invest their time and money into viable business enterprises. Reducing the filing fee to $39 would make it easier for small businesses to start and grow in Illinois.

United Gasket Corporation is an innovative Illinois company that has reported double-digit percentage growth in revenue and profit for each of the last three years. The manufacturer of custom die cut parts for automobiles and other industries currently employs 90 people, but expects that number to increase by 10 to 15 percent in the next six months.

"We are thrilled with the support we have received from the state for job training and to improve our production," United Gasket President Mark Pahios said. "The resources here have helped us develop business in Mexico and China. We are working hard to send Illinois products into those markets."

United Gasket has received about $20,000 in state job-training grants over the last decade for services accessed through University of Illinois Business Innovation Services. The company has invested in lean manufacturing techniques to take out unneeded costs and push into new markets overseas.

Governor Quinn said the company's commitment points to a need for state government to adopt a responsible budget that supports Illinois' core strengths in the global economy - its education, workforce training and transportation systems.

For more information on doing business in Illinois, visit illinois.gov/dceo.

Celebrates Mother's Day by Walking to Fight Breast Cancer

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today celebrated Mother's Day by urging the Illinois Senate to pass House Bill 8, which provides job protections for pregnant women. The Governor called for passage of this important legislation to protect moms-to-be while walking alongside thousands of participants in the Susan G. Komen Mother's Day Race for the Cure in Grant Park to show his support for mothers and grandmothers across Illinois. The walk is dedicated to raising awareness and supporting the fight against breast cancer.

"To those near, far or forever in our memories, we should each take time on this special day to honor our moms for their love and support," Governor Quinn said. "Mother's Day is the perfect way to celebrate the women in our lives and raise awareness for legislation to help provide protections for those who have protected us.

"House Bill 8 is an important bill for our expectant mothers that will help reduce discrimination in the workplace and provide peace of mind for the safety of their babies.

"This Mother's Day I urge the Senate to pass this bill so I can sign it on behalf of Illinois' moms," the Governor said.

House Bill 8, sponsored by State Representative Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) and State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights), would provide pregnant women with important worker protections such as limits on heavy lifting and assistance in manual labor; access to places to sit; more frequent bathroom breaks; time off to recover from childbirth and break space for breast-feeding. Studies have shown that, despite existing protections, pregnant women are too often forced out of their jobs and denied reasonable job modifications that would enable them to continue working. The Governor worked with Rep. Flowers and House members to pass the legislation and it is currently before the Senate.

Since the last time pregnancy workforce protections were addressed at the federal level in 1978, the number of women who work during pregnancy has continued to rise at a high rate. According to a report issued in 2013 by the National Women's Law Center, nearly two-thirds of first-time mothers continue to work while pregnant and the majority of those work into the their last month of pregnancy. Unfortunately, as the number of pregnant women working has increased so has the number of pregnancy discrimination cases filed. A study by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shows that, from 1992 to 2011, charges of pregnancy discrimination filed increased 71 percent.

Governor Quinn urges swift passage of HB 8 to ensure employers provide these reasonable accommodations for pregnant women and stop workforce discrimination. The Governor has been committed to protecting and empowering women in Illinois since taking office. Some of his initiatives include :

·         Fought for and signed a law amending the Equal Pay Act to give victims of underpayment more time to address their claims.

• Launched the innovative Birth to Five Initiative in his 2014 State of the State address to expand access to prenatal care; early care and learning opportunities for every child; and strong parent support.
• Leading the charge to increase the state's minimum wage to at least $10 per hour - six in ten minimum wage workers in Illinois are female.
• In his 2014 State of the State address, proposed a minimum of two days of earned sick leave per year for 2.5 million Illinois workers, 78 percent of whom are women, who have no sick leave.
• Launched the first ever Women Owned Business Symposium.

The Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure honors and supports those who have battled breast cancer and continues the mission to save lives and end breast cancer.

Discusses Agenda to Support Business Development and Expansion

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today addressed the Illinois Retail Merchants and Illinois Manufacturers Association's annual Business Day meeting and discussed his strong record of support for businesses in Illinois. Governor Quinn's initiatives have made Illinois a better place to do business and proposals he unveiled in his State of the State and Budget Addresses will continue to strengthen Illinois' economic comeback.

"Illinois is making a comeback and we're not stopping now," Governor Quinn said. "Our business owners are the economic engine of the Midwest. By cutting taxes for companies that train their workers and helping entrepreneurs get started, we are giving businesses the tools they need to create jobs and drive our economy forward."

Governor Quinn has worked to rebuild the Illinois economy. The state was recently ranked third in the nation for new corporate locations and expansions by Site Selection magazine. Illinois' unemployment rate is currently at its lowest point in five years, and the state has added 257,000 private sector jobs since January 2010.

Last month, President Barack Obama announced that Illinois had won a new digital manufacturing hub, supported by the federal government and corporate partners. The Governor personally petitioned the United States Secretary of Defense twice and made the case to key White House officials about the benefits and importance of Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation (DMDI) Institute. The institute will apply the newest technologies to help manufacturers try and use new innovations in digital manufacturing and design, with an emphasis on defense manufacturers.

Under Governor Quinn, small businesses across Illinois have helped drive our economic recovery. Illinois' tourism industry is breaking records - more than 100 million visitors for the first time ever and $33.5 billion in spending in local economies across the state. Illinois' film industry has also set new records, generating over $350 million in economic activity. In 2012, a new digital company was launched in Chicago every 24 hours.

Since taking office, Governor Quinn has fought to make historic and fundamental reforms to improve Illinois' business climate. In 2011 he worked with the General Assembly to enact historic workers' compensation reform that is allowing Illinois businesses to save hundreds of millions of dollars. The Governor continued that progress last year by signing historic legislation that addresses the most critical fiscal challenge in Illinois by reforming the state's pension systems. This comprehensive pension reform solution will eliminate the state's unfunded liability and fully fund the pension systems.

To keep the progress going, Governor Quinn is proposing a new tax cut for businesses that provide job training. By lowering the cost to train workers, this tax cut will make it easier for businesses to create new jobs and ensure workers have the skills to drive a 21st century economy.

The Governor is also proposing to reduce the fee to establish a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) by more than 90 percent, from $500 to $39 - the lowest in the nation. Formation as an LLC encourages entrepreneurs to invest their time and money into viable business enterprises. Reducing the filing fee to $39 would make it easier for small business to start and grow in Illinois.

Governor Quinn is also proposing a bipartisan working group to develop a new capital construction plan for the next five years. This would build on the success of the Illinois Jobs Now! program that has supported more than 400,000 jobs and built and repaired 7,731 miles of road, 1,330 bridges and 1,048 schools. These projects strengthen and improve infrastructure to provide better access and support for local businesses, and they employ thousands of workers from local construction companies, who also spend their hard-earned salaries locally.

Working to Enact Grant Reform for All State Agencies

CHICAGO - As legislators head back to Springfield, Governor Pat Quinn urged members of the Illinois Senate to pass House Bill 3820. The bill, which the Governor has been working to enact since February, would create the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act to strengthen and streamline requirements for all state grants across all state agencies.

The bill's reforms include stronger state grant procedures to bring them all up to federal standards; improved conflict of interest disclosure requirements; and strict, real-time auditing of all state grants. It would make Illinois the first state in the nation with a comprehensive set of uniform rules covering the entire life cycle of a grant (pre-award, award and post-award).

"It is imperative that all grantees in Illinois have strict oversight and are always held accountable for their work," Governor Quinn said. "That's why I am working to pass House Bill 3820 this legislative session that will reform grant procedures and strengthen oversight to make state grantees more accountable than ever.

"I salute the sponsors for their work to pass this reform legislation.

"With just a few weeks left in the legislative session, I urge the Senate to pass this important bill."

The legislation was recommended by the Illinois Single Audit Commission, which Governor Quinn worked with legislators to create. The legislation also builds on a law the Governor signed in 2012 that strengthened grant procedures for human service agencies.

The bill has already passed the House and is currently before the Senate. It is sponsored by State Representative Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates) and State Senator Pam Althoff (R-McHenry), and the Chief Co-Sponsors are State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) and State Representative Patti Bellock (R-Hinsdale).