From the same report (BLS) you use to cite the 23,900 job losses you can read on and find there were 2,419,200 folks in the Wisconsin civilian work force in March 2011, and there are 2,455,600 working in March 2012--a real increase of 36,400. The Walker Kleefisch people only claimed 18,000, which may have been more a net net number.

The loss of 18,000 government positions may be viewed in many ways, but what this absolutely does accomplish is reducing the amount of taxes needed to balance budgets at state and local levels, and actually allowing those governments to layoff fewer workers.. This effect can already be seen in many local governments, and will be happening with greater frequency in the future.

I guess it is viewing the glass half empty, or half full, when the test should be is the glass filling up. Not to mention implications of national policies, which make break everyone's glass in spite of what you do locally.

I am from Illinois(first 40 years of my life)My son and his family live there. My father worked at IH in Libertyville(charter member of the UAW)I worked for the State(forced member of afscme)My friend took early retirement from the same place. I even dated a liberal democrat politician(decades before he was sent to jail for fraud ;)) I am also aware of Walker's dismal record of voting for Agenda 21, permitted carry, hanging on to obamacare funds, etc. So, I can lay claim to direct knowledge when I say... we have a better governor... but then, a politician is only as good as the constituents that keep him or her in check!

Governor Quinn is an idiot. He was lt governor & claimed to have no clue as to Illinois' financial woes until he took office because Blago didn't tell him. Something seriously wrong with someone in a position such as that who can't do his own due diligence. Even more frightening that he's now the one in charge of that bankrupt state.

Here's a link to George Will's piece: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/wi...

Which is better, death by hanging or death by firing squad? This silly question deserves some equally silly responses doesn't it?

One thing Gov. Quinn emphasizes in his interview with Ed was that although he may not always agree with others (unions, businesses, etc.), he's willing to negotiate. What a concept. He also respects education, public workers and manufacturing workers. See the whole segment at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45755822/vp/.... It's very well done.

Governor Quinn was on the Ed Show yesterday discussing this very subject. Both governors faced similar financial problems and will continue to face them in the months ahead but the true measure of success is how these states will fare in the long run.

With regard to education, job growth, fair treatment of workers, and the states environment, Quinn wins hands down. New businesses are not afraid of moving to WI because of the noise over this recall. They are afraid to move because in the long run they are going to have a harder time finding qualified employees. Walker has slashed education across the board, put things in his budget that would cut spending for math and science programs, and opened up the middle of the state for sand mining. Who would want to move here?

Those like George Will only see the bottom line. We need to be able to pay for schools and get good teachers too.

I think they are both just as bad! Corrupt Illinois politics have spilled over to Wisconsin along with the Asian Carp.

Wisconsin = job losses. Any questions?

We need to fully embrace Scott Walker, as it could be A LOT worse!!!
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"Illinois’s backlog of unpaid bills has risen to more than $9 billion because of pension costs and falling federal aid, leaving the state “essentially treading water,” Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka said.

While revenue grew from higher personal and corporate taxes, “Illinois’ financial position has not improved,” Topinka said in a report today. The combination of unpaid bills to vendors and Medicaid obligations, estimated at $8.5 billion in January, means payment delays will persist, according to the report.

While tax increases boosted revenue by about $7 billion, or 3.9 percent in the first three quarters of the fiscal year that began in June, the gains were undercut by the loss of federal funding and financing of pension contributions directly, rather than through bonds as in the past two years, Baar Topinka said.

Democratic Governor Pat Quinn has proposed a voluntary 3 percent increase in pension contributions from current employees and a cut in cost-of-living increases for retirees.

“Bold action” is required to save the retirement systems, the governor told reporters in Chicago April 20. In fiscal 2010, Illinois had the lowest-funded state pension in the U.S., with assets equal to 45.4 percent of projected obligations, according to data compiled by Bloomberg."
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http://finance.townhall.com/columnists/m...

Illinois' Democratic Governor is better! LOL
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"Quinn’s approval rating, since shortly after he was elected to his first full term as the state’s governor in 2010, has been in the basement. By now, it’s safe to say there was another floor beneath the basement – the floor where Quinn’s approval rating now sits."
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http://www.examiner.com/article/gov-pat-...

Pat Quinn increases taxes!!!
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Yeha; that's what Wisconsin needs! OMG
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"The income tax increase is 66% !! And even that additional $6.8 billion sucked out of the state's private economy isn't anywhere near enough to cover the state's spending hole that could be as large as $15 billion."
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http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washingt...

"Does Wisconsin or Illinois have better governor?"

Greg,

Do one legged ducks swim in circles?

Better than what?

Wisconsin will never be successful in luring companies from other states because of all the unfair taxes the state imposes on everyone but farmers.

Five years down the line, would you rather be living in Illinois and be working, or living in Wisconsin and be unemployed.

George Will has an interesting piece today on the financial mess in Illinois, and Quinn’s lack of serious interest in fixing it (you can read it at the Washington Post website, on the Opinion Page). As cottonjoe aptly notes below, Illinois is in deep financial trouble and trending downward, while Wisconsin is taking steps to improve. Consider if Quinn and Walker continue on course for the next five years, and imagine what shape their states will be in. Would you rather live in Illinois, with debt becoming unmanageable and the tax burdens on individuals and corporations rising sharply as the only way to pay the interest? Or would you rather be in Wisconsin, with a healthy balance sheet and solid prospects for picking up more businesses and investments?

Lets see...Billy the Kid or Jessie James hmmm they're both crooks !

Illinois will have the same high operational costs with their high-speed rail that Walker avoided by rejecting the program here in Wisconsin. While the construction offers temporary high-paying jobs, maintaining the infra-structure will be a financial burden for Illinois for as long as the trains run.

Ultimately you have to believe in the long term, should Walker stay in office that he has the edge. There’s a lot to be said for putting in place a plan for long term fiscal sustainability in the public sector. His legislation should put an end to a process that consistently results in unbalanced compensation (http://bit.ly/pZofYR). While Illinois looks to continue to have problems keeping its pension funds solvent (http://eng.am/Hz7qAD), Wisconsin should be able to keep something sturdy in place for years to come.

If Illinois still has lower corperate and personal taxes than Wisconsin does what does that say about how high our taxes have become thru the years?

hdonlybob: Walker is spending a fortune on high priced defense lawyers. He must think he may have the same problem. But gawd, no one could be as Blago.

I am not defending Walker here, but have to say that the Illinois Governors don't have squat for credibility in my mind.
They almost inevitably all recently have had TWO terms....
One as Governor, and another in PRISON.....
Just saying......

One governor lied to get elected, tore his state apart, has the worst jobs record over the past year, and is being investigated by the FBI. "Does Wisconsin or Illinois have better governor?" Hmmm, is that a trick question?

Why wouldn't we hold him to his 250,000 job pledge?

Who do you think?

Wisconsin - Eliminated $3.6 Billion deficit without raising taxes
Illinois -$8.5 Billion in unpaid bills and raised income taxes by 66%

Wisconsin - Cut taxes on businesses that invest in Wisconsin
Illinois - Increased corporate tax rate by 46%

Wisconsin - Budget called “credit positive” by Moody’s
Illinois - Bond rating downgraded to lowest in nation by Moody’s

Wisconsin - Public Employee Retirement System fully funded
Illinois - $83 Billion shortfall for Public Employee Retirement System

Wisconsin - Unemployment rate at 3-year low of 6.9%
Illinois - Unemployment rate higher than the national average at 9.1%

Wisconsin Governor asking less than 12% of the population to give less than 3% and balancing the budget or Illinois tax and spend and close to needing a bail out? Unemployment in Wisconsin 6.8% and Illinois is 9.4%. What a stupid question!

Greg, has an independent source polled Wisconsin business owners for their perspective on the issue?

If you do a poll, be sure to include a "None of the Above" option for each question. (That is not the same as a "No Opinion" option.)