Chambana Sun

The "Other" Mike Madigan, a candidate for state Senate in District 52, said he is not surprised by the recently released unemployment numbers for Illinois. 

The numbers saw a rise from March and is now 6.6 percent, compared to 6.5 percent in March and 5.9 percent a year before.

“It is sad, but not surprising that Illinois' unemployment rate continues to rise,” Madigan told the Chambana Sun. “It's sad because there are still many people who have not recovered from the recession, but state government stands in the way of businesses large and small creating more opportunity in Illinois for these people. It is not surprising for the very same reason.”

Last month saw 5,400 jobs added, but more than half were temporary. The portion of full-time jobs is lower than before the Great Recession began. As more and more people are joining the workforce, the unemployment numbers will continue to rise if more jobs are not created.

The state’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average, which sits at 5 percent. This has caused Illinois to be ranked the worst state in the Midwest for businesses and the third-worst state for business friendliness in the entire nation, according to a survey by Chief Executive Magazine. Many CEOs join Madigan in expressing their disappointment at the state of business relations in Illinois.

“The ruling elites in Springfield continue to be more interested in protecting their failed status quo than in reforming our tax and regulatory policies to encourage businesses to add jobs,” Madigan said. “Enacting reforms is the only way to produce the business climate we need in Illinois in order to grow our way out of our deficits and debt.”

The perception of the state being anti-business is not the only problem Illinois faces, and politicians aren’t fixing the problems, Madigan said.

“Illinois has serious problems," he said. "I hear it everywhere I go. Many politicians in Springfield aren't solving our problems.”

Madigan stresses that the lack of change and meaningful policies affects more than just voters. They affect education, families, and communities. 

“(Lawmakers) aren't serving children who are forced to attend failing schools,” Madigan said. “They aren't serving families who are paying the highest property taxes in the nation. They aren't serving nonprofit community care providers or the people who desperately need their help. Many of them are just playing games...literally playing games on their devices when they should be serving us. I want to go to Springfield to make sure our government is serving us.”