2013 July Issue
Illinois’ inability to get fix on pension crisis is already costing taxpayers an extra $130 million
To say we saw it coming is an understatement. On June 26th, two weeks after two credit-rating agencies (Moody’s and Fitch) downgraded Illinois’ credit rating, Gov. Pat Quinn led a sale of $1.3 billion in general obligation (municipal) bonds to fund much-needed transportation improvement projects statewide. This business journal was the recipient of a…
Read MoreMedical marijuana law may open up can of worms for Illinois employers
If Gov. Pat Quinn signs the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act into law, Illinois will become the 19th state to legalize pot for medical use. Along with that will come numerous complications and problems for Illinois employers, according to local attorneys. The 200-plus-page bill, passed by the Illinois General Assembly in…
Read MoreLet profit guide the decision on funding a new Rams stadium
Everyone knows by this time that the St. Louis Rams’ lease of the Edward Jones Dome is the most one-sided real estate deal since the Dutch West India Co. bought Manhattan island for 60 guilders. For nearly 20 years the Rams have played in a stadium built entirely with public funds, they’ve paid a…
Read MoreMadigan deep-sixes state health insurance exchange but proponents vow to fight on
A Senate bill to create a state-run health insurance exchange died in the Illinois House as Speaker Mike Madigan failed to call it for a vote by the close of spring session. A Madigan spokesman explained that there was little bipartisan support for the bill and that Democratic House sponsors did not push hard…
Read MorePOINT: Should There Be Term Limits in the IL General Assembly? Term Limits: Will it Ever Happen in Illinois?
Illinoisans have developed numbness to scandal after scandal exposing corruption among our politicians. With our previous two governors serving time and one of our U.S. representatives staring down his incarceration, corruption has sadly become commonplace in Illinois. Too many Illinoisans have seemingly accepted it as a way of life and have lost faith in…
Read MoreQ&A with John Navin, PhD, Interim Dean and Professor School of Business, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
IBJ: Congratulations on your promotion. Is it for a specified period of time? Navin: Two years. I began as Interim Dean on July 1st and have the option to reapply for the permanent position in July 2015. IBJ: This is quite a change for you from what you’ve done up to this point, isn’t it?…
Read MoreAmerica’s Central Port aiming to take advantage of Panama Canal expansion
America’s Central Port is moving quickly to position itself to take advantage of increased shipping due to the expansion of the Panama Canal. Completion of that $5.2 billion project is projected for 2015. At present the size of the canal limits the payload of ships to a maximum of 5,000 TEU (20-foot equivalent unit)…
Read MoreCOUNTERPOINT: Should There Be Term Limits in the IL General Assembly? Elections Are Term Limits
There has been an ongoing debate about implementing term limits for state legislators in Illinois. Some pundits even argue that if term limits were instituted years ago, it could have prevented some of the budgetary problems now facing the state. While a noble idea, I do not support adopting term limits for legislators in…
Read MoreSenate confirms new DCEO director, Manar bill to create accountable agency awaits Gov’s signature
Illinois Senator Andy Manar (D-Staunton) hopes Gov. Pat Quinn will sign his bill to restructure the Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The legislation will put a strategic development plan in place for the very first time, introduce an advisory board filled with business experts and establish measurable goals for the agency. HB…
Read MoreIndustry clamoring for Supply Chain Management MBA grads, degree holders earn six figures
In an era where throngs of college grads are searching for jobs, there’s one career for which industry can’t find enough takers: supply chain management. As large-scale warehouse distribution operations increasingly dominate the global marketplace, workers with the skills to procure, track and manage inventory throughout that process are becoming more coveted than ever.…
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