The expansion plans at Pekin's Excel Foundry and Machine will not only boost the local economy, but the state's goal to increase it exports in the global marketplace. That's the feeling of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. Quinn tells WMBD's Greg and Dan, "Last year Illinois increased its exports 32 percent."
"Our goal is to double our exports from our state to world as fast as we can. That means new markets and new jobs," says Quinn.
Excel, which makes bronze part for mining equipment, is expected to add 100 jobs to its current workforce of 230 over the next two years.
Speaking about the state's personal and corporate income tax hike he's taken heat for, Quinn claims it's helping put a dent into the state's budget deficit.
"We are using that revenue to pay our bills," Quinn says, "but we have more work to do, by far."
Quinn says when he took office three years ago, he inherited - in his words - "a huge deficit that accumulated over many governors."
While most of the increase are due to expire in 2015, several Illinois government experts have predicted some form of the tax increase will become permanent.
Also, Quinn says he's serious when it comes to pension reform. Quinn says he is assembling a working group, to include union representatives, to look into pension problems and create a bill that will pass in the General Assembly.
"My approach is everybody in, nobody left out, but we have to get somewhere. We just can't stand still."
A proposal emerged last year creating a new three-tiered system for current public employees and teachers, but there were concerns about whether it violated the Constitution.
