Over the weekend Chicago-area based United Airlines and Houston-based Continental Airlines announced a merger--creating the world's largest airline. It's expected to be a jobs boon for Illinois. But it could end up being one for Texas.
In a Houston Chronicle op-ed, Patrick Oxford makes a compelling argument why those jobs should head south to Texas, arguably the most pro-business state in the union.
• • No personal income tax.In The PrairieStater, Ed Murnane, president of the Illinois Civil Justice League doesn't think that the new airlines will place its headquarters in Houston--after all, United is the "big brother" in this deal. But he doesn't rule it out. Illinois seems closed to business.
• • Only a 1 percent franchise tax.
• • No jet fuel tax.
• • Health care costs are 5 percent below the national average.
• • The lower cost of litigation in Texas.
In Illinois, our General Assembly may -- or may not -- adjourn this week and the only serious civil justice issue that has been on the table was a proposal to allow third parties to fund lawsuits. It doesn't appear likely to go anywhere but the fact that EVERY member of the Illinois Senate voted for it is not a good sign and the fact that virtually EVERY major civil justice reform proposal put forth by the Illinois Civil Justice League languished in committee.Related posts:
That doesn't include the medical malpractice reforms enacted by the Illinois General Assembly in 2005 which were overturned in a partisan vote by a partisan Illinois Supreme Court two days after the partisan Illinois primary in February.
Illinois' lawsuit climate among worst in the country
Lawsuit loan sharks might take a big bite out of Illinois
Technorati tags:
tort 
lawsuit 
legal 
law 
Illinois 
Illinois Politics 
tort reform 
business 
aviation 
jobs 
Texas
No comments:
Post a Comment