Republican Candidate Tonia Khouri wants Illinoisans to know that she is ready to fight on their behalf to encourage financial responsibility and economic growth.
In response to an article published by the Wall Street Journal on the economic trauma of the recession, Khouri, who is vying for the 11th District congressional seat, said Congress needs to make decisions that boost the economy.
“In 2017, it will have been 10 years since the start of the recession,” Khouri wrote on her Facebook page. “Yet, we see stories like this one every day of Americans who are still trying to recover what they lost back in 2007. Our economy is the foundation for Americans' livelihoods. Congress has a responsibility to the American people to make choices that create jobs, encourage entrepreneurship, and fuel a robust economy that supports the American Dream we believe in.”
The recession may have ended seven years ago, but research shows many Americans are still trying to recover financially, and will likely continue to deal with the ramifications of the economic downfall for decades to come.
In its article, the Wall Street Journal included the story about a 61-year-old unemployed man who went back to college to finish a bachelor’s degree he abandoned years earlier, hoping to improve his chances of gaining employment once again.
The man, Gary Reece, lost his tech-industry job in 2000 and again on 2008 due to the recession, the Journal reported.
Between 2007 and 2009, approximately one in six employees lost their jobs, and today, close to 14 million American workers are still seeking employment or have been forced to settle for part-time jobs because full-time work is not available.
Even though many Americans have rejoined the workforce, the psychological impact of the recession still lingers, the Journal reported. They will live with constant fear of losing their jobs again and their children will perform poorer in school.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ household employment survey, Illinois had 240,000 less people working in 2015 compared to the state’s pre-recession levels, making Illinois’ worker deficit greater than any other state.
The average state saw a 2.1 percent jump in job growth between 2007 and 2015. Illinois’ job growth during that same time period was an unfortunate -3.7 percent.
Much of this can be chalked up to a large number of people leaving Illinois for states with more favorable economic climates.
Illinois’ economic forecast will only improve when lawmakers reform the state’s workers’ compensation system, bring down property taxes — which are the second highest in the country — and solve the state’s financial issues.
Khouri said she is running to make Illinois more favorable for American families.
“As your Congresswoman, I'll fight for financial responsibility and economic growth, so that all Americans have the chance to live that American dream,” she wrote.
Alerts Sign-up