Paul Simon Public Policy Institute 25 Anniversary

 The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and has two events scheduled one at the end of this month in Chicago and one at the end of October here in Carbondale. Mildly bemusing that the Chicago event is scheduled on  a Friday night, when generally people are planning for things to do for the weekend. with drinks provided before the event and refreshments afterward. Meanwhile, Carbondale's event gets scheduled for Monday night, a weeknight on which a lot of people do not want to go out as they have to go to work or class on the following day.

SIU Public Policy Institute in Springfield?

Seems a much better use of the money to improve facilities on either the SIUC or SIUE campus. Not sure why SIU would need a public policy center in Springfield. AFter all, SIUC has the well regarded Paul Simon Institute on campus. Why develop something that moves focus away from SIUC and Carbondale? From the Capitol Fax blog:

Southern Illinois University could establish a presence in downtown Springfield under a plan introduced in the legislature today by State Senator Andy Manar.

Manar’s plan (Senate Bill 179) would set aside $50 million in state capital funds for a grant to SIU for costs associated with the construction of a campus and public policy center. The site would have to be within 1 mile of the SIU School of Medicine at 801 N. Rutledge St.

“There is enormous potential in the idea of SIU placing a public policy center steps from the Capitol,” said Manar, a Bunker Hill Democrat and chairman of a key Senate budget committee. “Coupled with a law school or something associated with the medical school, I think SIU could have a significant and lasting impact on downtown Springfield and the capital city at large.”

In March 2018, SIU officials indicated they were interested in putting a satellite law school campus in either downtown Springfield or in Edwardsville. Local officials have discussed the possibility of a higher education presence downtown, possibly on the long-vacant YWCA block just north of the governor’s mansion. The site would be a perfect location for an SIU campus, Manar said.

He also noted that the timing is right for the legislation with discussions about a potential capital bill under way.

“There should be something substantial for Springfield in the capital bill when it happens,” he said.

Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Survey Presentation

Caught the Paul Simon Public Policy Center's survey presentation at the Varsity Center for the Arts tonight. I got a round count of just about 100 people with the vast majority of them sporting a silver head of hair.  You can catch the full presentation on the Center's website but a couple of interesting takeaways.

Illinois as a whole has grown more liberal over the past 10 years or so with increased numbers approving of medicinal and recreational marijuana and abortion, both with restrictions and without. The attitude showing the greatest change owe was that of gay marriage, which went from less than a 30% approval rating to well over 80% of the state approving either marriage or civil unions, in less than 10 years.

Just under half of use want to cut any state programs to balance the budget, with public pensions the largest target, but still only 49% of respondents wanted to cut them. More popular was raising revenue, with 75% opting for a millionaires tax and lesser percentages opting for other methods such as a graduated income tax or increasing the gas tax. We like our programs, we just want someone else to pay for them.

1000 people were surveyed, with a margin of error of about 3.1%

The Most Important Thing

According to the Jackson/Williamson County Survey conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, the most important issue facing both counties is attracting new businesses and jobs to southern Illinois. More jobs for the area trumps reducing local crime, reducing government spending and reducing the local tax burden.

Attracting more jobs and business to the area would also help in combating the student brain drain from SIUC. Unlike universities in larger communities, Carbondale has too small an economic base to keep the students that graduate here yearly. Ergo, they take the skills and education they have spent the last 4-5 years developing with them when they leave the area, seeking employment.

Primary Unintended Consequences

John Jackson of the Paul Simon Institute has a piece up on the unintended consequences (aren't there always) of the state law allowing the skipping of a primary election if less than a certain number of candidates filed and the likelihood that the most popular one won't get elected.

Since we have 5 candidates for mayor, Carbondale has to have a run-off to pare it down, by state law to 4. With 4 candidates, one will be able to win with a plurality rather than a majority vote. One candidate could even do it with three candidates in the race. Plus as Jackson points out Arrow's Paradox says that each additional candidate in the race decreases the likelihood that the most popular candidate will win.