ECONOMIC PROGRESS IN ILLINOIS
UNDER PRESIDENT CLINTON

President Clinton's strategy to strengthen the economy is based on reducing the federal budget deficit, lowering trade barriers, and empowering workers, families, businesses and communities to succeed. Here are some of the results for the nation and Illinois after the first two years of the Clinton Administration:

Improved Economic and Fiscal Conditions in the United States:

• Under Clinton Economic Plan, the deficit will be lowered by more than $600 billion -- the deficit will be cut for three years in a row for the first time since Harry Truman was President.
• Almost 6 million new jobs created -- private sector job growth rate 8 times faster than during previous Administration.
• Federal government workforce will drop by 272,900 -- creating lowest workforce since the Kennedy Administration.

Improved Economic Conditions in Illinois:

• Over 3 1/2 times as many new jobs per year -- 93,913 vs. 25,325 average during the previous 4 years.
• Over 5 times as many private sector jobs per year -- 90,730 vs. 17,625 average during the previous 4 years.
• The unemployment rate has dropped from 6.9% to 5.3%.
• 3,900 new manufacturing jobs added in 23 months -- after 51,800 lost during the previous 4 years.
• Business failures have dropped 38%.
• Bank lending has increased $10.3 billion -- after declining $13.6 billion during the previous 4 years.

What President Clinton's Accomplishments Have Achieved for the People of Illinois:

8 TIMES MORE ILLINOIS FAMILIES RECEIVE A TAX CUT THAN A TAX INCREASE: As a result of the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit, 599,271 working families in Illinois will receive a tax cut. This compares to an increase in the income tax rate for only the 79,214 wealthiest taxpayers in Illinois.

TAX CUT FOR 53,060 SMALL BUSINESSES IN ILLINOIS: The President helped entrepreneurs, proprietors, and other small businessmen and women by expanding the annual expensing allowance from $10,000 to $17,500. About 53,060 small businesses in Illinois are likely to benefit from the expansion of the expensing allowance this year alone and many more will benefit over the coming years.

2,185,000 ILLINOIS WORKERS PROTECTED BY FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT: The Family and Medical Leave Act allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth of a child, to care for a sick family member, or if they become too sick to work. This law covers about 2,185,099 workers in Illinois, and protects the jobs of 131,268 workers in Illinois who are likely to use unpaid leave this year alone.

1.26 MILLION STUDENTS AND FORMER STUDENTS IN ILLINOIS WILL BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM STUDENT LOAN REFORMS: Approximately 1.26 million Illinois borrowers -- 880,000 current borrowers and 380,000 new borrowers in the next few years -- can take advantage of the new direct student loan program by participating directly in the program or by consolidating guaranteed loans into direct loans. Some will benefit from lower interest rates, and all will benefit from more repayment options, including income contingent repayment.