Rutherford: Illinois can learn from Indiana

State Treasurer Dan Rutherford says he's building a good relationship with Governor Daniels. (WJBC file photo)

State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is looking east for fiscal examples. He says he met recently with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels about how the state ended the fiscal year with a surplus, while Illinois is facing a multi-million dollar deficit.

“And, so what he’s agreed to do, is he’s packaging up a bunch of material on where they went at it, how they approached it, and some of the results to it. And he’s sending it off to me here in Illinois,” Rutherford said.

Despite the fact that Indiana has lured ten businesses recently from Illinois, Rutherford tells WJBC, he doesn’t feel threatened by Daniels or the state.

“I guess bottom line, is that, what Illinois needs to be doing is not putting its head in the sand and looking in another direction when it comes to things like incentifying and assisting companies to relocate, and especially in regards to how they treat businesses and job creation. And, Indiana has done a great job at it.”

Rutherford says the stronger Illinois does as a regional economy, the better it will be for surrounding states.