Rep. Keith Wheeler | Facebook
Rep. Keith Wheeler | Facebook
Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego) called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to rebuild the Illinois economy by unfreezing the Blue Collar Jobs Act ahead of his budget address Wednesday.
The Blue Collar Jobs Act was intended to create jobs by using tax incentives to attract companies and projects to the state.
"Nothing helps the middle class more than creating good-paying jobs," Wheeler said. "That's precisely what the Blue Collar Jobs Act does. It sends a message that Illinois is open for business."
The act was scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2021, but was delayed by the governor who explained, “We cannot afford to expand tax breaks to businesses that already receive tax breaks.”
“Now the governor and his allies are undermining one of the very reforms that they agreed to less than two years ago,” Wheeler said. “Getting it passed was a win for the state of Illinois, a win for Illinois businesses, a win for construction workers and their families, and a win for permanent workers who will finally be hired if a new facility is completed or an existing company is renovated.”
Pritzker is scheduled to present his virtual fiscal year 2022 budget address on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
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