SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, supported legislation to bring more than a billion dollars and countless jobs into the state with the electric car manufacturing industry. Additionally, he sponsored and passed legislation to help continue economic development specifically in Belleville. 

“If we are going to be serious about transitioning to green jobs, we need to take real steps toward incentivizing manufacturers to come to Illinois,” said Hoffman. “By bringing in new and growing industries to the state, we are ensuring long-term investment in Illinois and thousands of high paying jobs.”

During the Fall Veto Session, Hoffman passed the Reimagining Electric Vehicles (REV) in Illinois Act to help attract electric vehicles manufacturing and create high paying manufacturing jobs in Illinois. The REV Act (House Bill 1769) creates incentives for manufacturers to come to Illinois and create new jobs. In addition to bringing more than a billion dollars in investment into Illinois, manufacturers will be incentivized to provide additional job training. Additionally, in order to qualify for tax credits under the REV Act, manufacturing companies will need to enter approved project labor agreements and neutrality in union campaigns to ensure opportunities and power for labor unions. 

Hoffman also sponsored and passed legislation to further the work being done to grow the Belleville economy. The Hoffman sponsored Senate Bill 1139 will work to invest in Belleville to develop vacant areas around town and to attract new businesses. 

“Growing the Belleville economy will help communities throughout the Metro East,” said Hoffman. “We need to make sure jobs and businesses stay in the Metro East, and that we continue working to bring new ones to the area.”

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, is thanking residents who attended a recent town hall on the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) and recent legislative efforts to move Illinois toward more sustainable energy use position.

“I was excited to see over 100 people who are passionate about our state’s energy future attend this town hall,” Walker said. “The Clean Energy Jobs Act, if passed, will bring thousands of jobs to Illinois while putting us on a path to being 100% renewable by 2050.”

CEJA would set Illinois on course to become carbon-neutral by 2030, as well as making all major power sources renewable by 2050. Walker supports CEJA not only for its important green energy components, but also because of its emphasis on creating new jobs and investing in infrastructure. Attendees of the town hall learned about CEJA and the pathway to a clean energy future, and had time to ask questions of panelists including Walker. Walker was joined by state Sen. Ann Gillespie, D-Arlington Heights, the Illinois Environmental Council, Sierra Club Illinois, the League of Women Voters of Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect and Buffalo Grove, and the Citizens Utility Board.

“While legislation is an important piece of Illinois’ clean energy future, personal action is as well,” Walker said. “People can make sure they’re using the most energy efficient practices in their homes and transportation. Supporting positive changes at all levels is necessary to fight dangerous climate change and ensure a brighter future.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A bipartisan measure sponsored by state Rep. Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville, and widely supported by the Illinois business community to make the state a more competitive place to grow and run a successful business was recently signed into law.

“Building a stronger Illinois begins with building a stronger middle class, but that is only possible if we focus on creating a broad range of economic opportunities,” said Edly-Allen. “By expanding existing tax credits and creating new ones we are helping to ensure Illinois is remaining competitive and retaining the job creators our communities depend on.”

Edly-Allen sponsored Senate Bill 1591, now Public Act 101-0207, which extends an existing tax credit for a wide-range of research and development projects, including software programs, manufacturing materials and an array of consumer products. The measure also creates a new tax credit for taxpayers who employ apprentices in their businesses. There is a $3,500 limit on the credit that is raised to $5,000 in situations where the business or apprentice are located in areas with high poverty or unemployment.

“Illinois is facing a shortage of skilled workers and that situation is exponentially made worse when employers and employees entering the workforce find their best opportunities outside the state,” Edly-Allen said.  “This law is a critical step forward as we work to attract and retain businesses; create good-paying jobs; and build a stronger Illinois that works for the middle class.”

AURORA, Ill. – Continuing her efforts to increase local economic growth, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, backed a measure to support businesses that invest in local jobs and apprenticeships that lead to good-paying employment opportunities.

“We must help grow local communities by expanding economic opportunities for Illinois residents,” said Kifowit. “It is important that we find ways to create sustainable jobs with fair wages and expand the apprenticeship programs here in Illinois.”

The Kifowit-backed Senate Bill 1591 creates a new tax credit for employers who employ apprentices in their businesses. There is a $3,500 limit on the credit, but can be raised to $5,000 in situations where the business or apprentice is in an area with high poverty or unemployment. The measure extends a tax credit for a wide range of research and development projects including software programs, manufacturing materials and an array of consumer products.

Senate Bill 1591 passed both the state House and Senate and was signed into law earlier this month.

“Illinois is facing a severe shortage of skilled workers,” said Kifowit. “We must do everything we can to get Illinois back on the right track, and this bill will help us to build a stronger Illinois and provide hands-on education for a new generation of skilled workers, allowing us to quickly rebuild local economies.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To help stimulate job growth in Illinois, state Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, passed a legislative proposal on Wednesday that would require the state to buy products made in Illinois, helping create and support local jobs and keeping taxpayer dollars in state. 

“By prioritizing products that are manufactured here in Illinois, we are supporting local jobs that employ those who live and work in our state,” said Yednock. “When the state makes a purchase using taxpayer dollars, then those dollars should remain in our country and state. This is not only an investment in local companies, but also the local families that own them and work here.”

Yednock is sponsoring House Bill 357, which requires state agencies to purchase Illinois-manufactured products in the process of buying products or goods, if possible. If Illinois products are not available, agencies are then required to purchase American-made products. Yednock’s legislative agenda includes the strong promotion of local jobs and promoting the purchase of Illinois and American-made products by state agencies.

“As we continue to look at new ways to get our state’s economy back on track, one of the first steps is by supporting local businesses and industries, which in turn supports local jobs and employees,” said Yednock. “It’s more than reasonable to ask state agencies, when they are making purchases with taxpayer funds, to give preference to Illinois and American-made products. This will help us to be competitive while also supporting the hard-working men and women of our state.”

House Bill 357 passed the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, co-chair of the Pritzker administration’s Restoring Illinois’ Infrastructure Committee, responded on Tuesday to a recent committee report and renewed his commitment to work with subject matter experts to move the state forward.

“As we transition into the 101st General Assembly under the leadership of a new governor who shares a commitment to expanding infrastructure and creating jobs, we have a real opportunity to resolve issues that are important to us all,” Hoffman said. “Gone are the days of poor leadership and unkept promises.”

Last week, a report was published and released to the Restoring Illinois’ Infrastructure Committee which provided an assessment on the state of Illinois’ infrastructure. The document contains important information regarding the state’s infrastructure plan; its purpose was to brief committee members on policies and recommendations needed to overhaul infrastructure throughout the state.

As co-chair on the transition committee, Hoffman has been heavily involved in working with subject matter experts, engineers and other leaders to equip the newly sworn-in Pritzker administration on efforts it will need to pursue to begin implementing the state’s new infrastructure program.

“I am committed to ongoing efforts to improve our state’s infrastructure, which will create jobs in the process,” Hoffman said. “Doing so will require mutual cooperation from a variety of leaders and stakeholders involved during this process. Together, I am certain that we can move forward on behalf of the people of Illinois.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – Continuing his efforts to work with local business owners to improve the state’s business climate and create new jobs in the community, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, recently met with two local small businesses to discuss initiatives to help small businesses.

“Our local small businesses are the foundation for a healthy economy,” Yingling said. “It is important that we support them by shopping locally and by implementing effective state policies that help them grow. By reforming our abusive tax code and enlisting our small business owners’ voices into the legislative process, we can help shape policies that turn our state around and support businesses here in our communities.”

Yingling met with La Luz Bakery in Round Lake last week and visited with Signarama franchise owners in Grayslake on Wednesday to discuss his policies to freeze or reduce taxes and to enlist their ideas and opinions about how to make Illinois more business friendly.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, D-Chicago, issued the following statement Wednesday after Gov. Bruce Rauner’s Budget Address:

“Throughout my time in state government, legislators and governors from both parties have agreed that the state budget must be a priority. While the House has passed a number of budget bills to fund critical services for seniors, children and public safety, it appears that for the third straight year Governor Rauner has failed to introduce a balanced budget.

“As the governor told a newspaper recently, his plan is to ‘stay the course.’ That means continuing to use the disabled, the elderly, school children, victims of abuse, and many others as negotiating tools in his effort to increase profits of big corporations at the expense of middle class and struggling families. ‘Staying the course’, as the Governor wishes, means billions of dollars in new debt, and lost services for tens of thousands of Illinois’ most vulnerable children, seniors and families.

“Unlike the governor’s ‘stay the course’ plan, Democrats are proposing a new way forward. We want to work cooperatively with the governor to pass a full-year balanced budget and improve our economy, but we don’t accept that the only way to create jobs is by cutting wages and stripping away protections for workers in an effort to increase profits for businesses – all at the expense of middle-class families. We will pass reforms that lift up the middle class and provide good jobs for working families while also helping businesses grow and expanding our economy.

“We want solutions that address the challenges Illinois is facing right now. We continue to urge the governor to join us and pass a full-year budget that provides for the needs of middle class and struggling families, cares for the elderly, invests in our schools, and keeps our communities safe.”