SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, is speaking out against Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a bill that would provide new protections for Illinois workers.

“The ongoing efforts of Governor Rauner to strip the rights of working families are increasingly evident by his actions,” Hoffman said. “His phony tactics of traveling around the state with his unused Carhartt jacket, trying to solidify his appeal to the interests of working people, are an absurd hypocrisy. We know this because he consistently opposes and vetoes legislation that would provide workers with reasonable protections.”

Senate Bill 193 was sponsored by Hoffman in the House to create the Workers’ Protection Unit and the Worker Protection Task Force within the Office of the Attorney General. The bill was crafted to oversee and strengthen protections for workers across the state to ensure employers are providing safe working environments, paying employees properly and driving healthy competition among businesses.

“With the stroke of a pen, the governor proved yet again that he does not stand with working families,” Hoffman said. “If the governor will not support what is right on behalf of working men and women, the legislature will have no other choice than to move forward without him.”