Illinois legislature enters its final five weeks of session

Posted on April 17, 2023
Senate Republicans have what they say are business-friendly bills ready to go. (WJBC File Photo)

By Dave Dahl

As the Illinois legislature enters its final five weeks of session, Senate Republicans have what they say are business-friendly bills ready to go.

Naming Caterpillar and Tyson Foods as just two examples of departures, Sen. Don DeWitte (R-St Charles) wants to do something to keep employers here.

“In an effort to maintain the investments businesses have already made in Illinois, legislation initiated by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is seeking to provide corporate manufacturers with enhanced incentives to invest more in research and development of new products,” DeWitte said during an online news conference Monday. He says the tax credit should be given annually, not once every three years.

Sen. Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett wants to reward businesses which are staying in Illinois with a “legacy tax credit.” “These businesses, no matter the size, would get a $100-a-year tax credit for every year they have been headquartered here in Illinois,” said Lewis, “but, in addition, it rewards them for the number of employees they hire and keep on their payroll” in Illinois. That would be another hundred dollars per employee.

The Senate minority leader, John Curran (R-Downers Grove), said he is optimistic supermajority Democrats will sign onto at least some of the agenda.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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