Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) told Rep. Martin Moylan (D-Des Plaines) that by introducing House Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 770, he was trying to kill business prospects.
The amendment would remove Class A misdemeanor crime status for any director, elected official, local government or political subdivision official who knowingly or willfully neglects to comply with the Collective Bargaining Freedom of Information Act by voting to create right-to-work zones.
“It’s extremely hypocritical for you to sit here and pass a legislation like this that would prevent particular units of government below the state level to attract businesses in their neighborhood,” Ives said, noting Moylan’s former post as Des Plaines mayor. “Here’s my point: The former mayor himself actually participated in special carve-out districts that gave special incentives to businesses to what they need to do and provide for economic development."
Ives referenced past politics to make her point clear.
“Let’s face it: This state has a number of different types of zones where we have decided we want the business community to come and be productive and we are going to give them special deals to do so,” Ives said. “This is typical of the floor, where we propose legislation for certain people but oppose it in other situations when it is exactly the same deal.”
Ives said Illinois “has two-and-a-half times the economy” of neighboring Indiana, yet Indiana has seen job growth triple in the last 17 years.
“The truth is, we are surrounded by right-to-work states, and in every case we are bleeding manufacturing jobs to other states," Ives said. "In the case of Indiana, it is categorically true that union jobs are growing. When you are a right-to-work state, it does not prevent unionization; it simply says you have a choice to or not to join."
Ives said passing the proposed legislation would keep up a trend of Illinois doing bad business.
“Anybody looking at this from abroad to decide whether or not they should move to Illinois will say Illinois is not open for business, and this bill just solidifies that fact,” Ives said. “Understand the message you are sending to Amazon and all the other people that are potentially looking to come to Illinois.”
The amendment passed in the House 73-38 and was later approved by the Senate.
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