Rock Island Today

Gov. J.B. Pritzker's decision to freeze the Blue Collar Jobs Act is weakening the state's already-struggling economy, according to House Republicans. 

Earlier this month, state Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) slammed Pritzker's suspension of the Act, which aimed to create new jobs by incentivizing new companies and projects with tax credits, saying that she "is not a fan of people in government going back on their word."

"(The Blue Collar Jobs Act) was our take that we needed for businesses and growth in Illinois," McCombie said on WHBF news in April. "[...] To go back when that was already put into effect is really disingenuous. I am not a fan of that at all."

McCombie listed several grievances with the governor's latest budget proposal, and was puzzled why the act would be suspended despite the revenue that it would have generated at a time when Illinois desperately needs revenue. 

"We need to stop new spending," McCombie said. "We've had a lot of new initiatives this year."

The representative likened the growing mistrust of the Illinois government to "one thing being said and another thing being done." She challenged Pritzker to stick to his word and keep the Blue Collar Jobs Act live. 

"Cutting the Blue Collar Jobs Act was a huge negative for the state, not just the budget but the entire state," McCombie said. 

McCombie is not the only lawmaker critical of the governor's decision to freeze the act, which should have went into effect the first of this year. In February, state Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego) said the act would have benefited the middle class and sent a message that "Illinois is open for business."

“Now the governor and his allies are undermining one of the very reforms that they agreed to less than two years ago,” Wheeler said, according to a Feb. 15 Kendall County Times article. “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.”