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 While most people were keeping an eye on the state's landmark
pension reform vote earlier this week, the Illinois Senate approved
what could be a $30-million tax break package to help Archer Daniels
Midland move its world headquarters from Decatur to Chicago.
"At some point we have to address the structural cost of doing
business in this state and quit picking winners and losers," state
Sen. Kyle McCarter, R-Lebanon, said Tuesday.
McCarter used to represent Decatur, but his legislative district was
redrawn in 2011 to give Decatur to a Democrat.
"I know about Decatur," McCarter said. "I know the people, I love
the people, I've served them. And I know the difficulties they are
dealing with in that town."
But McCarter said even with his ties to the community and to ADM, he
cannot support changing the tax code to give multibillion-dollar
companies the kind of benefits that small businesses in the state
will never see.
"Small businesses with five, 10, 15 people don't have lobbyists, but
they need your help," McCarter told senators.
ADM has agreed to replace the jobs it would be taking from Decatur.
The agribusiness giant would hire 500 people in Decatur to open and
maintain a North American headquarters — as well as fill open blue
collar jobs — in exchange for moving 100 mostly white collar jobs to
a new world headquarters in Chicago.
[to top of second column] |
CAN’T LET 'EM GO
Manar doesn’t want to pick
winners and losers, but won’t let ADM leave Illinois. |
"This is much different than where we started off with this
conversation," state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill said. "But I
believe this is a balanced product moving forward."
Manar has said he doesn't want Illinois to pick winners and losers,
but he also doesn't want Illinois to lose ADM.
ADM for its part has said Chicago meets the company's need as a
"world-class city." St. Louis, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Dallas
reportedly are being considered as well.
But ADM is going to have to wait to see whether Illinois offers tax
breaks.
The Illinois House left town before casting a vote on the
incentives. Lawmakers are not due back until January.
___
Contact Benjamin Yount at
Ben@IllinoisWatchdog.org and find him
on Twitter:
@BenYount.
[This
article courtesy of
Illinois Watchdog.]
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