Blue Collar Jobs Act would put Illinois workers back on the job.
Rep McCombie has co-sponsored the Blue Collar Jobs Act, House Bill 5864, which was introduced by Rep. Keith Wheeler. The legislation incentivizes construction projects in the state of Illinois and creates jobs for the middle class.
The Blue Collar Jobs Act is supported by both labor and business groups and offers tax incentives to companies making significant capital improvements in Illinois based on the withholding tax paid to construction workers. It does this through the creation of four new tax credits, including:
- High Impact Business construction jobs credit
- Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit
- New Construction EDGE Credit
- River Edge construction jobs credit
“We support prioritizing Illinois construction workers in our state’s economic development toolset through incentives for new construction, expansion, and rehabilitation projects,” said Marc Poulos, Executive Director IN, IL, IA FFC, the labor-management group of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150.
The tax credits only become available after the work has been fully completed. There is no risk to the state for a company not meeting its requirement as the state has already captured the withholding tax prior to the tax credit being issued.
Increasing support for apprenticeship pathway to jobs.
Illinois is pushing toward leadership in apprenticeship opportunities. Over the past four years, Illinois school funding has increased by more than $1.2 billion. Some of these funds have been invested to expand apprenticeship programs in Illinois high schools. Many Illinois community colleges have developed task forces with local employers to adjust their curricula in the direction of apprenticeship pathways and job-oriented work certification programs. Future automated workplaces will demand a well-trained Illinois workforce. Current numbers show that Illinois has enjoyed a net gain of 18,200 manufacturing jobs over the most recently reported 12-month period of employment in the Prairie State. The Illinois Department of Employment Security figures cover the period from March 2017 to March 2018.
Leaders Durkin, Brady call for adoption of revenue estimate.
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and Illinois Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady filed joint resolutions Thursday to adopt a revenue estimate in order to begin the budgeting process for fiscal year 2019.
House Joint Resolution 124 adopts a revenue estimate of $37.672 billion for fiscal year 2019, based on the estimate provided by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA).
A revenue estimate is required by state law, and the editorial board of the State Journal-Register, the Springfield state capital paper that closely covers state government, joined the call for adoption of a revenue estimate in an editorial published on Thursday, April 26.
Constituent events – mark your calendars!
My office is working hard to plan outreach events, fairs, and traveling office hours in all corners of the district during the summer. Scheduled events include:
- Coal Valley Traveling Office Hours: 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Wednesday, June 13
- Rock Falls Traveling Office Hours: 9:30am – 11:30am, Tuesday, June 19
- Senior Fair (Sterling) – June 26: CLICK HERE for more info
- Erie Traveling Office Hours – 10:00am – noon, Tuesday, July 18
- Jobs Fair (Moline) – July 31: more info coming soon
- Senior Fair (Quad Cities) – August 8: more info coming soon
- Children’s Safety Expo (Quad Cities) – September 8: more info coming soon
Visit the ‘Events Page’ on my website by CLICKING HERE, to be up to date on the latest events.
Contact me! As always, if you have concerns, questions, or would like to reach out to my office for any reason you can do so by emailing mccombie@ilhousegop.org, calling my office at (815) 632-7384, or visiting my website at www.repmccombie.com.