NW Illinois News

Despite some concerns, Illinois state Rep. Tom Demmer supports HB 1769, better known as the "Reimagining Electric Vehicles Act," intended to place Illinois in prime position to welcome electric vehicle manufacturers

"This bill, this measure comes before us tonight for one simple reason: because right now Illinois is being out-competed by other states across the United States and attracting major investments to add new jobs in a developing and dynamic industry," Demmer said. "We need to make Illinois more competitive." 

The Reimagining Electric Vehicles Act was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Nov.16, going into effect immediately, after it passed the House 110 to 2 and the Senate 55 to 0.

It's a start, but it's not enough, Demmer says.

"The reality is we have to do more, and this thinking has to be with us on every bill we consider in this House and not just on an occasional bill to correct a major anti-competitive situation that we find ourselves in," Demmer said. "This should be part of our thinking with each bill we consider. With every bill we pass we should ask, 'What will this do to attract new jobs to Illinois?' What will this do to attract new business to Illinois? What will this do to keep the businesses who have invested here thriving here and succeeding here instead of moving someplace else?'" 

And it doesn't address a nagging worry.

"The reality in Illinois though has been when we fight every inch of the way to deliver that kind of relief it gets held as a political hostage in future negotiations," Demmer continued. "How can I tell the businesses who are looking at this incentive here tonight that it won't be reversed in next year's budget or the budget after that if the governor suddenly decides that instead it's a corporate loophole, instead of an incentive to attract businesses — he's done it before, will he do it again?"

Demmer's opposition to taxes also ties into his desire to attract more jobs and businesses to the state.

"That's why last year, we stood in opposition to a $3.7 billion tax increase. And that's why Illinois voters overwhelmingly agreed and rejected that tax increase at the ballot box. That’s also why we support the elimination of the corporate franchise tax. A tax that affects hundreds of thousands of businesses in Illinois ..."

The Reimagining Electric Vehicles Act was first introduced in February by Illinois state Rep. Greg Harris.