South Central Reporter

 State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) is sounding the alarm about the impact he thinks a bill seeking to modify the criteria for determining qualifying Illinois data centers could have on the suddenly growing industry. 

“Why do we think that data centers are booming in the state of Illinois?” Wilhour asked. “They’re booming because it's an investment that makes sense right now. And then we do bills like this, it's just another clear example of the labor special-interest (groups) overreaching and literally fighting against what's in the best interest of the workers that they supposedly represent.”

Senate Bill 2182 creates a list of requirements for new and current data centers to receive certain tax breaks.

“When it comes to creating jobs in the state of Illinois taxes matter,” Wilhour said. “The environment and policy matters, these companies are investing in this and creating union jobs in this state because it makes financial sense to do so. The investments are creating working class jobs. When we do policies like this, they continue to kill working class jobs.”

Wilhour points to what’s happening in the energy industry as another example of the state taking a wrong turn.

“I get so sick and tired of what working people in my part of the state get so sick and tired of,” he said. “They get sick and tired of politicians coming here in Springfield and talking the talk. ‘I support workers; I support the little guy; I support union jobs’ and then we enact policies that absolutely ensure that no union jobs will be created in the state of Illinois.”

Wilhour said he sees just one way things can change for the good.  

“People need to start standing up for working people in this state,” he said. “Workers need a voice in this state and they’re not getting it from the big special interests that are supposed to be representing them.”