Caterpillar won't build North American plant in Illinois | Comcast.net
PEORIA -- Caterpillar Inc. will not be building its new North American plant anywhere in the state of Illinois, officials with the company told local leaders Tuesday, with part of the reason being continued concerns about the business climate in the state. The company will instead focus on a location closer to its division headquarters in Cary, N.C., Peoria County officials were told in an email sent to them shortly after the close of business and later obtained by the Journal Star. The plant stood to bring with it from Japan roughly 1,000 jobs manufacturing track-type tractors and mini hydraulic...
Uhhh.....CAT has already expanded its Illinois operations.
Caterpillar to expand capacity for Illinois operations
Taxes certainly play into it, as they should. At the same time, CAT isn't moving all of it's plants at one time, but will probably see it happen slowly. Illinois government is anti-business:
Caterpillar: Illinois won
Caterpillar Inc. has ruled Illinois out of plans to relocate a factory and 1,400 jobs from Japan, citing both logistical problems with building the plant in its home state and ongoing concerns about the business climate.
Caterpillar laid out its decision Tuesday in an email to elected leaders in Peoria County, saying it considered factors such as access to ports and local labor markets, as well as proximity to Caterpillars building and construction projects division headquarters in Cary, N.C.
But the email, signed only by the Peoria-based companys North American Facility Site Selection Team, says Caterpillars longstanding complaints about Illinois state budget deficit were a factor.
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I don't disagree with the corporate tax being too high, albeit being a temporary increase.
My biggest sticking point is: If not that then what?
That's why I challenged GHook to tell me just what he wants our officials in Springfield to do.
1) Raising personal income taxes? (I have NO problem with that)
2) Simply not paying bills? (not even an option)
3) Increase what employees pay into pension fund? (violation of Illinois Constitution)
4) Decrease pension amounts? (violation of Illinois Constitution)
5) Cut spending (Ok....just be specific)
6) Close prisons?
7) Lay-off state employees? (Ok....just be specific)
He says he's going to answer so I'll be very interested in what he says. Just remember I used to be an elected official and spoke with my former State Rep at length several times about the budget crisis so I do know just a little about the cause and effect of government decision making. I'm far from any kind of expert but I have a little more involvement than your average citizen.