Does our local federal legislator think Peoria County has a chance to win a bid to get at new Caterpillar plant here? 18th District Congressman Aaron Schock says he is encouraged, but still thinks the state of Illinois needs to get it's ducks in a row first.
"When I talk to Caterpillar, it's concerns are issues like workmen's comp, libability reform, tax rates...things that are quite frankly state issues," Schock tells 1470 WMBD.
"I hope state leaders, who seem very interested with working with Caterpillar, are equally willing to make the reforms necessary to make Illinois competitive."
Peoria County has formally sent a proposal to Caterpillar and reportedly offered about $50-million in incentives. State Senator Dave Koehler of Peoria says he and Senate President John Cullerton are getting involved.
"I talked to the Senate President and the Governor's office," Koehler says, "and we're waiting for some kind of response that says 'Yes, we're willing to take this to the next step' and we will do it."
There are public bodies in 17 other states also vying for the plant that will hire over 1,000 people. CAT will anounce it's decision by March.
