Illinois Dem ‘Shocked’ After Another Manufacturer Leaves Democrat-Run State for Texas

Democratic Illinois congresswoman Tammy Duckworth on Tuesday said she was “shocked” after the world’s largest construction-equipment manufacturer announced it would move its headquarters out of her state to Texas.

“I’m shocked and disappointed by Caterpillar’s decision to move its HQ from Illinois,” Duckworth said on Twitter. “While this will only directly affect about 1.5 percent of IL-based employees, I’ll keep working to encourage Caterpillar to preserve jobs and follow through on its promise to hire even more Illinoisans.”

Caterpillar, a Chicago area-based company with more than $50 billion in annual revenue, announced it will set up its new headquarters outside Dallas, saying the move is “in the best strategic interest of the company.”

The manufacturer’s move marks the second time in recent weeks that a major corporation announced it would move its headquarters out of the Democrat-governed state. Last month, Boeing said it would move its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Va.

Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R.) told the Center Square that Democratic policies that are unfriendly for business are to blame for Caterpillar and other companies moving jobs out of the state.

“I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times of what these manufacturers are paying and there’s really little for them to do,” Durkin said. “They’re getting no relief from local governments nor from the state. … When it comes back to it, it’s the cost of doing business in Illinois.”

Duckworth has advocated policies unfriendly to business as a member of Congress. In March, she called for a federal “tax on excessive profits” by oil companies.

In a poll of nearly 700 CEOs and business owners conducted this year by business magazine Chief Executive, Texas was ranked the number-one state for business. Illinois came in 48th place out of 50.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases