Prairie State Wire

Jim Dodge fails to see the logic of Senate Bill 1905. The state legislature recently failed to override the governor's veto of the bill.

“How does that help to make Illinois competitive again?” Dodge told the Prairie State Wire of the bill that would have criminalized right-to-work zones and make those imposing such legislation criminally liable. “The trouble with Springfield is instead of coming up with solutions, too many are willing to use a sledgehammer to get their way.”

Back in late October, Illinois state senators overwhelmingly voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of SB 1905. The bill banned local governments from enforcing their own right-to-work laws by exposing officials who might seek to enact such measures to the possibility of Class A misdemeanor charges, punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine. The House failed to override the veto on Nov. 7.

Jim Dodge

Presently, right-to-work laws, which protect workers from being forced to pay union dues to keep their jobs, are on the books in 27 other states, including most neighboring ones.

“This bill is all about punishing elected officials who disagree with those in charge,” Dodge said. “The whole approach appears heavy-handed. There are other ways to more effectively solve the state’s problems.”

The Illinois Policy Institute reports Illinois was recently scratched off a list of potential sites for a new, $1.6 billion Toyota and Mazda plant looking to hire 4,000 workers because it is not a right-to-work state.

And back in 2015, Crain’s Chicago Business reported that the former director of Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity claimed more than 1,100 companies had “blacklisted” Illinois because it does not have a right-to-work law.

Dodge, who recently launched his Republican run for state treasurer, looks at ways Illinois has grown stagnant while all the states surrounding it are on the rise economically and knows things have to change.

“People are leaving Illinois and voting with their feet,” he said. “We have to have a rational discussion where we ask ourselves what are the best ways everyone can benefit."

Currently an Orland Park Village trustee, Dodge said his campaign is all about restoring conservative principles. He previously ran for state comptroller seven years ago, finishing with 19 percent of the vote in a three-way GOP primary race won by Judy Baar Topinka with 59 percent of the vote.