HR0242 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0242 LRB098 11691 GRL 44468 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, During the 97th General Assembly, a tax incentive package was approved for the Sears Holdings Corporation in order to ensure that the company would remain in the State and continue to provide jobs to thousands of Illinois citizens; and

WHEREAS, The tax incentive package enabled Sears to receive $15 million in annual tax credits for 10 years and extend a special taxing district that reduces the company's local property tax rates for 15 years; and

WHEREAS, Less than 2 weeks after the tax incentive package was finalized, Sears announced that it planned to close more than 100 Sears and Kmart stores throughout the nation; the company also laid off 100 workers at its headquarters in Hoffman Estates and closed the Sears store in Calumet City, which resulted in 164 employees left without gainful employment; and

WHEREAS, As an Illinois corporate resident, the General Assembly passed legislation in good faith to assist with keeping the Sears headquarters in Illinois and safeguarding the jobs of Illinoisans; by closing stores and taking jobs away from Illinois taxpayers, Sears has abandoned Illinois and its communities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Sears Holdings Corporation to reconsider the financial impact that the removal of jobs has on rebuilding communities and to pay back any tax incentive revenue received in Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Attorney General's Office to review the actions taken by the Sears Holding Corporation regarding the tax incentive program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Illinois Attorney General and the Sears Holdings Corporation.