SPRINGFIELD – A very important energy bill was placed on hold when the legislature paused last week. Gary Rabine, a candidate for Governor, issued the following statement on the ongoing efforts that would have a powerful impact on businesses in Illinois.
“Electricity is an essential part of modern life. Electricity heats and cools our homes. It saves lives in hospitals and powers essential modern tools such as computers, tablets, cell phones and automobiles. We all depend on electricity being accessible, affordable, and reliable. We in Illinois have been blessed with some of the best, most competitive energy in America, these blessings could end soon.
Rabine said the energy legislation being considered in Springfield will impact every person in Illinois.
"We all have a stake in this bill and we all should be very concerned about what the eventual outcome could be," he said. "The bill Gov. Pritzker is pushing is essentially a gift to extremists who want to close coal plants before we have any realistic energy alternatives. Our commitment to clean energy should not come at the expense of affordability and reliability. We need to give companies time to adjust to the transformation to clean energy."
Illinois residents simply want their energy costs to be competitive with or without alternative options, Rabine's statement said. "Working class families in Illinois are experiencing the highest cost in taxes in America, closing our most efficient energy producing facilities will increase our energy cost and our families cost of living. We must not accept that."
Rabine, who owns the Rabine Asphalt Company based in Schaumburg Illinois, is vying to be the Illinois Republican Party's gubernatorial nominee in 2022.
"Some say this is an environmental issue, I see this as forcing us to be energy dependent as we are forced to use dirtier coal and energy from other states. This not only ruins thousands of jobs while eliminating millions in tax income, but it also will prevent us from managing the environmental quality of our own energy. The net result of this elimination of Illinois natural resources will be another major pothole on the road to ruining our great state," he said.
In conclusion, Rabine criticized the governor's activities.
"Pritzker’s bill is nothing but a payoff to political insiders. What we need is an open and honest process that puts the needs of Illinois residents first. So far, all Governor Pritzker has offered is more of the same. Illinois working families and small businesses deserve better. They deserve reliability and affordable rates.”
