As Chicago politicians like Bruce Rauner continue to close Southern Illinois state facilities and Washington D.C. insiders target the region’s coal industry for elimination, state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, is taking action Thursday by organizing working families in support of his “Save Southern Illinois Jobs” petition.
“Our middle-class jobs are under attack in Southern Illinois from Chicago and Washington D.C. politicians,” said Phelps. “We have a governor that wants to lay off every state worker in the region, starting in Hardin County, and a politicians in Washington D.C. who want to break the coal industry apart.”
In response to the assault on Southern Illinois from Chicago and Washington D.C., Phelps is going door-to-door with his “Save Southern Illinois Jobs” petition. Phelps is urging residents to sign the petition to send a message to the governor and Washington D.C. politicians that Southern Illinois families will stick together and refuse to be trampled on by out of touch politicians who do not care about the region and helping to grow the economy. Within the past year, Gov. Rauner has announced a series of plans to close state facilities throughout Southern Illinois, resulting in massive layoffs that would devastate local economics. Further, President Obama and other Washington D.C. politicians have backed similar initiatives against the regional coal industry which would create extreme regulations resulting in major cuts to good paying jobs. If you are interested in signing the “Save Southern Illinois Jobs” petition, please call Phelps’ constituent service office at 618-253-4189.
“I’m asking every resident in Southern Illinois to stand with me and sign this petition to send a message to Chicago and Washington,” said Phelps. “There’s nothing that’s going to stop me from fighting for my Southern Illinois neighbors against the assault on our good paying jobs.”
Brandon Phelps represents the 118th District in the Illinois General Assembly, which includes all or portions of Alexander, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, and Union counties.