Wilhour Says Gotion Project Threatens Natonal Security

Area State Representative Blaine Wilhour has come out highly critical of the incentives package at the federal and state levels to land a Chinese-owned plant to be developed in Manteno.

The plant is expected to create 2,600 jobs, but Wilhour is concerned about the cost incurred to land the Gotion High-Tech Company in Illinois. The federal government is providing $7.5 billion in federal tax credits over five years, while the state is contributing $536 million in subsidies.

Wilhour, a consistent critic of ties to China, introduced House Bill 2984 last spring to ban the use of public funds in investments or institutions tied to the Chinese Communist Party or the People's Republic of China. 

Wilhour said, "Our leaders are willing to sell our integrity, our future and our national security for a few jobs. This 'deal' needs to be stopped immediately."