State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, has been appointed to serve on the Labor & Commerce Committee for the new 102nd General Assembly in recognition of his legislative record of working closely with skilled trade unions in support of Illinois’ working families. Keicher’s private sector experience as a small business owner and member of the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce reinforces his selection working with community stakeholders to make the DeKalb region an attractive place for job growth and new business investment.
“I come from a family where my father and grandfather were in the trades. The old adage that business and labor are natural adversaries does not reflect my experience as a legislator,” Rep. Keicher said. “In 2019 we were able through negotiation to bring business and labor groups together in support of a package of economic reforms signed into law by the Governor including the Blue Collar Jobs Act and the Data Center Tax Credit. The latter which made a significant difference in DeKalb’s ability to land the new Facebook data center and all the jobs and economic growth that accompany it.”
“We have demonstrated a bipartisan ability to bring the interests of job creators and working families together on initiatives that lift up everyone. I hope that despite our differences with the Governor that we can rekindle the communication and spirit of cooperation that produced the 2019 reforms as we move forward this year. I plan to bring my voice and my experience to the table as a new member of the Labor & Commerce Committee to find new ways to strengthen Illinois’ economy by creating high wage jobs across as many industries as possible.”
Representative Keicher serves the 70th District, which includes most of DeKalb County along with portions of western Kane County and eastern Boone County.