The chairman and CEO of Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc. is raising the specter of moving the heavy equipment maker out of Illinois.
In a letter sent March 21 to Gov. Pat Quinn, Caterpillar chief executive officer Doug Oberhelman said officials in at least four other states have approached the company about relocating since Illinois raised its income tax in January.
"I want to stay here. But as the leader of this business, I have to do what's right for Caterpillar when making decisions about where to invest," Oberhelman wrote in the letter obtained Friday by the Lee Enterprises Springfield bureau. "The direction that this state is headed in is not favorable to business and I'd like to work with you to change that."
Oberhelman said he's being actively courted to move.
"I have been called, 'cornered' in meetings and 'wined and dined' -- the heat is on," Oberhelman wrote. "Before, I never really considered living anywhere else and certainly never considered the possibility of Caterpillar relocating. But I have to admit, the policymakers in Springfield seem to make it harder by the day."
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5 comments:
who cares? caterpillar supports "jeff burton".
I bet they aren't considering a move to Maryland!
12:41 a lot of people work for cat. you would care if you worked for cat. even if not, if they move it will be to a business friendly state not MD. Some revenue is better than no revenue. MD. has not figured that out but they will when they keep chasing away business.
Good for Caterpillar! Send a very strong message to the statehouse. No - they'll never come to MD because MD is business unfriendly as well. I just wish Perdue would follow suit. One of these days-Jim is going to get tired of all the crap coming from Annapolis and just decide he's had enough-pull up stakes and leave town. That would also send a strong message.
How unfortunate that they are moving out of Peoria. Having taken a tour there several years ago and intermingled with the employees this will be very devasting to many people, especially in this economy. Maybe they will choose Delaware??
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