Illinois’ EDGE tax credit program expired April 30; however, proponents of EDGE have passed a one-month extension in the Illinois House of Representatives.

In exchange for more than $112 million in tax breaks, Amazon promised to expand its Illinois operations and hire 7,200 new employees in Aurora, Monee and Joliet.

As state debts mount and budget plans remain in limbo, Illinois lawmakers move to expand EDGE tax credits.

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed an extension of the EDGE tax credit program, though the program has an unsuccessful record of using taxpayer money.

The expiration of the state’s EDGE program – which has given large companies more than $1 billion in tax credits the last 15 years – is good news for taxpayers and should encourage lawmakers to pass real reforms.

Downtown appeal and state-issued tax credits mask a discouraging jobs climate statewide.

With special tax breaks for Amazon, Illinois resorts to sweetheart deals to overcome the effects of the state’s anti-growth policies, leaving smaller businesses to shoulder the full tax and regulatory burden.