Rep. Bunting’s Springfield news update for October 3

In this issue:

• Green New Deal energy bill filed
• Harvest season is well underway
• How to engage with the legislature
• Illinois headlines

Green New Deal energy bill filed

A few years ago, Illinois enacted a wide-ranging energy bill which supporters claimed would lead Illinois to a bright, clean energy future. The reality turned out to be that the bill diminished our base load energy capacity, which forced Illinois utilities to buy power from out-of-state sources, thus driving up prices and causing the high energy bills we have been dealing with recently. Because the power we imported from out-of-state came largely from coal-fired plants, the actual "clean energy" gain was minimal.

Now legislative Democrats appear to be doubling down on a bad policy, filing legislation which was heard in committee last week to place more mandates and more rate hikes on consumers, while offering no real solutions to the energy crisis.

An amendment was filed on Senate Bill 25 (which originally dealt with regulation of "cold spas") to further press these Green New Deal mandates on Illinois.

I will say one good thing about it: it repeals the ban on new nuclear construction in Illinois, something which is long overdue. But that's where the good news ends.

The legislation, as proposed, would take away authority from local governments and instead give it to state projects like batteries, solar and wind. It is filled with handouts to special interests and rate hikes for Illinois consumers, as well as expensive and unattainable green energy illusions. This proposal needs a lot more work before it will be ready for consideration.

House Republicans have introduced a package of bills which embrace a comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy policy to ensure a reliable, affordable energy grid for Illinois' future, and to avoid the kinds of price-spikes we saw this summer.

Harvest season is well underway

We were out in the fields this week, as were farmers all over Illinois, as harvest season is well underway.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that as of the start of this week, 21% of the corn fields had been harvested, and 21% of bean fields had been cut. Both crops are well ahead of the five-year average for this time of year, which stands at 14% for each.

So far indications are positive for a successful crop this year. USDA rates 57% of corn and 52% of beans as good to excellent, with another quarter rated as fair. The dry weather conditions which have helped us get harvesting machinery into the fields, however, have made things difficult for operators of grasslands. According to USDA only 16% of Illinois pastures were rated as being in good to excellent condition. Operators who run grazing animals or who harvest hay are looking for more rain.

How to engage with the legislature

The fall session of the House of Representatives is just around the corner, with legislators scheduled to return to Springfield on October 14. Illinois residents can make their voices heard during the legislative process.

Communicating with legislators is one way residents can get involved and stay engaged on current issues pending before the legislature. State lawmakers offer email addresses, district and Springfield office locations, office numbers, and surveys that residents can utilize. In both district and Springfield offices, legislators have dedicated staff that field calls, emails, and meetings with residents to provide critical real-time feedback to elected officials.

Read more about how to get engaged with the legislature, including watching hearings and session, filing witness slips, tracking legislation and more by clicking here.

Our current bill backlog

When a vendor provides the state with goods and services, they submit the bill to the Illinois Comptroller for payment. The Comptroller processes the paperwork and pays the bill when funds are available in the state's checking account. Currently the total amount of unpaid bills is $1,797,331,949. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $1.5 billion in bills awaiting payment. This only includes bills submitted to the Comptroller for payment, not unfunded debts like the state's pension liability, which is well over $100 billion.

Illinois headlines

Illinois Department of Revenue Announces 2025 Tax Amnesty Program

House Republicans sponsor legislation to end sanctuary state policies

ISBE to host listening sessions on new plan to boost math performance statewide

Bill could set Route 66 as national historic trail