Rep. Bunting’s Springfield news update for September 5

In this issue:

• Governor using federal issues to distract from state problems
• Free paper shredding event coming up next weekend
• Cow Creek Organic Farm Tour
• How do you stay safe on the farm?

Governor using federal issues to distract from state problems

Illinois has some of the highest property taxes in the country.

Farm families and family-owned small businesses are being forced to sell when there is a death in the family because of our broken estate tax system.

The most powerful politician in recent Illinois history is going to prison for corruption, yet the General Assembly once again refused to enact ethics reform.

Energy prices are rising, our unfunded pension liability is over $100 billion, our unemployment rate remains higher than the national average, and our state budget is on an unsustainable path of ever-increasing taxes and spending.

All of these problems can be solved if we just resolve ourselves to do so.

But instead, our state's top political leaders have spent most of this year seeking to distract people from these state-level issues by constantly making high-profile statements about federal issues, which are outside of our jurisdiction.

The House of Representatives started the ball rolling by wasting an entire legislative day passing toothless resolutions about various federal issues. The Governor soon joined in by making appalling Nazi references during the State of the State address. And things have just gone downhill from there.

Illinois has one of the nation's largest congressional delegations out in Washington DC. Their job is to tackle federal issues. Each of us: the Governor, the statewide officials, and all 177 members of the General Assembly, were elected to solve the problems facing Illinois - not waste our time by wading into federal controversies we have no authority to address. The challenges our state faces are plentiful, but we can solve them if we choose to.

It is time to stop the grandstanding and get to work on the state-level problems we were elected to solve.

Free paper shredding event coming up next weekend

Next Saturday, September 13, I am hosting a FREE paper shredding event in Streator.

This is a good opportunity to protect yourself from identity theft by safely and securely shredding your old confidential documents.

We will be at Bruce Township Hall, located at 216 N. Sterling Street in Streator from 9 a.m. until noon. This is a drive-up event so you can just pull up and drop off your documents. Anyone who wishes to stay and see their documents go into the shredder may do so. My staff and I will also be on hand to talk about any state government concerns you might have.

I hope to see you there!

Cow Creek Organic Farm tour

I had the pleasure of spending the day out in the field with the Glazik Family at Cow Creek Organic Farm in Paxton. The day began with a comprehensive Grain Handling and Quality tour, where we were able to see firsthand the systems they use to ensure top-quality grain production. One of the most interesting parts of the tour was the discussion around livestock integration and how animals are used in harmony with the crop rotation to improve soil health and sustainability.

Overall, the day was not only educational but also a wonderful reminder of the innovation and collaboration happening right here in our district. I am grateful to the Glazik Family and all who participated for their hospitality and for sharing their knowledge and passion for sustainable farming and local food systems.

How do you stay safe on the farm?

Farm Safety Week starts on September 15. Each year we set aside a week in late September to reinforce the importance of staying safe on the farm. Farming is vital to every aspect of our society, but it can also be a very dangerous profession.

I want to hear from you. What is something that you do, either individually or as part of a community, to enhance farm safety? It can be something major or something routine. Something you quietly take note of, or something you try to teach to everyone around you. What lessons can you share with others about keeping safe on the farm.

Let me know your ideas. Call my district office at the number below or reach out on RepBunting.com. I am eager to hear from you.

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 $1,945,496,452. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $1.6 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.

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