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| Rauner: Will advocate for ag as ‘backbone’ of Illinois’ economy |
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Rauner: Will advocate for ag as ‘backbone’ of Illinois’ economy
By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Hailing Illinois agriculture as the “backbone of our economy,” Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner addressed Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) delegates about the state of the state and his commitment to farmers during a 10-minute speech Dec. 8.
“We’re struggling as it is, but it’s farmers that have kept us going, and I’m all in for you,” Rauner said. “I am going to be the strongest farmer advocate of any governor here in America.”
His remarks were witnessed by county Farm Bureau delegates from across Illinois during the IFB’s annual meeting in Chicago. During the speech, he promised to make Illinois friendlier to agriculture and echoed IFB President Rich Guebert’s call for a farmer to assume the position of Illinois Department of Agriculture director.
“Rauner publicly stated that he felt the next director of ag that he appoints should be someone with a production agriculture background. He indicated he wanted a farmer,” said Kevin Semlow, director of state legislation for the IFB, who was in the audience for Rauner’s speech.
Rauner, a Republican from Winnetka, “took shots” at current Agriculture Director Bob Flider, who was appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn in 2010, according to Gatehouse Media. The brunt of the brief speech focused on the state’s tough economic times, with the governor-elect warning, “I ain’t going to be Mr. Popularity for a little while” because of tough decisions he’ll be forced to make.
“Rauner said the state is in deep, deep financial trouble – the financial house of the state of Illinois is a mess. He warned that the (first) 24 months of his term are going to be rough,” said Semlow.
“He stated that he wanted us to get the facts about what’s going on, and in a follow-up press conference he said that after the state income tax rolls back to 3.75 percent on January 1 that the entire state budget will have to be reassessed based on the reduction.”
Rauner warned the approved state budget of $35.7 billion for next year is already woefully inadequate, and coupled with the state income tax rollback, things could get rough for Illinois in 2015.
He was asked by a Farm Bureau delegate what he would do to protect certain sales tax breaks for farmers for inputs such as feed, seed and equipment. “We should never put our farmers at a competitive disadvantage. We need our farmers to be competitive,” Rauner answered.
“The Governor-elect said we have to keep Illinois agriculture competitive with other states, and his policy will reflect a fair and balanced approach,” Semlow added. “He said that Illinois’ agricultural sector is one of the most important sectors to the state economy and the agricultural economy has helped keep the state afloat financially.”
Rauner will take office Jan. 12.
The four-day IFB annual meeting was Dec. 6-9 at the Palmer House in downtown Chicago. “The annual meeting is a great opportunity for the grassroots of the farm bureau to get together,” Semlow said. “There are many items discussed from our policy book by our delegates, and it’s just a great process to watch the farmers set policy for the organization.” |
| 12/17/2014 |
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