In this issue:
- Legislative survey on its way
- Committee assignments for new General Assembly
- IFCA Friend of Agriculture
- New Springfield address
Legislative survey on its way
With the start of the General Assembly’s spring session we are expecting to have a lot of major issues to consider in the Capitol. But before doing so, I would like to hear from you.
Some issues can only be handled at the federal level, while others are in the hands of cities, villages and counties. As your state representative I want to know what we can do at the state level to make life better for the people of the 106th district.
Watch your mailbox in the next few days for my 2025 legislative survey. I want to hear your opinions on the issues we are addressing this spring. I can better represent our district if I hear from you about what we should and should not be doing in Springfield this year, and what state issues are on your mind. Please fill out and return the survey to let me know your thoughts.
You can also take the survey online at RepBunting.com. Thank you for participating!
Committee assignments for new General Assembly
A representative’s committee assignments play an important role in his or her ability to make an impact in Springfield. Committees are where bills are examined and sometimes amended to (hopefully) make them better. Members are chosen for committees by House leaders with the intention of placing them where their particular knowledge or experience can do the most good in improving legislation.
This year I was selected for six different House committees, some of which I have served on before, and some of which are new. I am excited about the chance to join the Counties and Townships committee, where my past experience as a county board member can be helpful in looking at legislation affecting our local governments. I am also looking forward to joining the Energy and Environment committee, in part due to all the important local discussion of wind and solar projects in our area.
In addition, I have been selected to serve on two appropriations committees which will be doing important work on the state budget. Specifically, we will deal with Health and Human Services in one committee and Public Safety and Infrastructure in the other. Two more committees which I will be returning to this year are Labor and Commerce, and Public Utilities.
We should start having committee hearings next week and for most of the next couple of months.
IFCA Friend of Agriculture
It was an honor to be named a “Friend of Agriculture” by the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association last week.
As an industry that employs about 1 in every 17 people in the State of Illinois, agriculture is the backbone of the state’s economy.
Being a multi-generational farmer myself, it was a true honor and privilege to be selected as a recipient of the IFCA’s Friend of Agriculture Award with my friend and colleague Rep. Dan Swanson!
New Springfield address
My Springfield office has moved. If you are sending mail to Springfield, or just stopping in for a visit, you can find me at 209-N Stratton Building, Springfield, IL 62706. The phone number remains the same: (217) 558-1039.
You can also reach me through my website at RepBunting.com, or either of my district offices, which have not changed: 132 E. Main Street, Suite 3, Dwight, IL 60420, (779) 218-3069, and 342 W. Walnut Street, Suite 2, Watseka, IL 60970, (779) 218-3070.
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 $2,343,455,050. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $1 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
Lawsuit filed by House Republicans to remedy extreme partisan gerrymandering
Experts say Illinois’ final flag designs need work – here are their changes
International group of home repair scammers target Illinois homeowners