News from State Representative Jason R. Bunting
In this issue:
- Another round of divisive resolutions
- Energy is going to be a major topic during this spring’s session
- Happy National FFA Week!
- Meeting with school counselors
Another round of divisive resolutions
This week the House of Representatives once again spent its precious time on divisive, partisan resolutions, rather than working to improve the quality of life of every hard-working Illinoisan.
I will always be an advocate of resolutions which honor the lives of fallen soldiers and other distinguished Illinoisans. I support resolutions which call attention to good causes like Farm Safety Week and health awareness days. But I will not participate in partisan grandstanding and gamesmanship.
I was elected to fight for my folks in the 106th District – for better roads and schools, rural hospitals and public safety, and bringing down our families’ costs of living, while keeping a watchful eye on pro-business legislation. Instead, we got three House resolutions, HRs 695, 696 and 697, which did nothing but worsen the partisan division in Springfield.
I was happy to stand united with my fellow Republicans in a non-vote because this rhetoric must stop.
It is time to take a stand against this endless divisiveness. I am always willing to work together to improve life for the people I represent, but I am not going to spend time on partisan grandstanding. And neither should the rest of my colleagues in the House of Representatives.
Energy is going to be a major topic during this spring’s session
One thing I was glad to hear the Governor express support for in his speech last week was nuclear power.
Illinois has eleven nuclear generation reactors, which are located at six different sites in the northern half of the state. A few weeks ago, two of these sites got approval to extend the life of their reactors. In total, nuclear power plants in Illinois generate thousands of megawatts of electricity and meet more than 50% of the state’s electrical supply needs. But these plants are aging – the last time a new nuclear reactor opened in Illinois was in 1987.
The General Assembly has worked in a bipartisan way to lift the moratorium on new nuclear power plant construction, passing legislation in 2023 and in 2025 to do so. Of course, this is a very long and slow process. Emphasis now is on small modular reactors (SMRs). The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is working on rules to plan for the safe operation of SMRs to help generate carbon-free electricity in Illinois.
We need to keep this momentum going in the upcoming spring session.
Happy National FFA Week!
This week we celebrate the leadership, hard work, and dedication of FFA members across the country who are shaping the future of agriculture. As a former FFA member and the father of two daughters who are actively involved in FFA, I am proud to join in this week’s nationwide celebration.
From the classroom to the field, these students are growing more than crops — they’re growing skills, character, and communities. Here’s to the blue jackets, early mornings, livestock shows, judging contests, and lifelong friendships.
Thank you to our FFA members, advisors, and supporters for all you do. The future of agriculture is bright!
Meeting with school counselors
I had a great visit with members of the Illinois School Counselors Association in Springfield last week!
School counselors play such an important role in supporting students’ academic success, mental health, and future planning. I appreciated the thoughtful conversation and the opportunity to hear directly about the challenges and successes happening in schools across our state.
Thank you for all you do for Illinois students!
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 $1,451,936,196. 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.
Illinois headlines
Penny shortage causes headaches for retailers in the Land of Lincoln
Illinois Liquor Control Commission launches new licensing and compliance portal