McLean County Times

During his State of the State address, Governor Pritzker proposed to eliminate the state's 1% tax on groceries, a move that has sparked concerns about the impact on local governments. Rep. Bunting expressed reservations about the proposal, emphasizing the importance of offsetting the revenue loss to prevent harm to municipalities. He highlighted the necessity of restoring funding cuts to local governments to make the grocery tax cut feasible without adversely affecting essential services.

Regarding the state's unemployment rate, it stood at 4.7% in January, with mixed shifts in different sectors of the economy. While sectors like education and healthcare saw job growth, professional services and the information sector experienced declines. Rep. Bunting noted that Illinois lags behind the national unemployment rate at 3.7%, as well as neighboring states like Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, and Wisconsin, which all reported lower unemployment rates.

In a lighter note, Grundy County students, accompanied by their teacher Deb Eungard, recently visited the Capitol, where Rep. Bunting had the pleasure of meeting them and discussing their classroom experiences. The representative thanked the students for their visit and engagement in Springfield.

Furthermore, Rep. Bunting participated in Soil Health Week advocacy efforts, speaking at the Advocacy in Action Rally about legislation he sponsored for Soil and Water Conservation Districts. He expressed gratitude to advocacy groups and individuals, including State Senator Thomas M. Bennett and his parents, for their dedication to soil and water conservation efforts in the 106th district.

Lastly, Rep. Bunting highlighted the state's current bill backlog, with unpaid bills totaling nearly $2 billion. While this figure fluctuates daily, it underscores the financial challenges faced by the state. Additionally, the representative shared recent Illinois headlines, including House Republicans advocating for human trafficking victims and businesses preparing for potential tax increases.

Rep. Bunting's updates shed light on critical issues impacting Illinois residents and underscore the ongoing efforts to address challenges and promote the well-being of local communities.