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Illinois Farm Bureau stresses importance of engagement with new legislators
Illinois Farm Bureau is encouraging farmers to engage with state legislators as 38 new members enter the General Assembly in 2023.
Mark Gebhards, Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities, tells Brownfield building and maintaining relationships will be key.
“75% of the General Assembly resides in the five-county area around Chicago, so down-state has very little representation when it comes to working on our agricultural issues.”
Henry County farmer Kate Huffman says IFB’s Adopt-A-Legislator Program helps bridge that gap. “It helps them understand why we take the stances that we do and why agriculture is so important.”
The 103rd Illinois General Assembly is welcoming 25 freshmen to the house (16 democrats, 9 republicans) and 13 to the senate (9 democrats, 4 republicans) during its inauguration on January 11th. Democrats maintain veto-proof majorities in both houses.
Representative Tony McCombie of Savanna is the new minority leader in the house, and senators elected John Curran of Downers Grove as their new leader. Majority leadership remains the same.
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