Brady Plans To Revive Ag Industry In State

www.agrinews-pubs.com
Jeannie Otto
2010-02-01

HUDSON, Ill. – When state Sen. Bill Brady, a GOP candidate for governor, refers to “Chicago politicians,” it’s a sure bet that he’s not referring, on purpose or by accident, to himself.

“The Chicago politicians continue to think that all that matters in Illinois is Chicagoland,” Brady said.

Brady is the only candidate for Illinois governor who is from outside the Chicagoland area, a fact that he is emphasizing as he tours around the state in his bid to be the GOP nominee for the state’s highest office.

Being a downstate Illinois leader, Brady has more than a passing familiarity with the state’s major industry – agriculture. He has some hopes for the state’s largest industry.

“Just as I hope some day Nancy, my wife, is the first lady of Illinois, the first industry of Illinois is agriculture, and it continues to be the industry of Illinois,” he said.

Brady has been a regular at the legislative days hosted by state ag groups, and he is putting an emphasis on building jobs and business in Illinois including agriculture.

“We need to continue to make sure that politicians, our elected officials, keep agriculture at the forefront of our economy, understanding how many people it employs and how important it is to the business investment of this state,” said Brady during a recent investment to Progressive Farm Products in Hudson, which manufactures tillage equipment. Brady was joined there by owner Rich Follmer and members of the Farmers for Brady group.

At the campaign stop, the candidate outlined some of the policies he supports. One of his priorities, he said, will be to bring jobs and investment back to the state.

“We need investment in agriculture just like we need in any other business,” said Brady, a Bloomington construction company owner.

That includes slashing the permitting time for agri-industries like ethanol and biodiesel plants.

“Our data shows we have fallen far behind in capital investments in ethanol plants in Illinois because the Chicago politicians fail to recognize the importance of expeditious permitting,” Brady said. He said that he advocates shortening that permitting time to equal the permitting periods of surrounding states.

Brady favors eliminating the state’s estate tax penalty and reducing or eliminating the sales tax on gasoline, a move that he said would increase travel and motor fuels funds.

“By reducing the tax on gas we will increase gas consumption which will increase the motor fuel fund revenues which will give us more money to repair our roads and bridges that we all rely on,” he said.

Also on the transportation front, Brady said he would put the full-court press on to get the state’s share of taxes paid into a trust fund to renovate and revamp the aging lock and dam system.

“We pay taxes to go into a trust fund to repair a lock and dam system that has become obsolete. I will lead the charge demanding that the federal government give us our due. We do want what we’ve paid into the trust fund to be used to replenish our lock and dam system,” he said.

Brady favors increasing investment in education and agriculture.

“Some areas that need to be reinvested in have taken a bigger hit than others, CFAR is one of these,” he said in answer to a question about CFAR funding cuts.

“I have indicated we need to go back to a balance in funding. Other states are investing in technology and intellectual knowledge through their universities and we need to do that or we’re going to fall behind. CFAR funding has to be reinstated at the same ratio of funding as it was before the Chicago politicians took over.”

Brady also favors disbanding the state board of education and creating a downsized department and dedicating 10 percent of natural growth in state tax revenues into a property tax relief fund. He also supports parental choice for schools and increasing the private school tax credit.

Brady, who is a regular at the Springfield legislative reception hosted by the Illinois Pork Producers Association and the Illinois Beef Association, said he attributes the willingness of Chicago-area legislators to introduce legislation designed by animal-rights activist organizations to ignorance.

“I’m the only downstate candidate in this race. The rest of them either come from DuPage or Cook County. Their naiveté, or, frankly, ignorance, on how agriculture works puts them in positions where they’re very dangerous. That’s why it’s important to have a downstate governor who will realize that agriculture is important and we cannot attack the agriculture industry with legislation that puts it at risk,” he said.


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