Bailey weighs in on estate tax, data centers, ag economy

FUNKS GROVE, Ill. — Running on a platform of affordability, safety and education, Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey gave his stance on issues during the recent Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable.

Bailey, a third-generation farmer, operates Bailey Family Farm, near Louisville in the southeastern region of the state, and served in the Illinois House in 2019-2021 and the Illinois Senate in 2021-2023. He was also the Republican nominee for the 2022 gubernatorial election.

“I’m running because I’m one of you. I don’t think anyone sitting in this room is without the pain and affliction that exists with living in Illinois, especially when it comes to agriculture and the frustrations that we have, the concerns that we have, especially with the inheritance tax,” Bailey said in his opening statement.

“Illinois doesn’t have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem. We’ve got many other problems that must be addressed.

“I ask for your confidence, I ask for your support in desiring a better future for Illinois because I’m here to tell you it can and it will be had. It is time to restore trust to the people in government. It is time to raise Illinois back to the grandeur that I believe we once held with the magnificent industrial engine that we were. We have everything that we need. We are just lacking in leadership.”

The forum then moved to the question-and-answer session, with questions provided by those attending in the event.

Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson served as moderator and presented the questions to the Bailey. Gov. JB Pritzker provided his views about an hour later.

We’re in a rough patch in the farm economy. If you’re elected governor, what are some things that would be top of mind that the state could do to help turn around some of the difficulties we’re facing?

Bailey: First and foremost, I think a lot of people across the state don’t fully understand the authority that a governor has. A governor can do executive orders. A governor that moves around the money like the $3 billion of your hard-earned tax money has gone to people who are here illegally in the last year.

But most importantly it’s about people. It is the governor that puts people into positions through all of our agencies. So, when we’re dealing with the concern of what we hear every year in the General Assembly with maybe too much dust, with maybe not working when it’s too hot outside, with dealing with issues, some that affect us adversely with EPA. It’s common sense.

We are an agricultural state, and I intend on being a spokesperson for agriculture, because agriculture is the pillar of this state, the economy, this nation, and Chicago itself relies heavily on agriculture, so being that messenger.

But really, most importantly, putting a cap on property taxes. There’s no reason why we can’t put a 1% cap on our property taxes and stop this. The money’s there, friends. You know it, and I know it is there. And also doing away with this inheritance tax, at least getting a start to make it match the federal level so that we can preserve our future that’s disappearing every week in the farm sales as we see it.

Energy is a big component of Illinois agriculture. What are some of your policies to try to get energy prices down at the time where farmers are struggling, but not have as much reliance on importing energy?

Bailey: I think that’s what made me stand out in the primary and what makes me different now is that I served in the General Assembly, both in the House and in the Senate. I was there when CEJA, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, was passed, and I stood and spoke for all of us that we shouldn’t get rid of reliable energy until we’re ready, then we can look at another options. This shutdown, this scale back, it ended way too soon.

Then came the data centers, and we didn’t really understand what they are. I believe our governor knew exactly what they were and exactly what they were doing, and it’s a shame that he’s failed to act immediately as I would do.

One year ago, in the Ameren district to the south, energy bills began to double. We knew early on there was a problem, and now, here in the ComEd market, they’re beginning. And I ask you, what’s been done about it? A lot of talk, but nothing. The moratorium was lifted on the nuclear, and that sounds great, but what is being done?

I’m talking to senior citizens every day who are scared to death to open their energy bills because they can’t afford any more increases.

We’ve got everything in our fingertips with what we’ve already have, with what we’re already using. Why aren’t we expanding? Why aren’t we beginning to talk and negotiate, build nuclear, if that’s what it takes? Time’s running out. This is part of what’s leading to businesses moving out of Illinois.

Every one of you sitting here knows someone who’s left Illinois. Every one of you here has considered the thought, but we’re farmers, we’re invested, and we can’t. So, we have to fight to make it different.

You mentioned data centers. There needs to be some template. As a livestock producer, if I want to expand my operation, we have to have nutrient management plans. You’ve got to have setbacks. You got to go through public hearings. It seems like we’re bypassing a lot of that, and it’s a race to who can site their data center first.

Bailey: You’re exactly right. That’s the way the law reads under JB Pritzker and the Democrats that drafted these bills. I’s just a full-blown wherever you want to build that, except Cook County.

Local control, local units of government should be able to decide to demand and put in place any kinds of regulations that they so desire. I don’t know about you, but especially where I live, there’s plenty of ground, whether it’s retired coal mine ground, there’s lots of places that these data centers can be going.

The ag community has pushed hard for estate tax reforms. We thought we were close to this in the last session, but the can is still getting kicked down the road. How do we overturn that when you’ve got a General Assembly that basically has a supermajority on both sides to get that individual item across the line?

Bailey: Ultimately, Illinois is ready for change and we’re ready for a win. But then the next question always comes, how are you going to work with a supermajority? Well, let’s not forget that I served a term as a state rep and I served a term as a state senator. When I was in the House, Democratic floor leader Greg Harris from Chicago came to me to work on pharmaceutical programs to lower the cost. We got through the House and the Senate, and unfortunately JB Pritzker didn’t sign it.

In the Senate, I worked with Democrats to help get out more nurses from our local community colleges when we were in need of, and that bill did pass.

I would be a governor that educates, because that’s why I’m here. When my state representative in 2017 supported the 32% income tax increase, the largest we’ve ever faced in Illinois, I didn’t like it. I had no idea that my griping about that would lead to this. So, be careful about what you post on Facebook and how you argue.

But here I am, and that’s why because when I begin to tell my people, as I got educated, my neighbors, as I begin to explain to them what was going on, they got angry, they had no idea.

So, when you’re out talking to your friends, your family, your coworkers, people at church, ask them who their state representative and who their state senator is. You’re going to find that many people don’t have a clue. They always know who the U.S. senator is and they’ll throw out the name of a congressperson, but I think that many of the state reps and senators that exist that I’ve worked with, and I’ve heard it said, well, I don’t agree with Bailey, but I respect him.

My campaign is focused on affordability, safety and education. We’re gonna focus on these things that we can unite on, and we’re gonna get rid of these things that are dividing this state, because when we get it right here in Illinois, it’s gonna change our country.

So, yes, I believe that actually, if you look just back every year, there are Democrats that propose legislation to change this inheritance tax. So, educating the people, working with people on the other side of aisle, because after all, that is a component that’s pushing families and business out of this state. I plan on educating people, and I think because of the reasons why we would get elected is that they will come to the table for a discussion.

Since you are a farmer, what will the Illinois Department of Agriculture look like under a Bailey administration?

Bailey: It will be consumer friendly. It’s the governor that selects the director and the agency they’re leading, it’s all about people. All of this government is always about people. But when you have one person on top that puts people in place, pulls people out of the legislature, because maybe they’re too conservative, puts them in as director ag, and expects them to adhere to a message, that’s wrong.

On my farm, we spread 32,000 tons of chicken manure every year, and move it around. So, I’m well versed with the Department of Ag. I work with the Department of Ag a lot, as well as EPA.

I think that the Department of Ag could partner with the Illinois Farm Bureau to get into the high populated areas to help them understand where our food’s coming from and what it is that we need more.

We were at Mendota yesterday, and I was shocked to learn that several years ago the Del Monte plant had closed. Why? Because there’s better places to have business than Illinois.

Agriculture must be promoted in the way people understand where their food’s coming from. There’s just a disconnect there of them understanding where our product goes and what we produce.

When we look across state lines, Indiana, as an example, has had gas tax holidays and that sort of thing. In addressing the economy, what would you do as governor in this state?

Bailey: First and foremost, a lot of people don’t realize it, the corporate tax here in Illinois is twice what it is in Indiana and Iowa. Therein lies a little bit of understanding why business won’t come here and set up shop without massive tax breaks.

It also helps us understand why business is leaving. I think a lot of us live in a small town USA like I do, and you probably all got a Do It Best hardware store in your neighborhood somewhere. They just recently announced that their headquarters are headed to Fort Wayne, Indiana. We understand business, and we know that these large companies are beginning to realize that.

It’s not just the corporate tax, it’s all the mandates and regulations that they have to jump through because that’s why Illinois is good at it. That’s got to stop. Those days have to end. We’ve got to start attracting business back here.

Our gas tax is 50 cents gallon. Have you ever wondered why, when you drive over the borders, the gas is a dollar cheaper in Iowa and Indiana? Around our borders, 10 miles out, people are driving into those states to fill their tanks up. When they do that, they shop and they eat out. They’re spending money elsewhere. That has got to change. It’s called common sense. It’s not working. It’s destroying us, and it needs space.

I can assure you that our voters up in Chicago and all over are tired of this. Affordability, safety and education is on everyone’s mind.