Members of the Illinois General Assembly joined the Illinois Farm Bureau Wednesday for a press conference discussing the Family Farm Preservation Act – a measure being spearheaded by State Senator Dave Koehler and State Representative Sharon Chung and also sponsored by State Representative Charlie Meier of Okawville.
Peoria Democrat Koehler says the measure is designed to protect farmers and their families by ensuring they can afford to keep their land.
“What we’ve done is try to mirror it with the federal regulations but we’ve put our own things in there to protect family farms. Because on this state to turn its back on family farms which is the number one industry that is driving this state, would be a travesty.”
Essex Democratic State Senator Patrick Joyce shared his own families struggles.
“I know how devastaating estate taxes can be. My grandfather died in the mid 70s and I watched my father and mother and my uncle struggle to make the estate taxes. All the way up to my fathers death four years ago we have been chipping away at that debt. That is not right. Why should we make them sell off their livelihood. This should be part of Illinois’ strategy for success. We feed the world. This bill helps us keep doing that.”
Republican Representative Charlie Meier who farms near Okawville agrees the estate tax has devastated family farms for decades as these farms are often sold to pay the inheritance tax.
Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan adds the family farm is not just about continuing the business, it’s about preserving family heritage and a way of life, yet the current Illinois estate tax often forces families to break up the farm by selling land, livestock or even equipment every time the business passes on to the next generation. He says a death of a loved one should not be a death sentence for the family farm. The Family Farm Preservation Act awaits discussion in the spring legislative session.