New Laws Ensure Safer Egg Products, Greater Agricultural Expertise on the Illinois Finance Authority Board, and Greater Support for Illinois Wheat

SPRINGFIELD - In honor of Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair, Governor Pat Quinn signed several bills to support the state's number one industry. The new laws will mean safer egg products, increased agricultural expertise on the state financing board, greater support for Illinois wheat and more accurate weighing and measuring systems. Today's actions are part of Governor Quinn's agenda to promote and support Illinois agriculture.

"Agriculture Day celebrates our number one industry and these new laws will help thousands of farmers across our state," Governor Quinn said. "By supporting Illinois agriculture, we can create jobs and grow our economy while continuing to feed Americans and people around the world."

House Bill 2783 was an initiative of the Illinois Department of Agriculture and was sponsored by State Representative Jim Sacia (R-Pecatonica) and State Senator Tim Bivins (R-Dixon). It allows the state to impose fines and other penalties on egg wholesalers who sell eggs to any person or business not properly licensed by the state. The legislation also allows the state to suspend the wholesale license of the offender if he or she fails to pay these penalties. This new authority to monitor the selling and wholesaling of eggs will protect public health and ensure that safe, quality eggs are being marketed in Illinois. The new law is effective immediately.

Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 2748, which requires at least two members of the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) have expertise in agribusiness or production agriculture. IFA provides access to low-cost, non-conventional financing to help businesses, farms, local governments, and hospitals get needed growth capital. Having two members with agricultural expertise will make IFA more responsive to farming needs. The bill was sponsored by State Representative Josh Harms (R-Watseka) and State Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) and takes effect immediately.

Additionally, Governor Quinn signed House Bill 2709 and House Bill 2273. House Bill 2709, sponsored by State Representative Wayne Rosenthal (R-Morrisonville) and State Senator John M. Sullivan (D-Rushville), appoints a temporary wheat development committee that will foster new markets for wheat products and provide research for wheat farming and production.

House Bill 2273, sponsored by State Representative Patrick Verschoore (D-Milan) and Senator Sullivan, clarifies the state's Weights and Measures Act as it pertains to heavy truck scales operated by agricultural grain, feed, fertilizer, chemical, or construction aggregate producers. The law takes effect immediately and requires these scales to be certified by the state to help ensure the accuracy of these devices.

Also signed today was House Bill 1272, which designates the first Saturday of every month as "Eat Local, Buy Illinois Products Day" to promote local food initiatives, agribusiness and encourage local communities to reinvest in the local economy. Sponsored by State Representative Sam Yingling (D-Round Lake Beach) and State Senator David Koehler (D-Peoria), the bill takes effect immediately.

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Aug. 13, 2013- Justin Palmer of Winterset was crowned the 2013 Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest winner.  Palmer beat out 51 other grillers, representing counties from around the state, to win the 50^th annual competition.  The annual Iowa Farm Bureau-sponsored contest featured outdoor chefs using their best grilling, roasting and smoking techniques.  "Every year, we are amazed at the competitiveness and creativity of Iowa's grillers. Each recipe has been tested and tasted and each one brings out the different qualities and traits of each type of meat," said Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill.  "Iowa's livestock producers are so proud to raise healthy livestock that provide important sources of protein and inspiration for cooks like the ones at our annual contest."

Cookout Contest champion, Palmer, won first place in the beef category before being selected by the judges as the overall winner.  He received $200, a crown and a permanent trophy as the 2013 Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest Champion.

Other first place winners and their categories were: Helen Schubert of Clarion, lamb; Luke Spencer of Logan, pork; Ashley Hanson of Kamrar, poultry; Sara Cronk of Toledo, turkey; and Gene Petersen of Vinton, combo/speciality.  All winners received $75.

Second place winners and their categories were: Andy Grein of Wesley, beef; Bruce Campbell of Marshalltown, lamb; Andy Wilson of Salem, pork; Tracy Christeson of Exira, poultry; Nate Miller of Davenport, turkey; and Mary Weisinger of Ft. Madison, combo/specialty.  All second place winners received $50.

Winners in special categories were youth first place - Trenton McDonald of Hamilton and youth second place - Andrea Greve of Harlan; showmanship - Bruce Campbell of Marshalltown; and team - John Sellman of Alburnett, Chad Meyer of Cedar Rapids and Scott Bahmann of Vinton.  The youth winner received a gas grill and $75 and second place received $50 as prizes from the Iowa Propane Association.  The showmanship winner received $100.  The team winners received $150.

Prize sponsors for the Cookout Contest include : the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Bureau Financial Services, GROWMARK, Inc., Iowa Propane Gas Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the Iowa Turkey Federation and the Iowa Poultry Association, and the Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board.

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Law Creates New Statewide Directory to Forward 9-1-1 Calls

ROMEOVILLE - Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to make emergency response systems in Illinois more efficient and effective. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure the safety of all people in every community across Illinois.

"Emergency response depends on the ability of our 9-1-1 centers to take the call," Governor Quinn said. "It is critical for public safety that once our operators get a call, they are able to direct it to the responders who can best help those who are in need."

House Bill 2856, sponsored by State Representative Natalie Manley (D-Joliet) and State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood), requires the development of an Illinois 9-1-1 systems directory so that calls answered by one system can be quickly and easily forwarded to another 9-1-1 system when necessary. This is particularly important for cell phone users, whose calls to 9-1-1 are sometimes answered by an operator in their home area code, rather than where the phone user may be at that moment. The law takes effect January 1, 2014.

Governor Quinn also today signed House Bill 2690, sponsored by State Representative Lawrence Walsh, Jr. (D-Joliet), and State Senator Pat McGuire (D-Joliet), which authorizes fees for Court Appointed Special Advocates in counties where special advocates are used. Court Appointed Special Advocates provide assistance to abused or neglected children who need help navigating the legal system. To provide resources to make this program possible, the law allows counties to charge a fee to people found guilty of felonies and certain other crimes. The law takes effect immediately.

In addition, Governor Quinn signed Senate Bill 1930, sponsored by Senator Bertino-Tarrant and Representative Walsh, which grants the Joliet Park District an additional five years to sell a parcel of its land. Sale of the parcel, located at the corner of Route 59 and West Caton Farm Road will help the park district improve its recreational offerings. The original deadline was December 31, 2013 and is now extended to the end of 2018.

Noting Social Security's importance to millions of Americans including 445,043 Iowans, AARP continues work to protect and strengthen the program.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On the eve of the 78^th anniversary of the creation of Social Security, which provides an average annual retirement benefit of $14,900 to 445,043 older Iowans AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement:

"In the years since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the legislation creating Social Security, it has become the foundation of retirement security in America, lifting tens of millions of seniors, as well as widows, children and people with disabilities, out of poverty. Declining pensions, inadequate savings, shrinking home values, and a difficult job market mean that the promise of Social Security will become increasingly important as today's workers approach retirement.

"Yet, some in Washington want to cut this invaluable program to reduce the deficit. Social Security is a self-financed program, not a piggy bank for deficit reduction. That's why AARP is fighting to stop Congress and the President from cutting Social Security benefits using the 'chained CPI,' a change that would hurt seniors already in retirement as well as veterans, women, children and disabled Americans. Just last week, AARP volunteers delivered to Congress more than 1.5 million signed petitions opposing the chained CPI.

"Social Security is too important to rush changes like the chained CPI, or increasing the eligibility age, into a budget deal. As we look to address Social Security's long-term financial challenges, we must think of the current and future beneficiaries who have earned their benefits and rely on them. Any adjustments to Social Security will affect individuals, families, businesses and our economy as a whole. That's why AARP is calling for a separate debate about responsible solutions that will ensure Social Security's strength for current and future generations.

"For 78 years, Americans have found peace of mind and a measure of financial stability in the modest but critical benefits provided by Social Security. As we reflect on its remarkable success, AARP looks forward to engaging with elected officials, business and non-profit leaders, and the American people in an open, honest conversation about how to strengthen Social Security for the future."