Guebert issues call to vote for 2022 elections

CHICAGO — With the 2022 midterm elections looming, the president of Illinois Farm Bureau summoned the war doctrine of a four-star U.S. Army general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“In the early 1990s, General Powell became famous for his Powell Doctrine. The Powell Doctrine states that a list of questions all must be answered affirmatively before military action is taken by the United States. It asserted that when the United States used military force, it must be in a decisive fashion and only in the service of vital national interests,” said Richard Guebert Jr., in his president’s address to the voting delegates of IFB at its 2021 annual meeting in Chicago in early December.

Guebert related the Powell Doctrine to IFB’s efforts to influence policy at the state and national levels.

“Farm Bureau has the greatest ability to influence agricultural issues. However, the further we move from ag, the less influence we have. Each time we actively lobby an issue, it commands organizational resources and attention. You can only fight so many battles effectively at one time. However, when we fight, we need to go all out in a decisive fashion, to borrow from the Powell Doctrine. We have demonstrated the power of Farm Bureau time and time again,” Guebert said.

Those recent victories at the state and national level. One of the big victories for IFB was the defeat of the Illinois proposal to change the state’s income tax structure from the current flat rate to a graduated rate. That vote was on the ballot in the November 2020 election.

“Give yourselves a hand, you did a great job. As I drove around the state, I was amazed at the number of ‘vote no’ signs I saw,” said Guebert to loud applause from the audience.

Two more tax issues that loom on the horizon are possible changes to the federal estate tax exemption and the elimination of stepped-up basis.

The 2021 federal estate tax exemption is $11.7 million for an individual and $23.7 million for couples. In 2022, those federal exemptions increased to $12.06 million for an individual and $24.12 million for a couple.

“The initial proposals to eliminate stepped-up basis and to lower the estate tax exemption were removed from the infrastructure legislation,” said Guebert, referring to the infrastructure bill passed by both houses of Congress in early November.

But Guebert cautioned that the two tax issues could still be threatened.

“We need to remain vigilant. Efforts to tax successful family businesses will continue to be a threat. We must continue to build relationships with our urban neighbors and tell our story,” Guebert said.

As he reminded members what could be at stake for their family farms, Guebert issued a call to vote for the upcoming election cycle.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the 2022 elections will be very contentious. It will be very important for Farm Bureau to stay focused on protecting our principles and our priority issues,” Guebert said.

He clarified where Farm Bureau’s policy lies in the political picture.

“Our Farm Bureau philosophy is in direct contrast to the progressive movement in this country that wants to tax and spend at the expense of successful family businesses. That includes you, as farmers,” said Guebert, who went on to outline those Farm Bureau philosophies.

“Farm Bureau believes in incentives, individual responsibility, freedom and the right to work without governmental dependence,” he said.

Guebert reminded members of the reason to fight for and vote on and support the candidates who support IFB’s policy positions and issues.

“There are seven bicentennial farms in the state of Illinois, another 600 farms have reached that 150-year milestone and we have 9,300 centennial farms right here in the state of Illinois,” Guebert said.