Kankakee Times

Rep. Thomas Bennett met with retired Congressperson Thomas Ewing to discuss Illinois farmlands.

“Then we attended the County Tax Assessor meeting on this,” Bennett wrote on Facebook. “Great discussion around farmland assessment: five year average, commodities, inputs, interest rates, livestock and comparisons with other states.”

Bennett talking about farming is unsurprising as he grew up on his family’s farm, according to his website's about page.

In June, Bennett spoke at the Lincoln ChalleNGe Academy graduation.

“In a June 15 Facebook post, Bennett celebrated the graduates of Class 57-22,” he wrote. “The ceremony was inspiring! The stories were compelling. Every one of the 63 individuals developed new perspectives and new skills."

“Grateful for the work Directors Maurice Rochelle and Michael Haerr and their entire staff as they worked with each one of these individuals with love, support, and discipline. Focus on tomorrow! You can't change yesterday! Change requires courage! I am confident that the best for these graduates is yet to come! Congratulations!”

Vote Smart reported Bennett voted against House Bill 2775 — it won by 62 to 48 votes. The bill amends the state’s Homelessness Prevention Act by preventing discrimination in housing based on a person’s income.

He has also spoken out about the debacle at the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The Department lost $1.2 in million in pandemic funding to fraud.

“Records show IDES lost $1.2 million in taxpayer money to fraudsters,” Bennett wrote on Facebook.

In a May 13 report, CBS reported on rampant IDES fraud during the pandemic.

“On January 10, CBS 2 filed an appeal with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, asking the agency to review IDES’ denial for potential FOIA violations,” it wrote. “That process revealed what IDES originally told CBS 2 wasn’t true: the agency does track how much it has paid back claimants due to fraud.”

Bennett is on the ballot for the November 8 general election uncontested. He ran unopposed in the June 28 Republican primary to represent the people of the 106th District.