Rutherford Touts Achievements After 100 Days
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM) -- Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford has been in office for a little more than 100 days and, like other politicians, he used the milestone to highlight his accomplishments.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Alex Degman reports, Rutherford says he resurrected the fledgling Cultivate Illinois program, and has renamed it Ag Invest. It allows individual farmers to borrow up to $120,000 and groups, up to $240,000.
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"I'm not looking to keep a program just because it was there before. If there is no demand, if it is not configured right, we either change it or eliminate it," Rutherford said. "The agriculture community has told me that they do need and want to have a program like this."
Ag Invest was one of three linked deposit programs Rutherford froze upon taking office. He says his job as treasurer is to invest state funds wisely, and a properly-run Ag Invest program will make money for the state.
There is currently about $500 million available to lend.
Rutherford also says he has made it easier for people to claim their un-cashed paychecks.
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He says paychecks not cashed within a year head to the state Treasury, where people can pick up the checks or other unclaimed assets. The time frame used to be five years.
"What it does, as opposed to a company or government having this un-cashed money, it comes to the Treasury. They tell us who that person is. We then put it within our system to work and try to identify; let them know this is available to them," Rutherford said.
Rutherford also reiterated the savings he has achieved by streamlining office operations. For example, he recently announced he is cutting cell phone and landline use, and reducing the office vehicle fleet.
He says the savings don't add up to much, but they indicate where the state "should be going."
