Crespo Responds to Governor Blocking Bipartisan Transparency Measure

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, issued the following statement after Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed bipartisan legislation aimed at reforming how state agencies manage their finances:

“Illinois is facing unprecedented fiscal challenges, and in order to overcome them, we must be doing everything in our power to get back on the right track. The Debt Transparency Act would’ve equipped the governor, legislators, and most importantly, the taxpayers of Illinois with a much clearer picture about the state’s finances. Yet, in his veto message, the governor said that his staff should not have to work harder to get the numbers out monthly, and that’s unacceptable.

“While Illinois lacked a budget, the governor often acted unilaterally and spent funds that weren’t approved by the General Assembly. So now that Illinois has an honest, balanced budget in place, it is essential that we all know how much is actually owed to schools, social service organizations, small business owners and others across the state. And it’s infuriating that as a person who often talks about the need for good government reforms, he blocked one of the Better Government Association’s top rated reforms of the year.

“As policymakers, we need up-to date financial information when making decisions that will affect the lives of millions of people, so I am disappointed that Governor Rauner rejected this common sense transparency measure. Taxpayers deserve better. So I will be working with all of my colleagues to ensure that this reckless and ill-advised decision is overridden, and enacted into law.”

State Rep. Fred Crespo was the Chief Sponsor of House Bill 3649 and has filed a motion to override Governor Rauner’s veto.