DeLuca Overrides Governor’s Veto to Provide Taxpayers with More Government Transparency

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In an effort to increase government transparency and save taxpayer dollars, state Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, overrode Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the Debt Transparency Act.

“After two long years, Illinois now has a balanced and bipartisan budget,” DeLuca said. “Despite this, there is a lack of clarity on how many bills need to be paid since many agencies have not submitted all of them to the comptroller. This legislation will require agencies to report how many bills have not been submitted for payment, and ultimately protect taxpayers from paying late fees on these bills.”

DeLuca’s House Bill 3649, also known as the Debt Transparency Act, provides taxpayers with a clearer picture of how their dollars are spent. By requiring state agencies to disclose the bills they are holding monthly, taxpayers will know the true extent of the state’s debt along with the estimated amount of penalties paid on late bills. While agencies are currently required to report this data annually to the comptroller, it is outdated by the time it is reported, preventing taxpayers and policymakers from having a clear understanding of the state’s debts. DeLuca is committed to finding new ways to protect taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars.

“Illinois families work hard and should not have to pay more to cover late fees that could have been avoided,” DeLuca said. “I will continue to fight to put Illinois taxpayers first.”