D’Amico Calls on Republicans to Override Governor’s Veto of Debt Transparency Measure

CHICAGO – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is urging members of the Illinois General Assembly to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of a proposal to require more transparent and open reporting of spending at state agencies.

“Shining a brighter light on how the state is spending taxpayer dollars is not something that should be a partisan issue,” D’Amico said. “Under the governor’s watch the backlog of bills increased more than three-fold, such a staggering amount that it made it difficult for the legislature and taxpayers to keep track of how much each agency owed.”

The state’s unpaid bill backlog more than tripled in the past two years since Gov. Rauner was elected, reaching a record high point of more than $15 billion. The D’Amico-backed House Bill 3649, the Debt Transparency Act, is an initiative of Comptroller Susana Mendoza and would require state agencies to disclose bills they are holding to the Comptroller monthly, as well as estimate the amount of late payment interest penalties that will be paid on those liabilities.

According to the Comptroller’s Office, liabilities are not being reported quickly enough, and as a result, Illinois owes at least $800 million in penalty fees on the state’s overdue bills. By reforming how state agencies report their liabilities, D’Amico’s legislation would ensure that hard-earned, taxpayer dollars are protected from financial mismanagement

“The governor’s veto of this bipartisan bill is absolutely unacceptable,” D’Amico said. “I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to stand with Illinois taxpayers and vote to override the governor’s veto.”