Hoffman Votes in Support of Financial Transparency

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to reports that Gov. Bruce Rauner’s state agencies are waiting months to report debt obligations to the Illinois Comptroller’s office, state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, recently voted to override the governor’s veto of bipartisan legislation that will give taxpayers a more transparent account of state finances and help ensure that bills are paid on time.

“The accounting practices of Governor Rauner’s agencies were meant to keep the public in the dark and hide bills that were being racked up at state agencies,” Hoffman said. “This led to an increased backlog of bills that incurred an even greater cost to taxpayers because of late-payment fees.”

Hoffman cosponsored and voted to override the governor’s veto of House Bill 3649, the Debt Transparency Act, which requires state agencies to report monthly to the comptroller the liabilities they are holding. Additionally, the measure requires agencies to note their estimate of the amount of late interest penalties that will be paid on those bills. According to the comptroller’s office, liabilities are not being reported quickly enough, and as a result, millions of dollars in penalty fees are accruing on the state’s overdue bills. By reforming how state agencies report their liabilities, this legislation would ensure that taxpayers do not end up paying more than they already have because of financial mismanagement.

Legislators in the House voted 112-0 to override the governor’s veto of the legislation.

“I voted along with every Democrat and Republican in the House to override the governor’s veto of this legislation that helps create a more open and efficient government in Illinois,” Hoffman said. “Shining a brighter light on how the state is spending taxpayer dollars is not something that should be a partisan issue. I hope the governor understands that now.”