SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, issued the following statement after the Governor Rauner’s State of the State Address:

“For three years, the governor has time and time again denied responsibility, and blamed everyone else but himself for his inability to work across the aisle. It took Democrats and Republicans to come together—despite the governor’s objections—to pass a balanced budget that puts Illinois back on the right track.

“The governor’s points on fiscal discipline were nothing more than empty political rhetoric because when it comes down to it what you do says a whole lot more than what you say. Governor Rauner vetoed commonsense legislation which has now uncovered that his administration accrued over $2 billion in unauthorized debt, and a recent audit uncovered that his administration cannot account for $7.11 billion in Medicaid spending.

“It’s time for Governor Rauner to recognize that he is in charge, and start acting like it. Next month, when he presents his budget proposal to the General Assembly, he must lay out a plan to address how the state is going to deal with the billions of dollars in lost opportunity. But if he chooses to continue down his path of destruction, the General Assembly must move forward without him and continue restoring financial stability to our state.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, that transforms the way state agencies manage their finances and reveals the full extent of the state’s debt obligations has gone into effect as of Jan. 1, 2018.

“As policymakers, we need up-to-date financial information when making decisions that will affect the lives of millions of people,” Crespo said. “Under the governor’s watch, the backlog of unpaid bills increased to over $15 billion. The Debt Transparency Act is a necessary step in the right direction as we work to restore stability to the state’s finances.”

Crespo’s House Bill 3649 will require agencies to report monthly to the Comptroller the liabilities they are holding, plus an 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. Crespo’s House Bill 3649 was rated as the Better Government Association’s top rated reform of the year.

“The governor’s veto of this legislation communicated to taxpayers that in contrast to popular belief, he’s actually opposed to transparent, fiscally responsible government,” Crespo said. “Taxpayers deserve better, so I am thankful for the overwhelming bipartisan support that helped enact this crucial legislation into law.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In an attempt to increase government transparency and save taxpayer dollars, state Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago, advanced the Debt Transparency Act with a unanimous, bipartisan override of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the bill.

“Because Illinois is facing unprecedented financial challenges, fiscal accountability is important now more than ever,” Hurley said. “By holding state agencies accountable, taxpayers will have a clearer picture of the state’s finances. Our unanimous override of Gov. Rauner’s veto was a bipartisan effort to bring more transparency to the taxpayers of Illinois.”

Hurley’s House Bill 3649, also known as the Debt Transparency Act, provides taxpayers with a clearer picture of how taxpayer 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 state comptroller, it is outdated by the time it is reported, preventing taxpayers and policymakers from having a clear understanding of the state’s debts. Hurley is committed to finding new ways to protect taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars.

“Working families are already struggling to get by, and we should be making sure that their tax dollars are being spent responsibly,” Hurley said. “I will continue fighting to ensure that Illinois is more transparent with its finances.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to reports that Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration has failed to submit billions of dollars in bills for payment, forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for late payment penalties, state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, voted to override the governor’s veto of bipartisan legislation that will give taxpayers a more transparent account of state finances.

“Government operates the best when it is done in a fair and transparent manner,” Moylan said. “Governor Rauner’s veto of the Debt Transparency Act was a desperate attempt by him to hide the damage his budget crisis hurt our state.”

Moylan sponsored the Debt Transparency Act, House Bill 3649, which requires state agencies to report monthly to the comptroller the liabilities they are holding, plus an estimate of the amount of late interest penalties that will be paid on those bills, giving taxpayers a clear look at how their tax dollars are being managed. A recent report by the Associated Press found that state agencies have failed to submit $7.5 billion in bills for payment, expanding the state’s debt and incurring additional late-payment penalties.

Rauner vetoed the measure, refusing to reveal the full extent of state debt accrued as a result of his budget crisis. Moylan joined with Democrats and Republicans to override the governor’s veto and ensure that taxpayers do not end up paying more than they already have because of financial mismanagement.

“Illinois families are required to pay their bills on time and government should be no different,” Moylan said. “This legislation will help our state save money and use these savings to further pay down our debt.”

For more information about this issue, please contact Moylan’s full-time constituent office at 847-635-6821 or email StateRepMoylan@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, joined legislators on both sides of the aisle Wednesday to override the governor’s veto of the Debt Transparency Act and provide a more accurate accounting of the state’s finances for lawmakers and the public.

“As a certified public accountant, I understand that it is essential for those making decisions about how the state will allocate taxpayer dollars to be armed with all of the facts,” Manley said. “None of us could successfully manage our personal finances without knowing all the details. I doubt that our governor made businesses decisions without all the facts, so I’m unsure why he’d want the state to make haphazard or irresponsible decisions. Our Comptroller’s office can’t be expected to make decisions that impact our budget without fully understanding how much money we owe to businesses and social services. All of these details must be made available so that good decisions can be made.”

A recent report by the Associated Press found that state agencies have failed to submit $7.5 billion in bills for payment, incurring additional late-payment penalties. This is half of the over $15 billion in unpaid bills the comptroller is trying to pay.

The Debt Transparency Act will require state agencies to report monthly to the comptroller the liabilities they are holding and estimate all late interest penalties that will be incurred. The measure was sent to Gov. Rauner with bipartisan support, but was vetoed. The governor insisted that providing this accounting was too burdensome for government agencies, but his veto was overridden Wednesday with both Republicans and Democrats voting in support.

“Getting the state’s finances back on the right track should not be partisan issue,” Manley said. “Regardless of the political divisions that the governor has tried repeatedly to create, I am pleased to see that lawmakers agree and are finding to try to find ways to work together and do what is in the best interest of all of the communities we serve.”

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 Reps. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, and Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora, voted on Wednesday to override the governor’s veto of legislation designed to increase transparency and ensure that bills are paid on time.

“As a Chief Co-sponsor of the Debt Transparency Act, I know it will help us shine a light on our state’s outstanding debt and prevent government bureaucrats from hiding bills for months,” said Kifowit, Vice Chairperson of a key budget committee. “Gov. Rauner vetoed this measure because he’s misleading the public about the damage his budget crisis has done to our state. Sound financial policy like this, which received overwhelming bi-partisan and public support, is how the State of Illinois should work.”

Kifowit was a Chief Co-sponsor and Chapa LaVia co-sponsored House Bill 3649 and supported its initial passage out of the House, which requires state agencies to report monthly to the comptroller the liabilities they are holding, plus an 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.

“With this law in place, the governor and his allies will no longer be able to withhold important state financial information, relying on outdated annual reporting data,” Chapa LaVia said. “He should have signed this into law to begin with for the sake of honesty and accountability to taxpayers.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, issued the following statement after the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously voted to override Rauner’s veto of bipartisan legislation aimed at improving how state agencies report their finances:

“Illinois still faces financial challenges each day, but there is no excuse to keep our constituents in the dark about the state’s finances. The Debt Transparency Act will provide the taxpayers of Illinois with a much clearer picture about how much the state owes venders, schools and non-profits each month. Earlier today, both Democrats and Republicans worked together to unanimously override the governor’s veto of this common-sense bill.

“The House acted to inform people how much state agencies owe and their accompanying interest payments, giving Comptroller Mendoza and the General Assembly the tools needed to make necessary plans for the state. After nearly three years of a budget crisis that tripled the state’s debt, Illinois taxpayers are one step closer to having a more transparent government.

“This bill was one of the Better Government Association’s top rated measures to originate from the Illinois House of Representatives, and I sincerely hope the Illinois Senate wastes no time in following our lead. House Bill 3649 will pave the way for legislators to make decisions that spend tax dollars responsibly and efficiently.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, issued the following statement after the House voted unanimously to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the bipartisan Debt Transparency Act:

“Gov. Bruce Rauner often talks about the need for good government reforms, yet when he was presented with the Better Government Association’s top rated reform of the year, he rejected it. His veto communicated to taxpayers that in contrast to popular belief, he’s actually opposed to transparent, fiscally responsible government.

“As policymakers, we need up-to-date financial information when making decisions that will affect the lives of millions of people. So today, members from both sides of the aisle came together and voted to override the governor’s reckless and ill-advised veto.

“Our state is facing unprecedented fiscal challenges. Gov. Rauner’s inability to compromise, left Illinois’ finances in turmoil, increasing the backlog of unpaid bills to $15.9 billion. The Debt Transparency Act is a necessary step in the right direction as we work to restore stability to the state’s finances.”

State Rep. Fred Crespo was the Chief Sponsor of House Bill 3649.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to reports that Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration has waiting failed to submit billions of dollars in bills for payment, forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for late payment penalties, state Rep. Larry Walsh, D-Joliet, voted to override the governor’s veto of bipartisan legislation that will give taxpayers a more transparent account of state finances.

“Governor Rauner’s veto of this bipartisan measure was a desperation tactic to prevent taxpayers from learning the truth about how much his budget crisis cost our state,” Walsh said. “By requiring the administration to report debt obligations every month, we can have an up-to-date picture of how much we owe and respond accordingly.”

Walsh sponsored the Debt Transparency Act, House Bill 3649, which requires state agencies to report monthly to the comptroller the liabilities they are holding, plus an estimate of the amount of late interest penalties that will be paid on those bills, giving taxpayers a clear look at how their tax dollars are being managed. A recent report by the Associated Press found that state agencies have failed to submit $7.5 billion in bills for payment, expanding the state’s debt and incurring additional late-payment penalties.

Rauner vetoed the measure, refusing to reveal the full extent of state debt accrued as a result of his budget crisis. Walsh joined with Democrats and Republicans to override the governor’s veto and ensure that taxpayers do not end up paying more than they already have because of financial mismanagement.

“By overriding the governor’s veto of the Debt Transparency Act, Democrats and Republicans joined together about sending a clear and loud message that we must be more open and transparent in how we govern,” Walsh said. “I look forward to working in partnership with members on both sides of aisle as we take steps to reduce our debt, invest in education, and help create good-paying jobs.”

GRAYSLAKE – State Representative Sam Yingling is calling on members of the General Assembly on both sides of the aisle to come together to override Governor Rauner’s veto of the Debt Transparency Act.

Since Bruce Rauner took office, the backlog of unpaid bills has ballooned to nearly $16 billion. The bi-partisan Debt Transparency Act requires Rauner’s administration to be transparent and accountable to taxpayers by disclosing the full extent of unpaid bills each month.

“Given the extreme damage Bruce Rauner has done to our state, it’s absurd for him to argue that his administration should not be forced to be transparent and accountable to the taxpayers,” said Yingling.  “The General Assembly must override Rauner’s veto to ensure the Governor’s agencies cannot keep additional unpaid bills secret through bookkeeping tricks.”

The General Assembly will have an opportunity to override the Governor’s veto during the upcoming veto session this fall.