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 While agencies are currently required to report this data annually to the comptroller, it is outdated by the time it is reported, preventing taxpayers and policymakers from having a clear understanding of the state’s debts.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.”

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.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, is calling on his colleagues in the General Assembly to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of legislation that would provide taxpayers with greater insight into Illinois’ unpaid bills and state debt.

“When Bruce Rauner became governor, Illinois was on a path to paying off its massive backlog of outstanding bills,” said Welch. “As a result of Rauner’s three-year budget crisis, unpaid bills have more than tripled, and some are still sitting in state agencies unaccounted for. Taxpayers will now have a better understanding of Illinois’ outstanding debt obligations.”

A recent report by the Associated Press found that state agencies 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.

Welch is a sponsor House Bill 3649, and worked with Democratic and Republican colleagues to unanimously override Rauner’s veto. State agencies are now required to report to the Illinois comptroller’s office on their monthly unpaid bill amount, along with additional interest that would be owed on those bills. Welch’s legislation is designed to provide a more accurate account of Illinois’ finances and begin to reign in the costs of state government and provide accountability to taxpayers.

“This will make Illinois government more accountable to its taxpayers, and it is my hope the Senate quickly votes on this to become law,” said Welch. “This is common-sense, bipartisan measure and I applaud members on both sides of the aisle for transcending partisan divides to pass this bill.”

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.”

JOLIET, Ill. – State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is urging lawmakers to override the governor’s veto of a measure that would make Illinois state finances more transparent by requiring agencies to disclose any bills that have not yet gone to the Office of the Illinois Comptroller.

“One of the most pressing challenges that the state faces right now is the growing mountain of past due bills,” Manley said. “Currently the Comptroller’s Office has a backlog of $14 billion, however, no one knows how many bills are sitting in state agencies waiting to be sent to the comptroller. This legislation would have ensured that all elected officials and the public would have a full understanding of the state’s fiscal condition.”

Gov. Rauner recently vetoed House Bill 3649, which would require 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. The governor reported he vetoed the measure because reporting these numbers monthly would be too hard for state agencies to manage.  By reforming how state agencies report their liabilities, Manley’s legislation would ensure that hard-earned, taxpayer dollars are protected from financial mismanagement.

“Everyone has a right to know what the state’s financial liabilities are and that requires making as much information about our finances public as possible,” Manley said. “Knowing exactly what bills are outstanding is critical when making decisions about cash flow. As a certified public accountant, I know that having open and transparent finances will help elected officials make better decisions in an effort to get Illinois back on track.”

For more information, please contact Manley’s constituent service office at 815-725-2741 or RepManley@gmail.com.

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – To increase government transparency and require more frequent debt disclosure by state agencies, state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is calling on legislators to override the governor’s attempt to block the bipartisan Debt Transparency Act.

“I am disappointed in the governor’s veto of a measure that would make Illinois government more transparent for the taxpayers,” said Stuart. “By requiring state agencies to disclose their overdue bills, late payments and penalties they hold each month, the Debt Transparency Act alerts taxpayers and lawmakers to exactly how much debt the state owes and how much that debt will cost.”

The Debt Transparency Act would require state agencies to disclose the bills they are holding each month, along with the estimated amount of late payment interest penalties that will be paid on the bills. Agencies already have the ability to compile and report data and are required to report annually to the State Comptroller, but the data is outdated by the time it is reported, preventing taxpayers and policymakers from having a clear understanding of the state’s debts.

By requiring more frequent reporting and greater transparency, Stuart’s House Bill 3649 gives taxpayers a clearer picture of how their money is spent, and would allow them to know the true extent of the state’s debt, instead of being kept in the dark by the governor. In addition to receiving bipartisan support in the legislature, the bill is listed by the Better Government Association as one of their “15 good government reforms.”

“Transparency and accountability cross all party lines and serve the best interest of taxpayers,” Stuart continued. “I was a co-sponsor of the Debt Transparency Act to give taxpayers all the information they deserve and ensure that the state’s debts aren’t costing taxpayers more in the long run.”

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – To increase government transparency and require more frequent debt disclosure by state agencies, state Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, is calling on legislators to override the governor’s attempt to block the bipartisan Debt Transparency Act.

“When I took office earlier this summer, I made a promise to my constituents to do my part to clean up state government and tackle the state’s problems head-on,” said Connor. “The governor’s veto is a step in the wrong direction. We need initiatives like the Debt Transparency Act to increase transparency in state government and shed light on the state’s debts, which have tripled during the governor’s tenure.”

The Debt Transparency Act requires state agencies to disclose the bills they are holding each month, along with the estimated amount of late payment interest penalties that will be paid on the bills, informing taxpayers and lawmakers of exactly how much debt the state owes and how much that debt will cost taxpayers. 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.

By requiring more frequent reporting and greater transparency, House Bill 3649 gives taxpayers a clearer picture of how their money is spent, and would allow them to know the true extent of the state’s debt. In addition to receiving bipartisan support in the legislature, the bill is listed by the Better Government Association as one of their “15 good government reforms.”

“I urge my colleagues to join me in standing with taxpayers and voting to override the governor’s veto of the Debt Transparency Act,” Connor added. “This is a commonsense good government measure that will not only provide greater transparency, but also give state officials and policymakers the information needed to meaningfully reduce the backlog of bills and pay down the state’s debts.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As Illinois’ estimated bill backlog sits at a record $14.3 billion, state Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, is calling on Gov. Rauner to sign legislation that would reform how state agencies manage their finances and reveal the full extent of the state’s debt obligations.

“Now that Illinois has an honest, balanced budget in place, it’s essential that legislators and most importantly, taxpayers know how much is actually owed to schools, social service organizations, small business owners and others across the state,” Crespo said. “During the last two and half years, Illinois’ bill backlog has more than tripled, and this legislation would bring much needed transparency and accountability to state government.”

Crespo’s House Bill 3649 would 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. By reforming how state agencies report their liabilities, Crespo’s legislation would ensure that taxpayers do not end up paying more than they already have because of financial mismanagement.

“The Debt Transparency Act would give the Governor’s Office, legislators, the media and most importantly the taxpayers of Illinois a much clearer picture of the state’s finances and the amount owed on the state’s unpaid bills,” said State Comptroller Susana Mendoza. “We hope Governor Rauner follows the advice of his fellow Republicans and Democrats and signs the bill.”

House Bill 3649 passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support at the end of the spring legislative session, and has been sitting on the governor’s desk for 25 days awaiting his consideration.