State Representative Steve Reick (R-Woodstock), along with
State Representatives Dan Swanson (R-Alpha), Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore), Amy
Grant (R-Wheaton) and Daniel Ugaste (R-Geneva), are urging lawmakers to authorize
a private sector “deep dive” into state agency spending so that opportunities
for cost savings and greater efficiencies can be identified.
“Rooting out waste, fraud and abuse needs to be more than a
catch-phrase in Springfield,” said Reick, Chief Sponsor of HJR06 and HB275. “Everyone
acknowledges that inefficiencies plague our state government, and it’s time for
us to actually do something about it. I applaud our new Governor for taking
executive action requiring agencies to examine their spending; it’s a great
start in trying to regain the trust of the people of Illinois. I offer these
bills as a sign of good faith. These bills are a bipartisan attempt to help him
with the task of providing optimal government services in this state as efficiently as possible.”
Reick’s HJR06
and HB275
are modeled after President Ronald Reagan’s 1982 executive order calling for a
private sector study on cost control, which resulted in the 1984 ‘Grace
Commission’ report. That audit led to 2,487 separate recommendations for
streamlining government agencies in ways that would have saved hundreds of
billions. “By identifying inefficiencies, redundancies and insufficient control
over the operations of state agencies which result in inadequate services being
provided at too high a cost, we can make adjustments and provide taxpayers with
the value they deserve,” Reick said.
Chief Co-Sponsor Dan Swanson said
that with the seating of a new administration, the timing is perfect for this
type of audit. “The timing is right with a new Governor and newly appointed
Directors to establish controls and hold State agencies accountable to gain
efficiencies for Illinois’ taxpayers,” Swanson said. “A common practice in
the military is for a new leader coming into their position to review the most
current inspection reports to find deficiencies or areas of concern. This
practice helped the leader establish priorities for building a cohesive
organization,” said Swanson, a retired Lieutenant Colonel. “I ask Governor
Pritzker to review the Auditor General's reports, as many are revealing a lack
of controls and best practices. I encourage him to use the reports as a
tool to make reforms and achieve cost savings and efficiencies for Illinois’
overburdened taxpayers.”
Specifically, HJR06
provides the legislative intent for the establishment of the Commission and
points to the State’s obligation to provide public services necessary to ensure
that Illinoisans can live in dignity and safety. HB275
creates the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Act. The panel would
consist of 18 voting members, including three members each appointed by the
House Speaker, House Minority Leader, Senate President and Senate Minority
Leader, and six members appointed by the Governor with not more than four
members from the same political party. Like the Grace Commission, this
Commission would be privately funded by soliciting contributions to be made to
a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as Commission members would not be
paid, and results would be presented to the Governor and the General Assembly
by October 1, 2020.
“States like Indiana and
Virginia have successfully implemented accountability mechanisms to ensure that
state agencies are operated in a cost-efficient and transparent manner,” said
Keicher, a Chief Co-Sponsor of the measures. “With the legislation we are
introducing today, Illinois can take a much-needed step in that direction.”
“The Auditor General’s continued
findings of weak internal controls at state agencies are troubling,” said
Representative Grant, a Chief Co-Sponsor of the bills. “There are Illinoisans
who truly rely on the safety net government is supposed to provide, and when
public funds are misused or spent irresponsibly, that safety net is
threatened.”
“One of my primary goals is to
save the taxpayers money by making State government more efficient,” added Representative
Ugaste, another Chief Co-Sponsor of the legislation. “Passage of these
bills would be a very good first step in that effort. While government can
never be run exactly the same way as a business; the services government needs
to provide just will not allow it; we must do a better job at being as
efficient as we can in running government and in turn, with the taxpayers'
money. Our residents are in need of tax savings and relief whenever and
wherever we can provide it.”
Click here to view a press conference about the legislation.
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