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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2009
Coladipietro Urges Speaker Madigan to
Schedule Vote on Economic Reform
Citizens and Third Party Groups Demand Action
on Spending and Accountability Measures
 SPRINGFIELD
– State Representative Franco Coladipietro (R-Bloomingdale)
along with his House Republican colleagues and the Illinois
Policy Institute are urging Speaker Madigan to schedule a
vote on a comprehensive economic agenda that would rein in
spending and inject transparency and accountability into the
state budget.
“With the Democrat leaders in this state looking to raise
taxes on everything from your income to purchasing gasoline,
it’s imperative that the state first incorporate major
reforms to rein in spending and make the leaders accountable
for every tax dollar spent,” said Rep. Coladipietro. “It’s
completely unacceptable and inexcusable for the Democrats to
propose a budget that increases spending by 6.6% and
increases the income tax on the working class families by
50%.”
“Recently, thousands of frustrated taxpayers participated in
tax day tea parties across the state demanding transparency,
accountability and curtailing runway spending in our state,”
said House Republican Leader Tom Cross. “A vote on the
economic reform agenda would send a message to those
taxpayers that Springfield is listening.”
On March 11, House Republicans and the Illinois Policy
Institute announced a four point economic reform agenda that
would increase accountability and performance from state
programs, responsible state spending and holding the line on
taxes.
“Over the last six years, we have seen state spending grow
by over $6 billion,” said Cross. “We need to implement some
accountability and responsibility to begin holding the line
on both taxes and spending.”
“This economic reform agenda represents the most
comprehensive attempt to provide Illinois taxpayers and
businesses relief from the lack of accountability and
runaway spending that has become commonplace in our state,”
said John Tillman, CEO, Illinois Policy Institute. “The
failed policies of increased spending and higher taxes have
led us to one of the most inefficient and worst performing
economies in the nation, and with every passing day the
leaders in Springfield continue to fail us.”
A vote on the following four point economic reform agenda
will be crucial in ensuring the transparency, and
accountability of the government while simultaneously
eliminating its waste, fraud, and abuse of the state budget.
Currently, only one bill from the package has even been
assigned to a committee hearing (HJR 19-Stimulus Watch).
Establish an Illinois Sunshine Commission – In 2007,
the Auditor General issued a report indicating that the
State of Illinois “…does not have a comprehensive,
consistent inventory of programs” it funds on a daily basis.
This report reveals that the state government is so
unorganized and inefficient that a roster of state programs
does not exist. The Sunshine Act (HB 4134) will create an
independent commission of business leaders that will make
specific recommendations to consolidate or eliminate
duplicative or ineffective programs. The General Assembly
must vote up or down on the total recommendation and is
modeled on the very successful Base Realignment and Closing
Commission that worked so well to scale down the Department
of Defense.
Enact “Pay As You Go” Spending - HB 3189 (PAYGO)
requires elected officials to set priorities and make hard
choices on what spending programs should go forward and
which ones should be discontinued. To add a new spending
program, one must offset that spending by eliminating an
existing program to “pay” for the proposal. Every day,
Illinois families have to balance their spending decisions
so should the state government.
Supermajority vote to raise taxes and fees - HRJCA 28
requires a 3/5 supermajority vote on any legislation that
would raise taxes or fees on Illinois families or
businesses. Since 1998, state spending is up 45% (inflation
adjusted to 2008 dollars) while population is only up 4%. In
simple terms, our state government now spends $4,700 per
person while in 1998 spent $3,200 per person.
The Stimulus Watch Act - HJR 19 requires that the
Governor cannot use any funds from the federal stimulus
package unless the program is created and appropriated by
the General Assembly. Further, any new programs begun as
part of stimulus funding must sunset when stimulus funds are
no longer available. This Act will prevent excessive upward
pressure on spending when future revenue sources are
uncertain or unavailable.
“This package of bills is common sense. It makes government
open and transparent to the taxpayer and more importantly it
reigns in the state’s out of control spending,” said Rep.
Coladipietro. “In this current economic climate, the worst
thing the state can do is try and balance the budget on the
backs of the working class.”
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