A press release from newly-appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney:
Gaffney’s Mission: “Budgeting for Results”
WAUCONDA – In recognition of his vast expertise on state budget issues and commitment to true fiscal discipline, State Representative Kent Gaffney (R-Lake Barrington) has been appointed by Governor Pat Quinn to serve on the state’s new “Budgeting for Results” Commission, Gaffney’s office announced today.
Kent Gaffney
“I am honored to accept this appointment and eager to begin the work ahead of us,” Rep. Gaffney said. “It’s no mystery that Illinois has been headed down a dangerous path of reckless spending and misplaced priorities for a number of years.
“What’s needed now is to plan for tomorrow with a firm commitment to the proven conservative budget principles of identifying priorities and spending not a penny more.”
“Together I know we can restore the economic engine of Illinois’ small businesses and entrepreneurs who create jobs and opportunity in our state,” Gaffney added.
“First and foremost, we are going to overhaul Illinois’ spending habits and remove the barriers to economic growth.”
The Budgeting for Results Commission is comprised of 14 members; including
- Lt. Governor Sheila Simon,
- three members each from the Illinois House and Senate, and s
- even representatives from the civic, business, finance, and education community.
The Commission has been established to advise the Governor in setting annual outcomes and goals with regard to state spending, including a timeline for achieving each.
The Commission will hold at least 2 public meetings during each fiscal year, with one meeting each in Chicago and Springfield, respectively.
The Commission is required to submit a report on November 1 of each year, beginning this fall, with specific recommendations on the appropriate outcomes and goals for state spending in the subsequent fiscal year’s budget.
The report will be published on the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget’s website for public review.
In its report, the commission will propose a percentage of the total budget to be assigned to each proposed outcome and goal in addition to reviewing existing mandated expenditures and making recommendations for the termination of those which are unnecessary.
Prior to taking office as the new State Representative for the 52nd District in July, Rep. Gaffney served as Appropriations Director for the Illinois House Republican Caucus for ten years, where he aided in developing conservative fiscal policy positions and spent over a decade negotiating the State’s budget with three governors and leaders from the other legislative caucuses.