Althoff Budget Transparency Bill Signed

A press release from State Senator Pam Althoff:

Measure sponsored by Althoff to work towards increasing government transparency and public accessibility signed into law

Pam Althoff

Pam Althoff

SPRINGFIELD, IL – A good government measure sponsored by State Senator Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) that aims to increase transparency and public accessibility has been signed into law.

Senate Bill 2106, signed by Governor Quinn on August 27, creates the Governmental Transparency Task Force that is charged with developing a plan to make the State of Illinois’ budgeting process the most transparent, publicly-accessible budgeting process in the nation.

Althoff has spearheaded several efforts to improve transparency and accessibility in the state’s budget process, sponsoring similar pieces of legislation that are currently awaiting legislative action.

Senate Bill 1907 and 2105 would require the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget to post the State of Illinois’ budget for the coming fiscal year and mandate the information used to craft that budget be placed on a publicly accessible internet website.

Senate Bill 1907 is being held in the Senate and Senate Bill 2105 passed the Senate but is being held in the House.

She said it is her hope that with the signing of Senate Bill 2106 and the creation of the Governmental Transparency Task Force, the ideas contained in Senate Bill 1907 and 2105 will be included in the Task Force’s plan and one day become a reality.

“These ideas are common-sense ways to increase transparency to the public in regards to our budget process,” Althoff said.

“There is no reason why we shouldn’t be putting up this information online for taxpayers to view when it is the taxpayer’s money that comprises the state budget. They have every right to see how their money is being used by the state. Hopefully this Task Force will agree and include that in their forthcoming report.”

The Task Force will be comprised of members from the Budgeting for Results Commission. The Director of Revenue, the Treasurer and the Comptroller may be consulted by the Task Force. The Task Force will study proposals to make the state budgeting process the most transparent, publicly-accessible budgeting process in the nation and report its findings to the Governor and General Assembly by no later than January 1, 2015.


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