Mike Tryon Pork Search Bill Passes Pork Finder, Plus More

Crystal Lake State Rep. Mike Tryon passed House Bill 4765 this week.

118-0.

That’s everybody voting for it.

That probably means it’s not objectionable, but, considering the Democrats control everything, what bill sponsored by a Republican that is controversial is likely to pass?

What’s the bill do?

It requires the Department of Central Management Services to maintain a web site called the “Illinois Accountability Portal.”

It’s a short bill, so I’ll just reprint it below:

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 405-335 as follows:

(20 ILCS 405/405-335 new)

Sec. 405-335. Illinois Accountability Portal. To establish and maintain a website, known as the Illinois Accountability Portal, with a full-time webmaster. The website shall provide direct access to each of the following:

(1) A database of all current State employees and individual consultants, sorted separately by name, agency, and position title, listing for each their current pay rate and year-to-date pay.

(2) A database of all current State expenditures, sorted separately by agency, category, customer, and Representative District.

(3) A database of all current State tax credits, sorted separately by tax credit category, customer, and Representative District.

(4) A database of all revocations and suspensions of State occupation and use tax certificates of registration and all revocations and suspensions of State professional licenses, sorted separately by name, geographic location, and certificate of registration number or license number, as applicable. Professional license revocations and suspensions shall be posted only if resulting from a failure to pay taxes, license fees, or child support.

(5) A database of all current State contracts, sorted separately by contractor name, awarding officer or agency, contract value, and goods or services provided.

It sounds a bit like Republican United States Senator Tom Coburn’s bill which Barack Obama got passed in Washington to track pork.

On, almost forgot. They call such line items “earmarks” in Washington.

In Springfield they are called “member initiatives”…like the $250,000 I got for Home of the Sparrow in the late 1990’s to buy a home in Crystal Lake. (So, Crystal Lakers, you can help out without even leaving home.)

Locally, State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) jointly sponsored the bill. Mark Beaubien (R-Barrington Hills) and Ron Wait (R-Belvidere) were among the co-sponsors.

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The photo of State Rep. Jack Franks on the left talking to State Rep. Mike Tryon on the right was taken at the budget hearing the two, plus State Senator Pam Althoff, held at McHenry County College on March 19th. The pig’s snout was taken south of the Wisconsin border town where House Speaker Mike Madigan sometimes takes his granddaughter to lunch. The waitresses refer to him as “that Illinois state representative,” not “Speaker.”


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