A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney:
McSweeney-Cullerton Measure to Curb Local Government Spending Headed to the Governor
Springfield, IL… In a win for taxpayers, a bill to require better accounting for local government expenditures has passed both legislative chambers, according to Representative David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills), the House sponsor of the legislation.
House Bill 4379 creates the Local Government Travel Expense Control Act, which prohibits entertainment expenses and limits expenses for travel, meals and lodging for local officials.
David McSweeney
The bill is designed to prevent additional wasteful expenditures by some community colleges, school districts and other local governments.
“Illinois property taxes are too high and we need to reduce them. This legislation is meant to help reduce local expenditures,” McSweeney said.
HB 4379 requires local governments to put in writing what travel, meal, and lodging expenses are allowed, standardize documentation forms, and establish maximum allowable reimbursements. It further requires a roll call vote to approve such expenses for local officials.
HB4379 passed the Senate today by a vote of 54-0 and is sponsored by Senator Thomas Cullerton (D-Villa Park).
Well this is a pretty big step in the right direction.
My reading of this bill tells me nothing will change other then local governments will need to hire more staff to process the additional paper work.
As stated above:
Whoopeee!
Big deal!
Just more paper work!
McSweeney is a reformer.
Nothing new about that.
Does the State Assembly follow the same rules?
State legislators get paid a flat rate for each legislative day.
If there is a reception with enough food for dinner or a lobbyist takes then out for a meal, legislators do not get less money.
Any money not spent from the”per diem” they get to keep and don’t have to pay taxes on it.
My guess is that Congress passed such a law in order to encourage state legislators not to run for Congress.
Super important to stop that kind of spending when it clearly makes up 0.00000000002% of any tax bill.
Because “every little bit counts” say people who are doing marginal things, all of the time.