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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is the obligation of the Illinois General
3Assembly and the various executive agencies of State
4government to provide such public services as are necessary to
5ensure that every person in Illinois can maximize his or her
6own potential and to provide such services as are required to
7ensure that the most unfortunate among us can live in dignity
8and safety; and
 
9    WHEREAS, It is also the obligation of the Illinois General
10Assembly and the various executive agencies of State
11government to not unduly burden the taxpayers of the State by
12extracting any greater amount of tax revenue than is necessary
13to achieve those ends; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The budgeting process in Illinois all too often
15fails to examine the inefficiencies brought about by the
16existence of redundant and outdated programs; and
 
17    WHEREAS, State agencies may not be in compliance with
18adequate cost-control measures to provide efficient use of
19State appropriations, or such measures may be outdated or
20non-existent; and
 
21    WHEREAS, The failure to examine measures to control costs

 

 

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1leads to ever-increasing demands for revenue; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The taxpayers of Illinois are faced with high
3taxation that is hampering the development of business in the
4State and creating an exodus of productive, taxpaying citizens
5to other States, thus making it necessary to investigate ways
6by which Illinois government can reduce costs and yet fulfill
7its obligations in an efficient and cost-effective manner;
8therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
10HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
11SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the creation via
12legislation of the Illinois Commission on Fiscal
13Responsibility and Reform, whose purpose shall be to examine
14the extent to which current practices of the executive
15agencies either conform to or fall short of established laws,
16regulations, and best practices, and to determine the fiscal
17impact that the State realizes as a result of falling short of
18compliance with such practices; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That the Commission should conduct a private
20sector survey on cost control in State government and advise
21the Governor, the General Assembly, and the executive agency
22heads with respect to improving management practices and
23reducing costs; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That the heads of executive agencies should, to
2the extent permitted by law and in a timely manner, be required
3to provide to the Commission and its staff units such
4information, including that relating to the structure,
5organization, personnel and operations of the executive
6agencies, as may be required for carrying out the purposes of
7the Commission's duties; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That the Commission's recommendations should
9focus on the following areas: (1) Discretionary State
10spending, (2) Specific areas in which State agencies could be
11required to reduce expenditures, and (3) State budget and
12accounting practices leading to the establishment and
13enforcement of guidelines and procedures by which executive
14agencies must demand and confirm accountability from such
15stakeholders who may seek or be granted appropriations of
16State funds; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Commission on Fiscal
18Responsibility and Reform, as a body with responsibilities
19that cross over the chronological boundaries of this Illinois
20General Assembly, should be created by legislation; and be it
21further
 
22    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be

 

 

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1delivered to the Speaker of the House, the House Minority
2Leader, the President of the Senate, and the Senate Minority
3Leader.