HR0051LRB103 29375 MST 55764 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, In November 2020, the people of Illinois
3overwhelmingly voted "no" on a graduated income tax proposed
4by Governor JB Pritzker as a means to increase state revenue;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Illinois has undergone two income tax increases
7in the past decade, neither of which have provided a stable
8solution to the State's budget woes; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Certain elected officials actively worked for and
10succeeded in expanding state spending since the last tax
11increase was enacted in 2017, without any method to pay for the
12additional programs; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The Comptroller estimates that the State's
14current bill backlog is $4.77 billion, not including the $4.3
15billion in short-term and emergency borrowing liabilities that
16have to be repaid in the near future; and
 
17    WHEREAS, These certain members helped ensure that the
18General Assembly passed and the Governor signed an FY21 budget
19with an estimated $6.2 billion deficit; and
 
20    WHEREAS, The State is currently faced with over $140

 

 

HR0051- 2 -LRB103 29375 MST 55764 r

1billion in unfunded pension liabilities; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The voters' rejection of the failed graduated
3income tax proposal is further proof that citizens no longer
4trust government with more tax dollars; and
 
5    WHEREAS, With additional revenue items exhausted, it is
6time for elected officials in Illinois to find other places to
7save money; and
 
8    WHEREAS, A forensic audit is a thorough and evidentiary
9audit that can identify corrupt practices and wasteful
10spending that have occurred and provide the basis for
11prosecution of those who engaged in those practices; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Identifying waste, fraud, neglect, and abuse is a
13first step in restoring Illinois citizens' faith in
14government; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Forensic audit findings, coupled with agency cuts
16and efficiencies by the Governor, can make a meaningful dent
17in the State's structural deficit; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
19HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20the Auditor General is directed pursuant to Section 3-2 of the

 

 

HR0051- 3 -LRB103 29375 MST 55764 r

1Illinois State Auditing Act to conduct a forensic audit of all
2State spending, hiring, procurement, and contracts awarded
3from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2022; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this forensic
5audit as soon as possible and report the findings and
6recommendations upon completion in accordance with the
7Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That the Auditor General, upon finding any
9incident of suspected waste, fraud, neglect, or abuse, shall
10file a complaint to the Executive Inspector General or other
11appropriate Inspector General to be referred for further
12investigation; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
14delivered to the Auditor General and the Governor.