HJ0076 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0076 LRB100 13851 MST 28574 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois Legislature operates the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA), the bipartisan fiscal forecasting arm of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, During the fiscal situation that began with the worldwide economic downturn of 2008-09, the work of COGFA has become increasingly vital as it has provided nonpolitical guidance to policymakers in and out of the Illinois General Assembly on the somber trends facing the State and its revenues; and

WHEREAS, During this challenging time, the Illinois General Assembly and the 12 legislative members of the Commission have been fortunate to have the services of COGFA's longtime Executive Director, Dan Long; and

WHEREAS, Dan Long graduated from the University of Illinois in 1975 and immediately began working for the office of Illinois State Comptroller, George W. Lindberg; the office of Comptroller was created by election in 1972 following ratification of the Constitution of 1970; when Dan started work for the State of Illinois, our State's new constitutional fiscal structure was less than two and a half years old; and

WHEREAS, After more than 40 years, Dan Long has seen this fiscal structure from almost literally every angle, including that of Chief Fiscal Officer in the Executive Office of Governor James R. Thompson, executive rank in several code departments (the former Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, now DCEO, and the Department of Central Management Services (CMS)), and executive rank on the legislative staff of Illinois House Republican Leader and House Speaker Lee A. Daniels; and

WHEREAS, In February of 2001, Dan Long was appointed Executive Director of the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission, the legislative support arm that was renamed COGFA in the 2004 budget implementation (BIMP) bill; and

WHEREAS, Under law, a key statutory duty of COGFA's permanent staff is to work with the 12 legislative members of the Commission to provide the General Assembly and its members with "the most reliable and authoritative information available concerning economic developments and trends in this State and the operations of State Government"; and

WHEREAS, Soon after Dan Long took over at COGFA in early 2001, these economic developments and trends turned negative for Illinois, negative in real terms during all too many of these years and negative in relation to the other 49 U.S. states in almost every year of the past 16; during this period of time, Dan's consummate professionalism, low-key personality, and prompt responses to legislators' inquiries won him the respect of almost every member of the Illinois General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, It is easy to be popular when one is the bearer of good news, but to be respected when one is the bearer of bad news is a sign of skill that deserves to be appreciated and remembered for a long time to come; and

WHEREAS, After 38 years working for the State of Illinois and after almost 42 years in public sector-related service, and much to the regret of the members of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability and to the members of the General Assembly as a whole, Dan Long has announced his retirement effective July 31, 2017; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we thank Dan Long for his almost four decades of public service, culminating in his tenure of more than 16 years as the Executive Director of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we mention and praise the role of Dan Long, and COGFA's permanent staff, in providing guidance to the Illinois General Assembly during the challenging fiscal climate that has marked the history of Illinois since the events of 2001; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we acknowledge the essential role of bipartisan support service agencies to the life of the Illinois General Assembly, and praise Dan Long and COGFA's permanent staff in their rapid responses to legislative members of both chambers and both parties as they have searched for data and guidance to meet these challenges; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we wish Dan Long a full life upon his retirement, with the support of his friends, children, and family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the conference room used by staff to brief members of COGFA at Room 703, Stratton Office Building, Springfield, is renamed and shall be known as the "Dan Long Conference Room"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dan Long, Executive Director of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, as a sign of our deep respect for his public service.