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* Last Friday, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a couple of bipartisan good-government bills into law aimed at cutting local government costs

One new law was sparked by the reporting of Daily Herald columnist Jake Griffin and would limit spending on travel for local officials and prohibit using taxpayer money for entertainment costs.

“Illinois has the highest property taxes in the nation,” state Rep. David McSweeney, a Barrington Hills Republican, said of the plan he sponsored. “We need to make sure our tax dollars are being used wisely and we need to reduce property taxes.”

Another new law signed Friday would require counties to write a report for state lawmakers about what local governments they make appointments for. The idea is to try to identify unnecessary local agencies.

“Through our bipartisan work, we have made DuPage County a leader in government consolidation,” state Sen. Tom Cullerton, a Villa Park Democrat, said of his plan. “We know the government needs to evolve with the needs of the people.”

* More from the Daily Herald editorial board

“Illinois has the highest property taxes in the nation,” state Rep. David McSweeney, a Barrington Hills Republican, said of the legislation he sponsored in the House and that Democrat Tom Cullerton of Villa Park sponsored in the Senate. “We need to make sure our tax dollars are being used wisely and we need to reduce property taxes.”

Oftentimes, investigations that reveal frivolous spending, malfeasance or out-and-out criminal ventures start out with the little things, such as restaurant receipts (meals and booze at the Waterleaf restaurant at College of DuPage), or a simple burglary (such as the one at the Watergate Hotel).

In the process, they provide a big help for the public to better manage its money.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:21 pm

Comments

  1. Oh dude, this is gonna cut into Romanik’s livelihood! This is bad thing for the Metro East “entertainment” community. s/

    Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:30 pm

  2. This “good government bill” no doubt includes state officials as well as locals, right?

    Comment by One of the 35 Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:33 pm

  3. Such small potatoes to look like something significant. Big money saved by cutting road building/infrastructure design/review requirements…c’mon man! This is another fine political gesture for headlines, but no real savings (aside from the small % of bad actors)…

    Comment by Old Muni Dog Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:35 pm

  4. Not that the intent is bad, but we’re talking drops in the ocean.

    Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:55 pm

  5. Why not follow the GSA regs on per diem expenses??? Why reinvent the wheel???

    http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100120

    Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:59 pm

  6. Rauner doing what he does best… signing a bill Friday afternoon to ensure no press coverage is given to one of his Democratic targets.

    Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:59 pm

  7. ===to ensure no press coverage is given to one of his Democratic targets. ===

    True, but he ain’t exactly a huge McSweeney fan, either.

    Just sayin…

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 3:01 pm

  8. ===True, but he ain’t exactly a huge McSweeney fan, either.===

    OMG, is there such a thing? Seriously.

    Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 3:05 pm

  9. - Anon221 - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 2:59 pm: -
    “Why not follow the GSA regs on per diem expenses??? Why reinvent the wheel???”

    Anon221, I agree with you.

    Comment by Mama Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 3:25 pm

  10. It appears that the GOP does not support “local control ” after all.

    Comment by Seymourkid Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 3:30 pm

  11. FWIW, the last time I checked, the GSA allowances for mileage, hotel, etc. were substantially higher than the State equivalents. I can’t even remember the last time the State per diem was raised.

    Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 5:30 pm

  12. This bill doesn’t apply to all local governments. Home rule units like Chicago and Cook County are not covered.

    Also, how bad is it that a state government that creates special districts and authorizes counties to make the appointments will now require the counties to tell the state government what special districts exist and make appointments to?

    Man, you cannot make this stuff up.

    Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 6:18 pm

  13. Doesn’t anyone see the hypocrisy here? If it’s good government why doesn’t it apply to state officials? Is it OK for state officials to waste money, but not local officials?

    Comment by One of the 35 Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 6:40 pm

  14. State per diems- https://www.illinois.gov/cms/Employees/travel/Pages/TravelReimbursement.aspx
    Regardless of what per diem rates are used, per diem restrictions should always be part of good government- at all levels.

    Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 9:56 pm

  15. Does anyone have the bill number on the travel and entertainment bill? I read the Daily Herald article but it is not shown there.

    Comment by Payback Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 11:06 pm

  16. Here’s the entertainment/expense Public Act signed on 7/22/16-

    http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4379&GAID=13&GA=99&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=93136&SessionID=88&SpecSess=

    Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:34 am

  17. If they really wanted to save money they would eliminate the township level of government.

    Or maybe merge the tollway and highway authorities.

    Comment by Red tower Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 6:40 am

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