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* This is what happens when ignorance rules the roost at the state’s largest newspaper. Today’s Tribune editorial lauds the House Republicans for proposing a series of reforms…
The state would move to a performance-based budgeting process, requiring state agencies to defend their requests based on how effectively they’d spent the previous year’s funding.
This idea was actually signed into law on July 1st. A member of the Tribune editorial board was told back in May that this bill was in the hopper. The bill’s original sponsor even sent the Tribune an op-ed in May which the paper never published. From that op-ed…
Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) gives us the chance to change the rules of the Illinois budget game. Also known as “Results Budgeting,” BFO starts with identifying what revenue is actually available and defining spending priorities (for example, job creation, education, healthcare, transportation, public safety). It then requires measurable outcomes for money spent and encourages creative ways of achieving these goals within the limited resources available.
Recently adopted by The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) as a “recommended practice,” BFO allows taxpayers to be better informed and to get a better return on their investment in Illinois government. It also will ensure greater accountability and transparency in the budget process by requiring annual reports on results achieved from dollars spent. This will give us the necessary information to cut, eliminate or reform programs that are not producing in the future.
Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke introduced BFO in 2002 when his state faced a $2.5 billion shortfall in its budget. The state of Washington’s fiscal situation turned around so dramatically after implementing this initiative that many other states, municipalities and other levels of government converted to this budgeting method and realized immediate results and cost savings. We want Illinois to be the next success story.
You can read the budgeting for outcomes (which is also called performance based budgeting) language by clicking here…
In addition, the amounts recommended by the Governor for appropriation shall take into account each State agency’s effectiveness in achieving its prioritized goals for the previous fiscal year, as set forth in Section 50-25 of this Law, giving priority to agencies and programs that have demonstrated a focus on the prevention of waste and the maximum yield from resources.
Back to the Tribune…
[Under the House Republican reforms] the Appropriations Committee would monitor and adjust spending year-round.
From the new law…
Appropriations may be adjusted during the fiscal year by means of one or more supplemental appropriation bills if any State agency either fails to meet or exceeds the goals set forth in Section 50-25 of this Law.
This is also extremely helpful…
For fiscal year 2012 and thereafter, [the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall] develop a 3-year budget forecast for the State, including opportunities and threats concerning anticipated revenues and expenditures, with an appropriate level of detail.
* More Tribune ignorance about the proposed HGOP reforms…
It takes a unanimous vote of the House to override the committee, impossible by definition. Republicans say they’d change that to a three-fifths vote. The idea is to stop party leaders from setting the state agenda unilaterally; an added plus is that it would strip lawmakers of their favorite excuse for enabling the status quo. They’d all vote for reform, they insist, if only they had a chance to vote. The Republicans’ plan would empower them to demand that chance.
What the Republicans are proposing is mere semantics. Right now, it does, indeed, require unanimous consent to pop a bill out of committee and onto the floor. But there’s almost always another immediate vote taken to overrule the presiding officer. That vote requires a three-fifths majority. The Republicans would just skip a step and go right to the three-fifths vote. And if you think that the environment would change because we’d no longer be looking at a simple up or down vote on the Speaker’s prerogative, you’re wrong. It would still be a party-line vote. Bet on it.
Some of the reforms the HGOPs are proposing are good ones. Some, like the committee discharge thing, are just window-dressing. Most don’t go far enough. For instance, one way to free members from the Speaker’s power is to elect committee chairs and forbid the Speaker from controlling their staffs. They’re appointed right now and their staffs all report to the chief of staff, not the chairpersons.
* State roundup…
* Road funds not likely to fill holes in budget
* Quinn Within Days of Privatizing State Lottery
* Northwest Herald: Hypocrisy of lottery bid
* State looks for health-care help
* Report urges fixing Illinois’ economy with more transit investment
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 12:08 pm
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Rich the reason fro thosemissing reforms is simple…. the GOP wants the same control if they retake the house and or senat. So they are careful to push only reforms that would not limit them and duplicating much of the current evironment.
Comment by Ghost Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 12:13 pm
Wow. Even for the Trib this is pathetic. Think they’ll issue a correction? Yeah, right.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 12:14 pm
This is actually pathetic. I thought you weren’t supposed to print things that are actually untrue.
I guess Cross’ “8-Point Plan” is what the GOP is betting on this year - I know their candidates are saying they’re the only ones with a plan.
Comment by ugh Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 12:57 pm
Mother Tribune is so pathetic I stopped getting the print edition a couple years ago. Now when I read the online paper I rarely read their editorials.
It is obvious that fact-checking has not been a priority there for some time.
Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 1:19 pm
The Tribune’s coverage is so bad that it is a pale shadow of its former self.
Comment by Honest Abe Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 1:21 pm
Capt fax. Good catch
Btw can u tell what I’ll will looklike if anyone enacts your idea? Kids smarter roads smoother air cleaner….more subscribers
Pleze share your vision
Comment by circularfiringsquad Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 1:38 pm
Apparently the Trib’s rule is if Democrats (like Kotowski & Sente) come up with a good idea, it doesn’t count, even when they get it enacted. Good ideas only matter when Republicans belatedly champion them.
Comment by Reformer Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 1:59 pm
The Tribbies are really thinking out of the box with all the synergy their bringing to their search for Best Practices like BFO.
Ugh. They’re something about that Tower that brings out the debasing of the language when it comes to business. Like they’re the poster child for smart business practices. About five years too late, Sam.
They’re all good ideas, but we’re in an extended triage process right now, where we can’t pay our legal obligations. Razzle dazzle talk ain’t going to cut it right now.
Until sunnier days arrive, (although today is almost perfect), let’s start with say, the Rock Center, and work our way up on our obligations.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 2:06 pm
This would be the same Cross who already broke his promise about the length of time he would lead his caucus?
Same Cross who opposes direct election of GOP state central committeepersons (SB 600) because it would be contrary to the interests of the same elites that “manage” the Tribune?
A major reason newspapers are dying is that they don’t offer any value-added to their readers. Those who are knowledgeable about this topic know this editorial is mostly a crock - the paper is now serving as a handmaiden to the GOP. So, doesn’t it make one wonder about the value of anything else they print on any other topic with which one isn’t as familiar?
Comment by Willie Stark Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 2:28 pm