Legislators Shopping Without Price Tags
by Kristina RasmussenParis Hilton may be able to shop without looking at price tags, but the State of Illinois doesn’t have that luxury—particularly when it already has $4.7 billion in unpaid bills. Even so, state legislators receive precious little information on how much the laws they’re approving will save or cost taxpayers.
A summer 2010 survey by the Illinois Policy Institute found that out of 545 bills pending review by the governor, only 3 percent—or 16 bills—had fiscal notes attached. Fiscal notes are like “price tags” for legislation. They are intended to estimate the costs, savings, revenue gain, or revenue loss resulting from the implementation of proposed legislation.
Many of the fiscal notes found in the Institute’s survey were just a couple of sentences long. Believe it or not, we found a fiscal note that was just one word: “minimal.”
The result of this lack of information? Legislators and the public are unable to conduct a proper analysis of the budgetary effects of proposed legislation, and this has real consequences for the state budget. Indeed, the Blagojevich All Kids Expansion passed in 2005 had no fiscal note, although an Auditor General report found that the program’s net cost was $70 million in fiscal year 2009. The statewide sales tax holiday held this August was passed with no fiscal note, even though it is likely to reduce expected tax collections by tens of millions of dollars. Unfortunately, these examples are the norm, not the exceptions.
If Illinois is going to balance its budget, state leaders will need better information on the cost of new programs or higher taxes. Continuing with the status quo—which permits bills to be passed without realistic cost estimates—is untenable for a state that is billions of dollars in the red. How about enacting a stronger fiscal note statute and develop standardized guidelines that aim to increase note availability, accuracy, and transparency.
I look at price tags when I’m shopping at the grocery store. So should legislators, especially when they’re spending our money.
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120 Comments
Yet another example of why people with no business background should not be allowed to spend billions of dollars of other people's money.
This also explains their own personal finance debacles where over half of the Obama cabinet are tax evaders with the head of the Treasury being a habitual repeat offender.
We all know the money our government is living off of is borrowed or printed money. What happens when that well runs dry? Will we let them sell America piece by piece? We must get these chuckle heads under control or we will all pay the price.
When its others people's money they just dont give a sh&t.
The states with the biggest risk of default are the most liberal, highest tax states. No surprise there, it's not like we didn't tell them so.
If the Utopianists really believed in the marxist land of milk and honey, did they really believe the messiah to take them to the promised land would come from Chicago politics? All a big FRAUD.
.
Ha ha. I can just imagine Chicago's version of the CBO; a useless bureaucracy set up to help justify bogus budgeting claims. Except in Illinois, getting a seat on that panel would be "F'ing Golden."
"Will we let them sell America piece by piece?"
Why do you think the feds' land grabs, resources and water controls have taken place? Or, what do you think they really use for collateral when they borrow from China? Faith and credit? Ha! Yeah, right.
Illinois, as is California, is symbolic of a much larger problem. They reflect thee modus operandi of the status quo. Simply doing something, for the sake of doing it, in a certain way, "because that's how we've always done it", is no longer acceptable, or tolerable. Further and beyond that, it is unconscionable.
People throughout this Country had better get their heads wrapped around the fact that we are broke. Bankrupt. That is the cold, hard fact.
Honestly I can't say I'm well versed in how these types of huge loans are secured. I agree with you on the land grabs and resource gathering that our government is doing. There's no way any good will come of that. They want to control everything and their almost there.
Thats the problem, we have too many people with their head up their asses or on the public dole that either don't care to see the problems or choose to ignore them.
How they can keep spending like drunken sailors, is beyond anything I have ever seen! All I can say is, it must be nice to have that 'money tree' in the back yard!! It's going to take WE THE PEOPLE to stand up to the corruption and put a stop to it!!
It's too much like pre-school in Washington!!
Who was it who said "Socialism is great until you run out of other people's money"? Lady Thatcher or Blago?
Yeah, it's common sense, but that was thrown out the window a long time ago…the only way these idiots will stop spending our money is when we stop giving it to them.CA legislators could not even float bonds if the taxpayers stopped sending them money, since they have ruined CA's bond ratings…I'm sure a lot other states are in the same sinking boat.
Of course,"simple doing something" just to do something, is the classic definition of INSANITY! Not only should we get these people out of office, maybe we need to commit them so they can no longer harm others…
Maybe Blako can do this job, he has experience!
Why should you?
Funny. You think "the people" still have power. Power is king and money talks. Welcome to the real world.
Well, I'm being a little facetious here. But on the subject of land and resource rights, I'm a big proponent of returning those rights to the States (i.e. the People), in every instance outside of the Constitutional limits on the federal government for land use.
Oh, and I also want my dam incandescent light bulbs. Is that too much to ask?
The first law we pass when we get some power: REQUIRE MANDATORY ANNUAL FEDERAL BUDGET TO BE BALANCED, AND PUBLISHED, ON LINE, for "We The People!" You know, the ones the Fed Govt. works for!!
"people with their head up their asses or on the public dole"
Often times the same people.
Most states are sinking, some sooner than others. The outcome is inevidable….
"maybe we need to commit them so they can no longer harm others…"
Is there anything we can do with these people that DOESN'T cost us money?
Don't be an ass…..oh i am sorry you're a lefty and cant help it.
I will pray for your enlightenment.
lol true
Slow boat to china is cheap.
I like one-word bills. There's a chance the legislators are smart enough to understand them. When we have 2,500 page bills the only thing we know for certain is that the corruption will be as epic as the bill.
Yeah, a slow, leaky boat.
And no bailouts.
Did the Obama Admin see how many American Citizens came out for Glen Beck's gathering? Just a hint- STOP ROBBING OUR US TREASURY,
START DEPORTING UN-SCREENED ILLEGALS,which ones are Terrorists? Murderers? Anyway they are Illegal!
STOP PASSING BILLS THAT WE THE PEOPLE ARE PROTESTING! This will not end well. We WILL REVERSE your socialist mess! and EXILE YOU ALL forever!
What everyone seems to forget is that BO is going to attempt to force congress to bailout the union pension funds, CA, NY, and IL. So these unions and states are going to continue their spendthrift ways until the entire country is bankrupt. More monopoly money will roll off the fed presses to cover these horrendous debts, yet no plan is in sight to make those difficult decisions to break the public's rice bowl. How else can the dims expect to get the necessary votes this Nov? Greece is just a block away.
Too bad your prayers go to no one. Looks like you're wasting your time.
Really?? Is that all you have in your little George Soros playbook? Let's bring up Bush again and again. You are a sad pathetic creature.
I pray God shows you the light and mends your ignorant ways.
There ya go, there is a solution to every problem.
Illinois needs to get rid of the trash in our legislature and replace them with nothing. Then we need to draft Jim Edgar for 3 terms as absolute fiscal dictator. I predict that on the eve of his second term Illinois would be a model State that the rest of the Union's citizenry would be clamoring to follow…
Its always a hoot that the left thinks a tax cut costs the government….I think they are all insane.
I pray God cures your insanity.
"……………Chicago's version of the CBO,……………"
Johnny,……what the mayor's cousin ever do to you………..???
Thanks for the laugh. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, jeebus and "god" have five minutes to appear before me.
Or how about you leave Illinois so we don't have to listen to you anymore?
Oh sure GaltFan,……..easy for you say,……..
just because Edgar is one of the few Illinois pols,……….
that didn't have to go to jail.
I pray they find you worthy.
God knows I don't.
Doesn't Illinois have one of those CBO orifices –cost outrageous–not to be confused with outrage
At least drunken sailors spend their own money.
"Power comes largely from the barrel of a gun," right chairman mao?
I call it the domino theory of economics. For example" a plant closes and people are laid off. Well, they might not be able to pay their bills . This effects other folks who are waiting for payment. Since it won't be forthcoming those owed have to cut services or possibly lay off some people. And it just goes on and on from there. Ergo, what affects some folks around the country eventually affects us all.
There is nothing beyond the power of God. But let's be reasonable here. : )
The snowball is just beginning to roll down the hill.
Excellent. Margaret Thatcher.
If my property value wasn't so depressed due to high taxes, high unemployment and a lousy economic environment (no productive person wants to move here!), I might move to Texas. Getting responsible leadership in place to cure all of these problems would remove the incentive to leave. Kinda a catch-22 for me there ya moron. Do you like where Illinois is headed thanks to the DemonRats?
"…so we don't have to listen to you anymore?"
If you can hear me, then you also know what working the action on my 870 sounds like. I hope you aren't so close that you can actually hear me…
"What everyone seems to forget is that BO is going to attempt to force congress to bailout the union pension funds"
What we're working towards is electing a Congress that will tell obama to go piss up a rope.
LOL I am having fun with it. Drives them nuts, have you noticed?
Maybe we should be focusing on the 47% of Americans who don't ANY taxes.
You're statement shows that you are quite naive where investment money comes from.
Your point total was -3. Oops, now it's -4. Not too bad for such a stupid statement.
How about we add spot on ballots where you can vote for "NONE OF THE ABOVE" instead of one of the candidates?
If "None of the above" gets more votes than the candidates, they can never run for office again.
Remember the good old days when he ran against Dawn Clark Netsch? I picked up the Trib one day and the gap had narrowed in the latest poll. She had LOST GROUND to 'undecided'. Edgar was leading something like 62-21-17(him-her-undecided). Oh, to have jobs and a credit rating again…
"Then we need to draft Jim Edgar for 3 terms as absolute fiscal dictator"
And how long would it be before he took up swimming with cement galoshes?
Turns out Utopia is expensive. Who knew?
"have you noticed?"
Every step of the way. Good job.
"Your point total was -3. Oops, now it's -4. Not too bad for such a stupid statement."
Give it time.
He lasted 2 terms the last time. The machine existed before, during and after. He was the best governor of my lifetime here. Not really any competition on that score, but he was very good for the State…
Maybe so, but the Big Sites have my back. My point total hasn't moved in two months, Praise Gordie Howe!
Then you'll want to keep an eye on the Senate race in Delaware.
“What separates this race from every other US Senate race is that the winner will be seated on November 3rd, rather than in January with the rest of the Senator-elects"
"Rising in the polls, Christine O’Donnell has taken the offensive against her opponent Mike Castle’s voting record. Castle was rated one of the most liberal Republicans in Congress by the American Conservative Union."
http://www.examiner.com/elections-2010-in-wilming...
It's entirely possible that this one election could topple all of the dem's lame duck dreams.
Those new light bulbs are stupid. I believe as you do in States rights. I heard an great example of why we have States rights. If one State goes astray then they get surpassed by all the others and people will leave with their families and businesses until they fix whatever the problem is. If the Feds are running everything and they screw up then every things screwed up instead of just one State. I think it was Glenn B. who used this example.
Nevada has that option. Here was the result the last time it mattered:
"The last time Reid had a close race — his 1998 battle against Republican John Ensign — more than 8,000 voters chose “none of these candidates.” That is nearly 20 times the 428-vote margin that delivered Reid the victory."
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/aug/01/neith...
Sounds like fun, but the consequences are pretty clear. And never mind the shenanigans that would lead to during any Dem "recount". It could only help the advocates of the 'new math'…
I envy you that you had a good governor in your past. I grew up in NJ where there was never a decent governor in all the years I was there. (Only after I left did they get Gov Christy) Figures.
"I like one-word bills."
Leaves too much open to 'interpretation'. 'Minimal' what? I know you are not that trusting…
That's from my Koch Brothers play book. Those tax cuts were set to expire for a reason. Even the Dick Armey of FrenchWorks backed their expiration. So did Little Newty.
I pray God helps you overcome your ignorance.
You better watch your back when No Bama runs out of other peoples money.
I pray God shows you the truth.
That's what Reagan used to refer to as "voting with your feet." And it's what made the American Republic such a strong nation; Freedom AND Competition.
"the Big Sites have my back. My point total hasn't moved in two months"
They're just ignoring you. Can't really blame them.
That is a breath of fresh air. Thanks. BTW why are Republican women so much prettier and smarter than dim female politicos? Inquiring minds need to know.
You seem to be eager to get on your knees.
For that, let us praise Toe Blake.
I pray God teaches you not to be vulgar.
May God show you the error of your ways.
AP: WASHINGTON — The unemployment rate rose in August for the first time in four months as weak hiring by private employers wasn’t enough to keep pace with a large increase in the number of people looking for work.
The Labor Department says companies added a net total 67,000 new jobs last month, down from July’s upwardly revised total of 107,000. Wall Street analysts expected a smaller gain, according to Thomson Reuters.
Overall, the economy lost 54,000 jobs as 114,000 temporary census positions came to an end. State and local governments shed 10,000 positions. The jobless rate rose to 9.6 percent from 9.5 percent in July.
More than a half-million Americans resumed their job searches in August, which drove up the jobless rate. When the unemployed stop looking for work, they are no longer counted in the jobless rate.
"why are Republican women so much prettier and smarter than dim female politicos?"
Like how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie-Pop, the world may never know.
NAACP Forms Its Own Lynch Mob
The NAACP joined with Media Matters, Think Progress and several other major left wing outfits to launch TeaPartyTracker.org, a site aimed at provoking tea partiers and attempts to create potentially racist stories.
It's really sad what's become of the NAACP. Decades ago it was a truly noble organization, but sometime in the last 20 years they have completely sold their souls to Satan.
well until you run out of someone else's money
I love Illinois. Nothing like living in the Loop to make everything better.
Frankly, I am all about Tar, Feathers and one splintery rail. Sounds like something that has had a long time coming and might just get the point across. Jus' sayin' is all.
You live in the Loop? That explains a lot. I grew up in an actual neighborhood. I know the city far better than a little hamster like you. Make your way out into reality sometime -it may shock you…
Off topic: Grade A Small recovery recalled….
http://blogs.indystar.com/varvelblog/08212010.jpg
Typical liberal post.
Makes an assumption that something is bad, doesn't show any proof, and expects someone else to do their dirty work. LAZY, DUMB liberals.
Let's look shall we ass bag?
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/06/the_k...
Tax cuts cause *GASP* economic growth! WHO KNEW ?!?
http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/03/lying_abou...
Federal revenue went UP and the wealthy carried the burden MORE
Just for good measure, Sweden is cutting taxes because they work
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/09/swede...
So not are you only LAZY, but you are factually wrong, and sharing your thorough ignorance to the rest of the world! Gratz, that's hard to do in a single sentence. Moron.
Pay for legislators should be based upon balancing the budget with no tax increases. What else are they there for?
Hmmmm what to do with the splintery rail? Thats the question…..lol
Or simplify it and say- the buttheads on the public dole…
"Hello, my name is pixie, and I have no common sense filter this evening…"
Just a guess…but most dems- male and female, always seem perpetually unhappy/angry and republican/conservative males and females *usually* aren't as angst driven. So my guess is- this negativity shows..? <shrugs>
LMAO…perfect reply, Mr. Galt
I read this, and my first thought was "I'm not surprised"…and my second thought was "and its sad that I'm not surprised" <sigh>
Obama said that he didn't pay much attention to Beck's rally….he just doesn't get, that his 'inattention' is the PROBLEM!
I have read about that ! If this president lines himself up with racists groups like the AFL/CIO , and the NAACP, it will be the end of his political career for sure! Especially since everyone in his administration has trashed the tea-parties!!!
There are two reasons why a law might not have a fiscal note attached. First, it may not have any fiscal effect at all. You'd be surprised how many legislative acts at both the state and federal level are honorary resolutions like official Congressional recognition of the winners of the Little League championship or who to name a new office building after. Second, the legislature may be imposing the cost of a new regulation on others. If the legislature passes a law, for example, mandating that all schoolteachers pass a drug test, they are free to hand the cost of this to the school districts. That way, when your property taxes go up, you blame the school district instead of the legislature.
I prefer to avoid flyover country.
We need to have all public officials. federal, state, and so on, pass a drug test starting tomorrow. We are the employer of each and everyone of them. They need to and must submit asap. Especially all of those in Washington starting tomorrow. Then we will see them for who they really are. I would like to see my tax dollars spent there right now.
two things…
POLITICIANS ARE SCUM!!!!
IT AIN'T THEIR MONEY…so no worries mate…..
"So should legislators, especially when they’re spending our money."
Why bother, when you can just send out men with guns to take money away from productive citizens in order to give it to your cronies?
You know it, rckmom!
quayle, I heard a rumor that the quayle is going to sue you. Change your screen name. Just helpin….
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