McAloon Calls For State Budget Process To Be Open to the Public

Grundy, Will, Iroquois, Livingston, LaSalle, and Kankakee Counties, IL. – As the General Assembly nears its scheduled adjournment date on May 29th, Republican candidate for State Representative, David McAloon, is calling for legislators to approve a measure that would require a 14-day public disclosure period before a budget can be approved.

"11th hour maneuvers and insider deals in the final hours of past legislative sessions have resulted in wasteful spending and unbalanced budgets," said McAloon. "We need to shed some sunlight on the state budget process and encourage public input and review into the over $50 billion in taxpayer funds that are being spent."

McAloon is requesting that legislators approve and follow House Bill 506, legislation that would require a 14-day review period before the General Assembly can vote on the state budget. The legislation would also require that all appropriations bills be posted on the Illinois General Assembly website 14 days prior to a vote.

According to McAloon, the change would allow greater scrutiny of budget by the public and media, but also lawmakers themselves.

"With out of control gas and food costs, the mortgage funding crisis, and wages that are not keeping up with family's expenses, we need to be more vigilant than ever in fighting government waste and excessive spending," McAloon stated.

McAloon said he hopes legislators take time to carefully review the budget this year, citing last year's budget that is projected to be over $750 million out-of-balance.

"Greater transparency will yield better results for the taxpayers of Illinois. All we want is for legislators to take their time and do their job with the same care that we balance our own family's checkbooks," said McAloon.

For more information on this and McAloon’s position on other issues, contact info@friendsformcaloon.org or visit our website at www.friendsformcaloon.org.