Cavaletto Votes Yes on Government Reform Measures

May 29, 2009 on 7:42 am | In News Releases | No Comments

5/21/2009

Springfield, IL….The Joint Committee on Governmental Reform was commissioned following former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s removal from office for the purpose of studying ethics and procurement reforms. Resulting legislation from those meetings passed the Illinois House this week.

State Rep. John Cavaletto (R – Salem) says many of the reforms brought about this week were needed to begin restoring public trust in Illinois state government. “Illinois state government is in need of a serious ethical re-boot,” Cavaletto said. “The passage of these ethics bills means that elected officials and anyone doing business with the state will have to abide by rules that keep the best interests of the people we represent in mind.”

Legislative action on Wednesday led to the elimination of the state of Illinois Compensation Review Board. The Compensation Review Board was responsible for setting cost of living adjustments (COLA) for members of the Legislative, Judiciary, and Executive Branches. “The last thing we should be considering as a state government is raising our own pay,” Cavaletto said. “The old process of raising legislator pay was nothing more than a fraud on the public. Now, members of the legislature will actually have to vote “Yes” to raise their own pay, which I think is a strong step in the right direction.”

On Thursday, the House passed legislation offered by Speaker Madigan that will reform state purchasing and procurement procedures, transform rules for lobbyists, and terminate directors, assistant and deputy directors of agencies, members of boards and commissions, and “double exempt” employees hired by Governors George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich. Designated employees under SB 1333 will be terminated 90 days after the effective date of the Act unless Governor Quinn decides to retain the individual within that time frame.

A comprehensive collection of documents, testimony, and resulting legislation in relation to the Joint Committee on Governmental Reform can be found by visiting www.ilga.gov.