From Adam Andrzejewski of For the Good of Illinois…
When it comes to Illinois politics, something just doesn’t add up.
Last week, the Illinois House voted down landmark school choice legislation introduced by Sen. Meeks (D). This decision denies 22,000 children from Chicago’s worst-performing and most-overcrowded elementary schools the opportunity to transfer to private or parochial schools.
Traditionally, Republicans have led on school choice issues – vouchers and charters – but last week, they failed to step up. Twenty-six Republicans voted no and the bill failed to pass by only 12 votes.
True reform will never come to Illinois if “leaders” are afraid to lead.
However, the Illinois General Assembly did take a step in the right direction by passing a forensic audit of Medicaid, which represents 25% of the state budget. Yet Speaker Madigan refuses to support legislation to conduct an audit of the remaining 75%.
According to a study conducted by The New York Times, nearly 10% of Medicaid spending is fraud. This means the forensic audit could potentially save Illinois $1.5 billion.
A study conducted by, Dick Simpson, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that nearly 5% of all spending in Illinois is waste, fraud or corruption. This means a forensic audit of the remaining 75% ($39 billion) could potentially save Illinois taxpayers $2 billion.
Speaker Madigan would rather support Gov. Quinn’s 33% tax hike, which would cost already struggling Illinois families an extra $500 a year. A forensic audit would cost $5.
Supporting a tax hike over a forensic audit, doesn’t add up.
Click here to add you name to the thousands of Illinois citizens who have joined the fight to conduct a forensic audit of Illinois state spending.
To learn more about HR 1057, please visit openthebooks.com.
The future of Illinois depends on resolving these issues. If there was ever a time to get involved and make a difference, that time has come.
Thanks for joining our movement and working toward a new day in Illinois. Because of you, we’re going to win this.