Committee introduces RS 32167 to restrict budget transfers into governor’s account; debate over consultation with governor’s office

Representative Heather Scott (District 2) introduced RS 32167, a bill she said is intended to prevent transfers from other state agencies into the governor's budget that can obscure agency spending and reduce transparency.

Scott told the committee she and others uncovered transfers in August—after the fiscal year start in July—where money moved from Health and Welfare into the governor's budget and other agencies such as IDOC and Department of Insurance. "We just do not want other agencies' money being transferred over to the governor's budget," Scott said. "We want transparency for what we're spending and how we're spending it."

Representative Tanner moved to introduce the RS. The measure prompted debate about whether the governor's office was consulted: Scott said she "did not consult with the governor's office" on this RS, adding "The governor is supposed to implement law, not write law." Representative Birch and others said they would have preferred consulting the governor's office before filing legislation that affects another branch; Birch said she would not support drafting without consultation.

Representative Monks and Representative Muntz defended the RS as an appropriate legislative check on budget transfers and said the legislature's constitutional role over the purse justifies the measure. After discussion the committee voted to introduce RS 32167 by voice vote; one committee member said "Nay" when asked, and the motion carried.