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Do Lawmakers Know What a Bill Costs When It's Vote Time?
The people in the Illinois General Assembly look like shoppers who don't pay attention to price tags, in a new study from the Illinois Policy Institute. The group's findings show the sponsors of bills rarely ask legislative researchers to write up estimates -- known here as "fiscal notes" -- of a bill's financial impact on the state should it become law.

As of late June, the institute says 545 bills awaited the governor's action, and only 16 included fiscal notes. The group's executive vice president, Kristina Rasmussen, would not be specific in saying just why the lawmakers simply let things slide, nor as to which lawmakers might embrace her group’s ideas to get the information out there.

Rasmussen, at one point telling Statehouse reporters, "Paris Hilton can go shopping without price tags because she can afford it. We're in a budget deficit," says examples of bills carrying great costs not spelled out in the legislation include the 2005 All Kids health insurance expansion and next month's sales tax holiday for school supplies.

(Illinois Radio Network)
07 22 10 by Newsroom
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