HR0423

LRB096 12949 AJT 26936 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) 
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Division of Aeronautics Bureau of Air Operations operates a 
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Springfield-Chicago and Chicago-Springfield shuttle service 
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between Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield and 
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Midway Airport in Chicago and also provides additional flight 
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services upon request for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, 
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members of the General Assembly, Judges of the Supreme Court, 
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Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, 
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and others, as provided by IDOT; and

 
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    WHEREAS, According to a 2007 audit by the State of Illinois 
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Office of the Auditor General, the fleet of aircraft used by 
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IDOT for the shuttle service and additional flight services 
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consists of 4 Beechcraft King Air airplanes and 2 Sikorsky 
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helicopters; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General report found that IDOT 
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charged users of the State's aircraft $59.86 for a one-way 
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shuttle flight between Springfield and Chicago, and the amount 
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charged to users only covered approximately 14.3 percent of the 
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actual expense to the State; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General report found that the 
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approximate cost of operating the IDOT fleet was $20,000,000 
 


 






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from 2003-2006; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General report estimated that 
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IDOT would need to charge approximately $270.10 for a one-way 
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flight between Springfield and Chicago to cover the actual cost 
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of operating the aircraft; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Flights between Springfield and Chicago are 
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currently offered by commercial airlines, such as United 
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Airlines; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General Report found that IDOT 
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did not include all costs of operating the State's aircraft in 
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its cost reports, and IDOT has not fully analyzed the cost 
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effectiveness of its air operation or the optimal fleet size 
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needed; and
 
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    WHEREAS, A detailed breakdown of the actual costs of the 
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air transportation services provided by IDOT is not easily 
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obtainable; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Governor Quinn has estimated that the State of 
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Illinois is expected to face an $11 billion deficit for fiscal 
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years 2009 and 2010; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The Commission on Government Forecasting and 
 


 






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Accountability is charged with the duty to study and recommend 
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State fiscal and economic policies to improve the functioning 
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of State government and the economy of the various regions 
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within the State by Section 3 of the Commission on Government 
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Forecasting and Accountability Act; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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instruct the Commission on Government Forecasting and 
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Accountability to study the actual costs associated the 
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Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of 
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Aeronautics Bureau of Air Operation's Springfield-Chicago and 
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Chicago-Springfield shuttle service between Abraham Lincoln 
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Capital Airport in Springfield and Midway Airport in Chicago 
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and additional flight services provided upon request of State 
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employees and officials, and perform a cost-benefit analysis to 
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determine whether such air transportation services is an 
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efficient use of State revenue; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting 
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and Accountability analyze the actual costs of the air 
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transportation services provided by IDOT by breaking down the 
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costs of personnel, fuel, maintenance, insurance, landing fees 
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charged by each airport, and other costs associated with the 
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transportation services; and be it further
 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting 
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and Accountability analyze the actual costs of the air 
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transportation services provided by IDOT by breaking down the 
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costs attributable to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, 
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legislative leaders of the General Assembly, members of the 
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General Assembly, Judges of the Supreme Court, Attorney 
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General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, and other 
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users; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting 
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and Accountability analyze whether it would be more cost 
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efficient for the State to sell the aircraft used by IDOT for 
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transportation of State employees and officials, except for one 
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State aircraft to be used for the essential travel of the 
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Governor, and requiring State employees and officials in need 
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of air transportation services to be reimbursed for travel on 
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commercial airlines, rather than IDOT providing the services; 
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and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting 
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and Accountability shall submit a report of its findings and 
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recommendations to the General Assembly on or before January 1, 
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2010.