Americans for Prosperity – Illinois is proud to announce a new working relationship with one of the most respected Illinois-based think tanks in the state, the Institute for Truth in Accounting (IFTA).

It is the mission of the non-profit IFTA to encourage private and public entities to produce financial reports that are comprehensive, comprehensible and transparent. The IFTA actively seeks association with other public interest groups, like Americans for Prosperity, that recognize the need to improve financial reporting or want to better understand the financial effects of current accounting practices.

Like 49 other states, Illinois is constitutionally obligated to produce balanced budgets every year. Yet despite these obligations, Illinois debt grows more and more massive with each passing budget. Illinois' debt has increased 57% since 2000, while spending has increased more than 20% over the same period. How is this possible in a state that has increased its population by barely 3% and its GDP by only 12%? The Institute for Truth in Accounting and partnering organizations plan to find out!

In a recent newsletter, IFTA announced that Illinois politicians of both parties have used “political math” in a continual effort to evade their constitutional responsibilities. IFTA is currently working with a number of concerned Illinois groups, including AFP-IL, to identify the budgetary schemes that have allowed Illinois government to claim their budgets are legally balanced. IFTA hopes to release a report by the end of this year, in time for January's budget fight in Springfield.

AFP-IL is proud to partner with IFTA in its efforts to study and expose Illinois government's poorly constructed budget process and work towards meaningful budget reforms. AFP-IL has a significant history of advocating for government reform. AFP-IL was the leading organization fighting for the recently passed Illinois Accountability and Transparency Portal, while at the same time advocating on behalf of substantive campaign finance reform.

Currently AFP-IL is gathering signatures at its “Say No to ACORN” petition site to convince Illinois’ Governor Quinn to investigate abuse of taxpayer dollars and pay-to-play schemes conducted by organizations such as ACORN and SEIU.

Again, AFP-IL looks forward to working with the Institute for Truth in Accounting on behalf of much needed budgetary reforms. Watch for more information on this exciting endeavor in the near future.