Bill Text: IL HR0555 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Congratulates Dan Long on his retirement as Executive Director of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-10-24 - Resolution Adopted [HR0555 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HR0555-Introduced.html

---

HR0555 LRB100 13582 MST 28200 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Illinois Legislature operates the Commission
on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA), the
bipartisan fiscal forecasting arm of the General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, During the fiscal situation that began with the
worldwide economic downturn of 2008-09, the work of COGFA has
become increasingly vital as it has provided nonpolitical
guidance to policymakers in and out of the Illinois General
Assembly on the somber trends facing the State and its
revenues; and
WHEREAS, During this challenging time, the Illinois
General Assembly and the 12 legislative members of the
Commission have been fortunate to have the services of COGFA's
longtime Executive Director, Dan Long; and
WHEREAS, Dan Long graduated from the University of Illinois
in 1975 and immediately began working for the office of
Illinois State Comptroller, George W. Lindberg; the office of
Comptroller was created by election in 1972 following
ratification of the Constitution of 1970; when Dan started work
for the State of Illinois, our State's new constitutional
fiscal structure was less than two and a half years old; and

HR0555 - 2 - LRB100 13582 MST 28200 r
WHEREAS, After more than 40 years, Dan Long has seen this
fiscal structure from almost literally every angle, including
that of Chief Fiscal Officer in the Executive Office of
Governor James R. Thompson, executive rank in several code
departments (the former Department of Commerce and Community
Affairs, now DCEO, and the Department of Central Management
Services (CMS)), and executive rank on the legislative staff of
Illinois House Republican Leader and House Speaker Lee A.
Daniels; and
WHEREAS, In February of 2001, Dan Long was appointed
Executive Director of the Illinois Economic and Fiscal
Commission, the legislative support arm that was renamed COGFA
in the 2004 budget implementation (BIMP) bill; and
WHEREAS, Under law, a key statutory duty of COGFA's
permanent staff is to work with the 12 legislative members of
the Commission to provide the General Assembly and its members
with "the most reliable and authoritative information
available concerning economic developments and trends in this
State and the operations of State Government"; and
WHEREAS, Soon after Dan Long took over at COGFA in early
2001, these economic developments and trends turned negative
for Illinois, negative in real terms during all too many of
these years and negative in relation to the other 49 U.S.

HR0555 - 3 - LRB100 13582 MST 28200 r
states in almost every year of the past 16; during this period
of time, Dan's consummate professionalism, low-key
personality, and prompt responses to legislators' inquiries
won him the respect of almost every member of the Illinois
General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, It is easy to be popular when one is the bearer of
good news, but to be respected when one is the bearer of bad
news is a sign of skill that deserves to be appreciated and
remembered for a long time to come; and
WHEREAS, After 38 years working for the State of Illinois
and after almost 42 years in public sector-related service, and
much to the regret of the members of the Commission on
Government Forecasting and Accountability and to the members of
the General Assembly as a whole, Dan Long has announced his
retirement effective July 31, 2017; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
thank Dan Long for his almost four decades of public service,
climaxing in his tenure of more than 16 years as the Executive
Director of the Commission on Government Forecasting and
Accountability (COGFA); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we mention and praise the role of Dan Long,

HR0555 - 4 - LRB100 13582 MST 28200 r
and COGFA's permanent staff, in providing guidance to the
Illinois General Assembly during the challenging fiscal
climate that has marked the history of Illinois since the
events of 2001; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we acknowledge the essential role of
bipartisan support service agencies to the life of the Illinois
General Assembly, and praise Dan Long and COGFA's permanent
staff in their rapid responses to legislative members of both
chambers and both parties as they have searched for data and
guidance to meet these challenges; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we wish Dan Long a full life upon his
retirement, with the support of his friends, children, and
family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Dan Long, Executive Director of the Commission on
Government Forecasting and Accountability, as a sign of our
deep respect for his public service.