A resolution calling on Congress to pass the proposed "Payer State Transparency Act" was introduced in the Illinois Senate Tuesday by State Sen. Pat McGuire (D-Joliet).

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL,11) is pushing the Payer State Transparency Act in Congress. His office says Illinois is a "payer" state because "tens of billions of dollars leave Illinois in the form of federal taxes" annually, yet Illinois "receives only a fraction of those resources in federal spending."

Foster's proposal would shed light on the payer state issue by requiring data collection and an examination of federal tax burdens and spending in each U.S. state.

"Washington's method of apportioning federal funds to states, like Illinois' tax structure, belongs in a museum," McGuire said in a news release. "I'm gathering support in the Illinois Senate for Rep. Bill Foster's thoughtful, bi-partisan push to modernize the process and get Illinois its fair share."

The Illinois House already passed a resolution in May urging Congress to approve Foster's Payer State Transparency Act.

"I hope the Illinois State Senate will follow the lead of Senator McGuire and the Illinois House of Representatives and recognize the Payer State Problem as a major issue contributing to our state's fiscal difficulties," Foster said.

To learn more about the way in which cash-strapped Illinois is shortchanged as a payer state, see our report on this issue.