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Governor buying shredders
In the wake of the latest report by the Illinois auditor general
criticizing the management of state government, the Department of
Human Services has announced a plan to buy shredders at a cost of
$550,000.
This shredding plan raises several concerns.
In light of ongoing federal investigations, recent reports that a
governor's employee was fired for refusing to shred documents, as
well as state budget constraints, I sent a letter to Gov. Rod
Blagojevich on June 14 asking for full disclosure of the reasoning
behind the decision. [Related
article]
The auditor general rebuked the Department of Human Services for
allowing public access to confidential employee information, but is
it really necessary to spend over a half-million dollars just to
prevent the release of this employee information? Or is the
department planning to shred other documents, which could shed light
on questionable practices within the agency?
Did the Department of Human Services check with federal
investigators, who are currently scrutinizing the administration, to
see if widespread document shredding is legally permitted? Recently,
a former employee of the Blagojevich administration told the media
she had been instructed to delete files involving campaign
contributors. At the time those allegations surfaced, the
Blagojevich administration claimed it had the right to delete those
files.
Will the Department of Human Services assure employees that they
will not be disciplined or terminated for refusing to shred
documents that they believe should be retained as state records?
What steps will be taken to ensure compliance with the State Records
Act?
Another concern is the procurement process planned for the
purchase of these shredders.
Since the cost already is known, that seems to indicate this will
be another no-bid contract. Is the vendor a Blagojevich campaign
contributor? The Department of Human Services audit cites several
instances in which the agency evaded bidding laws. In light of the
agency's record of no-bid contracts, I would like to know if these
shredders will be competitively bid or not.
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 Another concern is the cost of the shredders -- reported June 14
by the Chicago Sun-Times as $550,000 for 109 shredders, which is
more than $5,000 per shredder.
Is this the best use of taxpayer moneys when the state is
woefully behind on paying doctors, pharmacies and hospitals, and is
raiding teachers' pensions? Surely a handful of less-expensive
shredders would do the job of preventing identity theft.
A copy of my letter was also sent to Department of Human Services
Secretary Carol Adams.
On June 1, I raised similar concerns with Attorney General Lisa
Madigan, asking her to publicly report on what steps her office is
taking to ensure that critical evidence currently controlled by the
governor's office is not destroyed or altered.
This is a major concern. This administration knows they are the
target of prosecutors. In that kind of situation, the pressure to
destroy or alter evidence is intense. We need to make sure the
evidence is being preserved for future prosecutions, if they become
necessary.
New law boosts agricultural education
Under a new law I supported, the Future Farmers of America
program will become part of agricultural education programs in
Illinois schools.
House Bill 4986 requires school districts that offer an
agricultural education program in high school to provide courses
approved by the State Board of Education and to offer a state and
nationally affiliated FFA chapter as part of course work, not as an
extracurricular activity.
The national
FFA organization is "dedicated to making a positive difference
in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier
leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural
education."
Last year, more than 26,000 students participated in agricultural
education throughout the state. There are currently 310 agricultural
education programs and 294 FFA chapters.
House Bill 4986 is supported by the Illinois Association of
Agricultural Teachers and the Illinois Association FFA.
[Column from
Sen. Bill Brady] |
