Illinois' executive inspector general fields record number of complaints, revolving door determinations

[November 29, 2022] 

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A record number of complaints were received by the Illinois Office of the Executive Inspector General in the past year.

The OEIG released its fiscal year 2022 annual report that the agency said “featured notable record highs,” including the number of received and reviewed complaints and the number of revolving door determinations issued.

“In FY2022, the OEIG received a total of 3,075 complaints, 63% of which were filed through the OEIG’s website,” the agency said in Monday’s newsletter. “In addition, the OEIG completed 88 investigations, including 20 that resulted in findings of wrongdoing and 21 that resulted in systematic or process recommendations to the governing authority.”

The OEIG has jurisdiction over 170,000 state employees, appointees and officials in state government, including executive agencies under the governor, the nine public universities and regional transit boards.
 

The report details various cases ranging from mismanagement to prohibited political activity, conflicts of interest and misconduct, among others. In one case, an Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board executive director improperly provided a law enforcement certification to a donor. Another case found $54,000 in fraud from Child Care Assistance Program grants leading to criminal indictments. Also highlighted was whether the former Illinois Teachers' Retirement System chief information officer used contractual employees from a firm they or their family members operated.

Another area where the OEIG said it was busy was a record-high 291 revolving door determinations, a 55% increase from the prior fiscal year’s 187 determinations.

The Illinois State Capitol on an overcast November day - Greg Bishop / The Center Square

“Certain State employees are required to notify the OEIG prior to accepting non-State employment, and the OEIG must determine whether the employee participated personally and substantially in decisions involving the prospective employer,” the agency said.

Four employees were restricted from accepting non-state employment, which the agency said is about one percent of the determinations made.

In one case, former Illinois Environmental Protection Agency employee Seth Slaughter was found to be restricted from accepting employment with Caterpillar, Inc. because of work he did as a state employee on a Clean Air Act permit.

On appeal, a commission concluded Slaughter participated substantially in the permitting process and upheld the OEIG’s determination.

The OEIG also conducts training about revolving door policies with one this past summer.

“In particular, the Ethics Act was amended effective January 1, 2022, to include ‘fiscal administration’ of State contracts as an activity covered by the revolving door provisions,” the report said.

About $8.2 million is budgeted for the OEIG in fiscal 2023, a 24% increase from $6.6 million the year before. The increased funding is something the agency said will “have an important impact on the OEIG’s ability to work towards its mission of ensuring accountability in State government.”

Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and other issues for The Center Square. Bishop has years of award-winning broadcast experience and hosts the WMAY Morning Newsfeed out of Springfield.