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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The conviction of former Governor George Ryan and
3 the arrest and pending trial of former Governor Rod Blagojevich
4 have caused a crisis of confidence of Illinois citizens and
5 taxpayers in their government; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Former Governor Rod Blagojevich was accused of,
7 among other things, corruption involving patronage hiring,
8 awarding of State contracts, making of board and commission
9 appointments, and other abuses of State power; and
 
10     WHEREAS, The decisions of State government, boards, and
11 commissions were often based on the level of campaign
12 contributions and not on the best interests of the taxpayers;
13 and
 
14     WHEREAS, The State budget deficit is estimated at over $13
15 billion and liabilities are estimated to total over $120
16 billion including pension debt, yet there are varying reports
17 of how many programs the State runs, how many special funds
18 exist, and what the precise amount of the deficit is; and
 
19     WHEREAS, The State of Illinois ranks 48th in job growth and
20 economic vitality, has had a net loss of over 700 manufacturing
21 firms in the last year, and has had a population outflow of

 

 

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1 735,000 people in the last decade due to loss of confidence in
2 State government; and
 
3     WHEREAS, A forensic audit is a thorough and evidentiary
4 audit that can identify corrupt practices that have occurred
5 and provide the basis for prosecution of those who engaged in
6 those practices; therefore, be it
 
7     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
8 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Auditor General is
9 directed pursuant to Section 3-2 of the Illinois State Auditing
10 Act to conduct a forensic audit of all State spending, hiring,
11 procurement, and contracts awarded and the appointment of board
12 and commission officials and decisions made by boards and
13 commissions or those with procurement or hiring authority
14 during the Blagojevich administration, specifically all
15 expenditures and actions from January 1, 2001 to January 1,
16 2010; and be it further
 
17     RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this forensic
18 audit as soon as possible and report the findings and
19 recommendations upon completion in accordance with the
20 Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That the Office of the Governor shall provide all
22 needed information and, if necessary, the Senate shall issue

 

 

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1 any needed subpoenas that the Auditor General deems necessary;
2 and be it further
 
3     RESOLVED, That a commission of 6 individuals equally
4 divided between Republican members (appointed by the Senate
5 Republican Minority Leader) and Democrat members (appointed by
6 the President of the Senate) shall be appointed to oversee the
7 effort; and be it further
 
8     RESOLVED, That the Auditor General, upon finding any
9 incident of suspected corruption, shall file a complaint to the
10 Executive Inspector General or other appropriate Inspector
11 General to be referred for further investigation and possible
12 prosecution; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That a copies of this resolution be delivered to
14 the Auditor General and the Governor.