House committee questions tech chief over funds transfer

Democrats on the Illinois House Appropriations-General Services Committee on Tuesday pounded Gov. Bruce Rauner’s technology chief over a transfer last fall of general revenue available for human-services bills to funds to pay computer vendors.

Chicago Democratic Rep. Will Guzzardi suggested the transfer of $71 million into special accounts for the use of the Department of Innovation and Technology were unnecessary. That is because the agency had about $85 million on hand to pay bills.

The transfer was made by lame-duck Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger after she lost a November special election to Democrat Susana Mendoza, who has been a thorn in Republican Rauner’s side over spending during a two-year budget stalemate.

Hardik Bhatt, secretary of the agency known as DoIT, pointed out to lawmakers that spending on technology aids human services and public safety.

Read more: http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170425/house-committee-questions-tech-chief-over-funds-transfer