Letter to Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General of the Department of Transportation - Regarding the Governor's Hiring Practices at the Illinois Department of Transportation

Letter

Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave SE, West Blding7th Floor
Washington, DC 20590

Mr. Scovel:

Last week, a motion was filed in U.S. District Court against Illinois Governor Pat Quinn alleging illegal hiring practices at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), including the appointment of dozens of patronage workers to non-policy making positions in violation of a 1989 Supreme Court decision (Rutan).

According to the Associated Press, Governor Quinn "told reporters Monday that there were federal stimulus dollars that had to be spent quickly and efficiently, along with a massive capital bill" and said "the increase in jobs free from hiring rules at the Illinois Department of Transportation were 'absolutely' necessary."

Additionally, according to the Associated Press, in a court proceeding on April 29, Governor Quinn's office acknowledged "an ongoing investigation by Illinois' inspector general of hiring practices".

We write with extreme concern that federal funds were directly or indirectly involved in a scheme to subvert state hiring practices as mandated by the Court. Federal funds should never be provided to states to subsidize or justify political patronage. If the State of Illinois misused federally appropriated funds in this way, the American people deserve to know.

Therefore, we request that you launch an immediate investigation to determine the extent to which federal funds were used to subsidize or justify the potentially illegal hiring of dozens of patronage workers at IDOT and, further, to make recommendations to ensure such misuse of federal funds can never happen again.

Sincerely,