SJ0041 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The 2009 Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction plan was passed by overwhelming majorities in both the Illinois Senate and the Illinois House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Jobs Now! was signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn, the first capital construction plan in nearly 10 years; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Jobs Now! has or will support 439,000 construction jobs over the 6-year span of the plan; and

WHEREAS, The plan is the largest capital construction plan in Illinois history, with a combined cost of $31 billion in State and federal funds; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly is especially sensitive to the fact that State finances are at historic lows and fiscal resources are precious; and

WHEREAS, Taxpayers are demanding that their tax dollars be spent wisely; and

WHEREAS, The Chicago Sun-Times recently revealed that the renovation of 3 pairs of State Capitol doors cost at least $669,608; and

WHEREAS, The Chicago Sun-Times recently reported that at least $481,364 was spent on 4 chandeliers and 2 sculptures; and

WHEREAS, The cost of these doors, chandeliers, and sculptures has surprised many lawmakers, who have openly questioned the propriety of such spending during a time of economic crisis; and

WHEREAS, The integrity of the Capitol renovation project has been cast into doubt; and

WHEREAS, Lawmakers would like to analyze the cost of the renovation project and determine whether the funds provided for other components of the renovation were wisely spent, given the State's fiscal realities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Auditor General is directed to investigate individual expenditures of the Illinois State Capitol West Wing renovations and determine whether said spending was appropriate and prudent; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the investigation shall include recommendations for reducing the cost of individual expenditures for on-going renovations that are deemed inappropriate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Office of the Capitol Architect shall provide all documentation and cooperation necessary for this investigation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Auditor General shall report the findings of its investigation to the Illinois General Assembly no later than January 1, 2014.