Andrzejewski Calls for Forensic Audit of State Spending
Andrzejewski believes $60 million forensic audit of state spending could save Illinois taxpayers $1.25 billion annually.
by Brian Costin
In 2007, Liberty Leader Adam Andrzejewski formed For the Good of Illinois, a non-profit organization whose mission is to “empower regular people with the means to change how politics is practiced in Illinois state government.” For the Good of Illinois recently started a new project called “Open the Books” which calls for a forensic audit of all state spending in Illinois.
Today’s State Journal-Register featured an editorial from Andrzejewski describing the project and the corresponding House Resolution 1057 that was recently introduced in the Illinois House. The resolution would direct “the auditor general to conduct a forensic audit of state spending to identify waste, fraud, abuse and corruption.”
The idea of a conducting a forensic audit of state spending is not a new one. In his editorial Andrzejewski pointed out how Democratic Governors in other states have used forensic auditing to net huge savings for the taxpayers.
“In 2004, then-Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, did a “top-to-bottom” audit of state spending that saved taxpayers $1 billion.”
“In 1991, Texas Gov. Ann Richards, a Democrat, saved that state $8 billion.”
Andrzejewski believes a forensic audit could save Illinois taxpayers $1.25 billion annually, while the audit’s cost is only $60 million.
Unfortunately, the idea of a forensic audit has been dismissed by Speaker Madigan’s office whose spokesman Steve Brown said, “I question what the motivation is and why you’d want to spend tens of millions of dollars when the state is broke. It’s a huge waste of money.”
Andrzejewski responded, “Of course, Madigan says the audit “costs too much.” Yet, over a 10-year period, state spending has increased by 39 percent, including adjustments for inflation. In Springfield’s fuzzy math, it’s acceptable to spend taxpayer money by the billions yet when it comes to actually cutting spending the cost is too great. Clearly, there are forces that don’t want an evidentiary trail of state spending pursued by the auditor.”
HR 1057 is not only a chance to save the taxpayers’ lots of money; it is a chance to expose government corruption as well. In Illinois we are all too familiar with government corruption. Former Illinois Governors Kerner, Walker, and Ryan have all served jail time. Kerner and Ryan for crimes committed while in office. Former Gov. Blagojevich is still awaiting trial after being indicted for allegedly selling a U.S. Senate seat.
Why are some state leaders so resistant to proposals that examine state spending activities so closely? Governor Quinn recently solicited comments from the public on how to balance the state budget. A forensic audit to eliminate waste and corruption should be one his top priorities.
The taxpayers of Illinois need protection from the ongoing excesses and abuses of the state government. For more information on For the Good of Illinois’s project to conduct a forensic audit of state spending go to www.openthebooks.com.