Mussman Joins Efforts to End Wasteful Spending by Gov. Rauner’s Technology Chief

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to reports of a top official in Governor Rauner’s administration spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on professional subscriptions, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, is sponsoring legislation urging the governor’s Technology Chief to immediately cancel the subscriptions.

“The governor consistently talks about more value for Illinois taxpayers, but I do not see the value in this frivolous spending from a government department he created,” Mussman said. “In a time when social service agency are crumbling, the middle class is struggling and Illinois’ economy is stalling, this misuse of funds degrades the public’s trust in their government’s ability to provide for them.”

Mussman is sponsoring House Resolution 358 to urge Technology Chief Hardik Bhatt to halt any further professional subscription purchases and to cancel any existing contracts. Her resolution also demands that Chief Bhatt operate a more transparent department.

A recent news article reported that the Secretary of the Department of Innovation and Technology Hardik Bhatt, who is paid $145,000 a year, spent $208,000 on annual membership costs for professional subscriptions. The department is a state agency, which was created by the governor via an executive order.

“I am working on prioritizing state spending to improve the quality of life for all Illinoisans, and it is clear to me that the staff running this department should reprioritize their spending as well,” Mussman said. “Discovering wasteful spending is one good way to provide real value for taxpayers. The next step should be for Director Bhatt to rescind his subscriptions.”