The Illinois House is back in session, and lawmakers began the day with a committee to discuss the pay of Governor Bruce Rauner's education czar.
Right now Beth Purvis -- Governor Rauner's top education advisor -- makes $250,000 a year. Her salary comes from the Department of Human Services budget, a department that would face painful cuts under the Governor's proposed budget.
A spokesman for the Governor called the hearing a sham, saying it was a distraction from Democrats' budget proposal -- which has a $4 billion hole.
The Governor's office also called lawmakers out for sexism, saying the attack on Purvis' character only comes because she's a woman and that male Democratic staffers make more than she does.
While the Governor's office greatly defended Purvis and her credentials, lawmakers in the committee say it isn't about her resume or qualifications; they just want to know which budget should be paying her.
"Secretary Purvis was recruited because of her expertise not only in those areas but, at large, across early childhood education, childhood development, cradle-to-career," said the Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff Rich Goldberg.
"There's no argument regarding her credentials or anything like that," said Representative Rita Mayfield of Waukegan. "It is more about being fiscally responsible in this budget and making sure that we are meeting the priorities of the state and addressing our most vulnerable population."
Some Republicans noted that former Governor Pat Quinn had several employees on the Human Services payroll, and questioned why this issue wasn't brought up back then.
Rauner's spokesperson says this is something that has always been done under past administrations.
When the Governor's spokesperson was asked why Purvis was not present for the hearing, he said she didn't need to be subjected to what he was calling a sham.
Lawmakers asked the Governor's office to come back to the committee to discuss Purvis' place on the Human Services payroll again, but no timetable has been set for that meeting.
WICS NewsChannel 20 :: News - Top Stories - Committee Questions Payment Of Rauner Education Advisor
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