Former state official subpoena on Quinn anti-violence program

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A former state official will be forced to answer questions about Governor Pat Quinn's anti-violence program.

A legislative audit committee voted Monday to subpoena the former director of the neighborhood recovery initiative after a state audit criticized the spending and management practices of the program funded by taxpayer money.

The bi-partisan commission also agreed to subpoena, if it must, at least a half dozen others involved in the program. But Democrats on the commission want the testimony as soon as possible.

"This is an extraordinary tool that should only be used in extraordinary circumstances like this," said Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington).

The commission's subcommittee of two Republicans and two Democrats voted unanimously to subpoena Barbara Shaw, the former Illinois Violence Prevention Authority director, to find out what she knew about the now-disbanded agency's alleged management of the 2010 neighborhood recovery initiative.

"We already have ongoing criminal investigations at the state level and the Federal levels," said Sen. John Mulroe (D). "We don't want to interfere with their investigation."

The $55 million program was set up in the fall of 2010 by Governor Quinn's administration to find jobs and diversions for at-risk young people. The state auditor general said the program was mismanaged and taxpayer money wasted. Republicans said the money was used for political slush fund to gin up voter turnout for the fall election.

"The auditor general still had questions. He doesn't know where the unspent money went," said Rep. Davis Reis (R-Willow Hill).

Commission Democrats agreed to the Shaw subpoena, and if necessary, for a half dozen other current and former Quinn administration officials. But they want testimony from all of them on July 16 and 17, months before November when Governor Quinn stands for re-election.

"Let's hear the hearing, a two-day hearing. Let's hear what they have to say and let's put closure in accepting the audit that was conducted," said Rep. Robert Rita (D).

"We go until we finish our job as required by the law, review the audit, make our recommendations," said Barickman said. "We hope we can move it forward as quickly as possible."

The two sides agreed to consider, or discuss, extending subpoenas, if necessary, at the end of testimony on July 17. But again, the Democrats are trying to avoid hearings during the late summer and certain any during the fall campaign season.