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State Sen. Elgie Sims Jr, D-Chicago, said Illinois-based
companies get work in Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida
and Georgia.
“We are hearing it across the board, ‘I can get business
elsewhere and I can’t get business from my own home state.’
That’s a problem,” Sims said.
Sims said he is not hearing an effective procurement plan from
any of the CPOs to help Illinois businesses succeed.
State Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, said she would not be
as gentle as Sims.
“I’m very frustrated. Actually, I’m just going to say it. I’m
very furious. I see no fire under any of you all to try to
address this situation,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva asked the CPOs to provide a timeline for solutions.
Capital Development Board CPO Kenneth Morris said he would
present a timeline within a week, but the other three CPOs did
not provide specific dates.
General services CPS Ellen Daley said she formed a working group
to come up with recommendations.
State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, asked why Illinois can’t
adopt the federal procurement code like other states.
“It flies in the face of efficiency. If it’s good enough for the
federal government taxpayers, then it should be good enough for
Illinois taxpayers,” Rose said.
In response, state Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, asked Daley to
discuss her working group’s efforts.
“I believe it was a really good group. We came up with some good
recommendations, which we unfortunately did not get to finish
prior to the filing date that was required,” Daley said.
Ventura told Rose conversations would continue and she hoped to
soon have a better answer soon.
Rose said he appreciated her efforts, but he would believe it
when he sees it.
State Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles, said it’s “pathetic” that
Illinois businesses encounter the same procurement issues every
year.
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