By Bill Wheelhouse, IL Public Radio
Illinois' State Auditor issued a report Tuesday that harshly criticizes a state agency in charge of many operations in state government.
The audit of the Department of Central Management Services quickly turned into a fight between the auditor and the administration of Governor Rod Blagojevich. Auditor General Bill Holland has taken the extra step of asking the Illinois Attorney General to look into the problems his office unearthed.
The audit concluded that CMS paid thousands in improper expenses to a company working for the state. It also says the agency gave companies a role in writing contract specifications and then awarded the contracts to those same companies.
But while Holland stopped short of accusing criminal conduct (he simply called it "inappropriate activity"), it didn't keep critics of Governor Rod Blagojevich from going on the attack. They say the audit shows the need for an investigation of the governor's office.
Illinois Public Radio's Bill Wheelhouse prepared this report, which can be heard by clicking the 'listen' icon above.