na LINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTA ee GREGORY S. HARRIS. May 28, 2015 ‘The Honorable Bruce Rauner Governor of Minais State Capitol Room 207, Springfield, IL. 62706 Dear Governor Rauner: 1am writing in regard to disclosures published by the Chicago Sun-Times on May 27, 2015, about Ms, Beth Purvis, the Seeretary of Education and atop member of your leadership ten, 1 ‘was shocked to lea that, according to documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, her $250,000 salary is being paid through the Department of Human Services To sy the state budget cannot fund even basic human needs atthe same time the Department of {Human Services is paying the salary ofthe head of another state agency, particularly a salary thot is one ofthe highest of any state employee, is troubling, {Mould like to highlight the following programs, which were eliminated or ha thie funding eut lunes your proposed Department of Human Services budget due to reduced revenue, or were declared non-essential under your Executive Order: Homelessness Prevention Homeless Youth Home Services Program for persons Children’s Place With disabilities ‘Wages for people employed in ‘Teen Parent Services developmental disability facilities + Area Projeats Early Intervention Infant Mortality + Funeral and Burial Services © Community Services Welcoming Centers * Teen Reach ‘+ Immigrant Integration ‘+ Supportive Housing +The Autism Project Addiction Treatment # Are of Hlinois Mental Health Services Best Buddies + Respite Care * Emergency Food Program © Epilepsy1t-was the testimony of Department of Human Services Acting Secretary Gregory Bassi and ‘hem-Interim Secretary James Dimas thatthe lack of available funding was responsible for the decision to eliminate or educe funding for these vitally needed programs, These programs serve ‘many of the failest and most vulnerable populations in te state, who often have to serape by on the most meager of existences and depend on these programs to remain healthy, to eat, te live independently and to maintain the basic human dignity I believe we all deserve {invite you to appear before the House Human Services Appropriations Committee to explain the decision-making process tha led t0 tis situation, We are also interesied to know if there are ‘ther department heads whose compensation is buried within the budgets of departments other ‘han those that they lead, and in addition, i there are any employees, who report lo you or other _members ofthe governor's office staff, whose salaries, contracts or compensation are paid through payroll or accounts outside ofthe Office ofthe Govemor itself. Greg Harris ia. ‘Services Appropriations Committee Ilinois House of Representatives