http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-966720.mp3
Springfield, IL – Illinois lawmakers continue to gripe about the lack of information on the state's decision to drop popular insurance carrier Health Alliance. But legislators themselves put those roadblocks in place.
In a push to remove political influence from the contract award process following the scandals of former Governor Rod Blagojevich, lawmakers enacted more stringent requirements for companies bidding for state business and for the agencies that pick the winners and losers.
Health Alliance is one of the first losers under the new law and also an initial test of its practicality.
Frustration ran high at the latest hearing on the controversy. State Representative Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) questioned the Department of Healthcare and Family Services' top lawyer Jeanette Badrov.
Rose: "The whole thing is predicated on a false assumption."
Badrov: "The law is not a dance, Representative Rose. Especially the new procurement law that was passed by the General Assembly that we need to follow."
Rose: "You're talking about process of an RFP, I'm talking about analyzing the data, OK?"
Badrov: "Which relates to possible protest arguments."
Rose: "No it doesn't. It is nothing to do with... Take our law hats off and get back to the basic question."
An ethics commission will have final say whether to keep Health Alliance or let the contract end.
Thanks to Illinois Public Radio