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April 1, 2004

Randy Nehrt

Secretary of State Inspector General Jim Burns Receives Senate Confirmation

SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State Jesse White's Inspector General Jim Burns was confirmed for his post today by the Illinois Senate.

The Senate confirmation was required under a law initiated by White. The new law makes the position permanent and provides the Inspector General with broader powers to root out corruption. Jim Burns has served as White's Inspector General since April, 2000. Mr. Burns previously served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1993 to 1997.

"Jim Burns has done a tremendous job helping me clean up the Secretary of State's office and restore the public trust to an office I inherited under a cloud of controversy," White said. "I commend the Senate for providing their seal of approval. We have established a code of conduct for employees and a zero-tolerance policy for corruption. The bipartisan support for Jim Burns' nomination provides additional proof to the public that politics takes a back seat to public service in the Secretary of State's office."

The new law makes the Inspector General a permanent position within the Secretary of State's office, establishes qualification criteria for those appointed and requires Senate confirmation. It also calls for the Inspector General to adopt rules and regulations establishing minimum requirements for initiating, conducting and completing investigations. It mandates that the Inspector General must report directly to the Secretary of State.

The new authority includes subpoena powers, protection for whistleblowers from retribution and penalties for employees who fail to cooperate with investigations or knowingly file false complaints to the Inspector General.

"I want to thank the members of the Senate for their support and I look forward to continuing our work," Burns said. "Secretary White's commitment along with the General Assembly's support sends a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated. We have been given the tools to run an independent, professional office and the resources to take proactive steps that will help prevent the type of corruption that plagued this office in the past."

In addition to Burns, the Senate confirmed Mike Masterson of LaGrange Park, and former Senators Judy Myers of Danville and Duane Noland of Blue Mound as members of the Secretary of State Merit Commission.