Holland presser

Listening to the auditor general's press conference. What I just heard, I think, is that CMS apparently conducted an investigation of Bill Holland's office to see if they could impugn his integrity before the release of the audit. (UPDATE: I heard it correctly.)

(Keep hitting your "refresh" button because I'm doing updates as they happen.) (Press conference is finished, so you can lay off the "refresh" button.)

UPDATE 1: Holland just said he's forwarded material regarding the audit to the attorney general's office.

UPDATE 2: "The findings are troublesome. Their responses are even more."

UPDATE 3: "There are laws in place... They don't change... And you have to abide by them."

UPDATE 4: "The savings (claimed by CMS) did not occur."

UPDATE 5: "The IPAM people were taking credit (for savings) that had already happened."

UPDATE 6: Instead of the $600 million that the governor's office and CMS claims they've saved with the efficiency program, Holland thinks it's more like $100 million.

UPDATE 7: "If I'm an ordinary taxpayer, I'd be troubled." [...] "Weak process in ensuring transparency and integrity in the procurement process."

UPDATE 8: Vendors were allowed to participate in the RFP process and then bid on the contracts.

UPDATE 9: Regarding the administration: "Let's accept some responsibility for this."

UPDATE 10: "Sloppy is a very kind word." Ouch.

UPDATE 11: "The problem here is their unwillingness to say... 'Yes we need to make improvements.'"

UPDATE 12: While Holland was speaking, Republican gubernatorial candidate Joe Birkett issued a press release:

“Today's shocking report on the utter incompetence, corruption and waste in the Rod Blagojevich administration will go down in Illinois history as the ‘Magna Carta of Mismanagement.’"

UPDATE 13: Holland has repeatedly brushed aside questions on what, exactly, he has forwarded to the attorney general.

UPDATE 14: "The public has a right to expect a better procurement process."

UPDATE 15: Press conference just ended.