Legislative panel holding child welfare hearings

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:20:35 CST

By: AP

     Two Illinois House committees are holding a hearing to investigate allegations of lax oversight at the state's child-welfare agency that allowed a former director's friend to rip off the government.
     Rep. Jack Franks and Rep. Greg Harris are convening the hearing today in Chicago.
     Franks calls the magnitude of the alleged abuse at the Department of Children and Family Services ``breathtaking.''
     The agency's former director, Erwin McEwen, has been accused of creating an atmosphere that allowed a friend to collect millions of dollars for shoddy or non-existent work.
     Gov. Pat Quinn took four months to remove McEwen after being told by state inspectors about the situation.
     Franks chairs the House State Government Administration Committee. Harris heads the House Human Services Committee.