***MEDIA ALERT*** March 25, 2015 DR. WILLIE WILSON AND CHICAGO CLERGY MEET WITH GOVERNOR RAUNER March 25, 2015 at Noon: Dr. Willie Wilson and members of the Chicago Clergy community will meet with Governor Rauner and address the State Legislature with a New Economic Agenda. This meeting will take place at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. CONTACT: Rev. Gregory Seal Livingston Mobile: 312.953.0908 gslivingston@mac.com http://twitter.com/gslivingston http://facebook.com/gregory.livingston huffingtonpost.com/gregory-seal-livingston DRAFT House and Senate Joint Resolution WHEREAS, African Americans represent 14.7% of the total population of Illinois residents; the unemployment rate for African-Americans in Illinois is projected to be 13.5%, nearly double the rate for the total state population; and WHEREAS, African Americans represent 9.5% of the ownership of total Illinois businesses, the total value of state contracts awarded to Black-owned businesses in 2013 was less than 1% of total Central Management Services (CMS) spending; and WHEREAS, Unemployment leads to a decline in communities, resulting in foreclosures, abandoned buildings, violence, depression and poverty; BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE NINETY -NINTH ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STA TE OF ILLINOIS, that there is created a Fair Practices in Contracting Task Force to: (1) Thoroughly survey African American owned business participation in State procurements; and (2) Research solutions and methods to address the disparity in procurement awards; and (3) Produce a final report summarizing the task forces’findings and detailing recommended statutory or constitutional strategies to recognize best practices. RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the following members: 4 task force members appointed by the Speaker of the House, 2 of which must be state represents and 2 of whom are from Central Management Services, the Illinois Department of Transportation or Illinois Health and Family Services; 4 task force members appointed by the President of the Senate, 2 of whom are State senators, and 2 of; 2 of whom are from Central Management Services, the Illinois Department of Transportation or Illinois Health and Family Services; 4 task force members appointed by the Governor, all of whom are from Central Management Services, the Illinois Department of Transportation or Illinois Health and Family Services; and be it further RESOLVED, That the task force be appointed and hold its first meeting by March 1, 2015; and be it further RESOLVED, That the Department of Central Management Services shall facilitate the Task Force and provide the Task Force with administrative support, but shall have no hand in guiding its direction or ascertaining its results; the Task Force shall meet quarterly and report its findings to the General Assembly and its appropriate committees; and be it further RESOLVED, that members of task force shall serve without compensation; and be it further RESOLVED, That the task force shall submit its final report to the General Assembly and the Governor, no later than December 31, 2015.