Rauner signs executive order dealing with veteran and minority hiring

By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network

Martin Luther King Day brings another executive order from Gov. Bruce Rauner.

This order requires labor organizations, contractors and subcontractors working with the state to identify how many minority and veteran participants there are in training or apprentice programs they may offer. Rauner says for now, he isn’t mandating a certain level of participation from contractors.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” Rauner said. “I want to measure the results. I want to see, first hand, from the light of the day, what is going on in the training programs and in the apprentice programs in the organizations that contract with the state.”

Those results are due in 30 days.

Rauner is also ordering two other reviews from state agencies: one to look over regulations regarding veteran-owned businesses and hiring veterans, and another to study possible disparities in opportunities for companies owned by veterans or minorities.

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