Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino told lawmakers Tuesday he doesn't want people to question his integrity. But he declined to respond to questions about alleged misuse of campaign funds.
Illinois Republican lawmakers used a legislative audit hearing to continue pressuring Mautino on what his critics call excessive, and possibly unethical, spending listed in his campaign finance reports.
Mautino, who took office in January after years as a Democratic state representative, said he'll answer those questions on May 16 at a hearing with the State Board of Elections.
But Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Aurora, said that as the state's top financial watchdog, Mautino needs to answer lawmakers too, and soon.
"It's distressing that this has now gone on now for months without answer of some pretty simple, basic questions," he said.
Republican legislators first asked Mautino to explain the spending in February. The board of elections plans to vote Monday on whether to hold a public hearing on his campaign filings.
