Open Illinois.org

Using our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, I found that the State of Illinois spent $1,910,822.81 on medical, scientific and laboratory supplies in 2008, and $944,027.42 on those expenses in 2009 by the time of our FOIA request. The Department of Veteran Affairs was responsible for 80% of the expenditures in 2008, and the Department of Public Health accounted for the other 20%. In 2009, the three departments with the most spending in this area were the Department of Veteran Affairs ($604,242), the Department of Transportation ($165,745), and the Department of Public Health ($156,472). The table below breaks down the expenses by year and department.

To find these expenses on the IllinoisOpenGov site go to “Checks to Businesses & People” and scroll down “Category of Spending” to “Medical & Laboratory Supplies,” “Medical Scientific And Laboratory Supplies,” “Medical, Scientific & Lab Supplies,” “Medical, Scientific And Labora,” “Medical, Scientific And Laboratory Equip, <$100,” “Medical, Scientific And Laboratory Supplies,” “Medical, Scientific, And Laboratory Supplies,” and “Medical/Lab Equip Not Ovr $100.” To download data, click on the Excel or CSV icon below the search results.

*Expenses showing “$0″ have been classified by their respective departments, and were not available through the FOIA.