Using information from the Institute’s transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org I found that in 2008 and 2009 (up until the time of our FOIA requests), the state of Illinois paid the National Association of State Workforce Agencies $72,208.35 for a variety of subscriptions and conferences. The NASWA is “an organization of state administrators of unemployment insurance laws, employment services, training programs, employment statistics and labor market information.” The payments to this association included $48,500 for a subscription to services provided by NASWA and America’s Job Link Alliance, and $13,000 for membership dues. Despite paying $13,000 in dues, the Department of Employment Security also paid $7,451.48 for employees to attend a variety of different conferences on “unemployment insurance, information technology, labor market information as well as NASWA’s Annual Conference in September and the Winter Policy Legislative Conference in February” hosted by NASWA.

The membership fee and NAWA-AJLA subscription payments were the two largest payments made to NASWA. Beyond these, the department reimbursed two employees over $1,000 each for expenses incurred at NASWA conferences. Still, the $7,451.48 the Department of Employment Security spent on NASWA conference fees is only a small portion of the $502,788.85 that all the state agencies combined spent on fees, registration, and related expenses for conferences; a topic that will be covered in future pieces.

You can find this information for yourself by going to IllinoisOpenGov.org, clicking on the “Checks to Business & Individuals” section and searching for “National Association of State” in the “vendor” section, and “conf. fees” under the “category of spending” section.