(The Center Square) – Despite federal pushback for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Illinois has spent millions of dollars in the past few years for new, high-paying government jobs to increase the amount of state contracts that go to businesses owned by racial minorities, women and people with disabilities, an investigation by The Center Square found.

Yet, at least on paper, the relatively new Commission on Equity and Inclusion is farther from its goal than when it began work in 2022.