Dan Rutherford

(AP) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. There is a storm brewing over new carpet for Secretary of State Jesse White's offices at the Capitol in Springfield.

Two state government workers went to Georgia last week to pick up $20,000 work of new carpet for White, who's hosting an inaugural reception early next month. The cost of the trip was $1,700.

Spokesman Randy Nehrt says shipping would have cost $620. But it wouldn't have delivered the carpet in time.

He says the cost is worth having the office ready for the reception.

The carpet is for about a dozen secretary of state offices and areas near White's office.

But State Senator Dan Rutherford says White should have waited for the delivery. The Pontiac Republican ran against White in the last election.

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