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* Amanda Vinicky talked to House Speaker Michael Madigan about Republican calls for embattled Auditor General Frank Mautino to resign…
“It’s understandable that the Republicans, as they will do, are attempting to make different political issues. I understand that. They ought to look at their own house though. They seem to have some problems inside their own house and they ought to work on that,” longtime Illinois House Speaker, Democrat Michael Madigan, said recently in an interview with public radio.
“I think it’s appropriate that there would be an inquiry, which is happening. Certain issues have been raised. Frank Mautino has been responding to those issues. He will continue to respond to those issues,” Madigan said. “My expectation is that at the end of the day, after there’s been a full inquiry, and a full level of knowledge as to what happened, that Frank will be vindicated, and he’ll continue to serve as the auditor general.”
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 9:34 am
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Yikes.
I guess this is Madigan staying with his guy.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 9:38 am
Just when this thing was beginning to get lost in the shuffle, he breathes life into it. Odd.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 9:46 am
When you control the outcome of something your predictions are often correct
Comment by Remington Rick Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 9:59 am
Don’t forget the Auditor General’s putative role in the pending redistricting reform. Could this be factoring in to Madigan’s getting out front re vindication?
Comment by Sage Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:00 am
Huh. Seems pretty confident. In my legal career I learned one thing if nothing else - never have any “expectations” about what the Feds will do.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:03 am
MJM might want to shake his crystal ball again on this one.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:14 am
This is politics. The Deputy Auditor General recently retired and that spot is technically a “Republican” spot because they the four caucuses take turns on appointments (LRB, LRU, etc). The Republicans have put forth a name but the Speaker is blocking it.
If Mautino were to resign, the Deputy would become the temporary Auditor General and Madigan does not want a GOP in that spot. If Mautino resigns now, there is no current Deputy because of the retirement.
Comment by 4 percent Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:14 am
By which I mean Magic 8 ball. I need coffee.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:14 am
And who says there is no loyalty today in politics. Madigan can always say at the end of the day he was wrong but it’s crazy to have an AG under investigation. Why not a LOA?
Comment by Sue Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:16 am
“Frank Mautino has been responding to those issues.”
Yes, by pleading his fifth amendment rights.
Comment by Anon2U Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:31 am
Sue -
George Ryan served for four years while under investigation. Some would argue he was the best governor of the last 18 years.
Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:33 am
@ Sue…Others, not so much…
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:34 am
== “Certain issues have been raised. Frank Mautino has been responding to those issues.” ==
He has? In what way?
Comment by August West Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:35 am
That is about the strongest possible support anyone could offer Mautino. I’m a little stunned.
Still, even if he is vindicated following a full investigation, how can he possibly scold an agency in an audit for sloppy book-keeping? Vindicated or not, Mautino’s record-keeping was way below par, and while that isn’t criminal, it does not instill much confidence in an auditor’s ability to perform the job duties.
I am impressed with Madigan’s full-throated defense of his friend, but not persuaded at all that Mautino should stay on as Auditor.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:37 am
On the one hand, the natural inclination is to think the Speaker wouldn’t predict vindication unless he has something solid to base it on. On the other, he predicted the Supreme Ct. would uphold the pension reform laws.
Comment by chi Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:39 am
Madigan’s “prediction” is intended to influence others that there is not enough evidence to require Mautino to step down. Madigan is an expert at blurring clear black/white issues and making them gray.
Comment by justacitizen Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:39 am
August West–
You’re right. Mautino has responded by stalling, stonewalling, and refusing to answer reporters’ questions about his spending.
It appears he’s trying to delay things long enough so he can be in office as auditor one year and see his pension jump $60,000 per annum.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:39 am
Madigan also confidently predicted his pension reform legislation was constitutional.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:41 am
What specifically is MJM getting at with “problems inside their own house”?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:41 am
This is all spin and deflect by the Speaker.
Mautino has provided no response whatsoever. He most likely never will until this hits a Federal court. By saying that Republicans have problems he is just attempting to shift focus away from Frank and on to the Republicans. A for effort Mr. Speaker but F in effectiveness.
Is this another sign that the Speaker is slipping and losing control??
Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 10:59 am
I would just say that the word on the street in Spring Valley isn’t good. If I have heard that, those investigating probably know a heck of a lot more. I think Mautino is in trouble.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 11:05 am
MJM’s ‘problems in their own house and they ought to work on that’ statement sounds a lot like his cryptic statement that Blago ’should be concerned about his own indiscretions’ statement. Intriguing enough to get attention, vague enough to make the other side pause and wonder what he might know.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 11:07 am
Out. Of. Touch.
Comment by LessAnon? Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 11:11 am
Hypocrite. If the guy had a R behind his name, MJM would have skewered him months ago. So several months are not enough to get this info together?? Um, sure!
Comment by Warthog Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 11:12 am
There are always problems in the executive branch; a contract that is not working and that has political connections, a Director with adverse OIG reports, staffing shortages in critical positions that endanger public safety. If reporters look hard enough, they are bound to find something.
If Madigan’s cryptic comment inspires a reporter to look harder at something, he has won.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 11:17 am
“So it shall be written. So it shall be done.”
Comment by Slugger O'Toole Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 11:43 am
MJM’s “own house in order” comments are eerily like his “indiscretions” comment about Blago when they were in a tiff. Nobody decoded it then, and I’m not sure anything ever came out. But the trajectory afterward was not good.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 11:47 am
“Certain issues” may not fully cover the magnitude of the public’s imagination.
Comment by Keyser Soze Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 12:55 pm
Mautino’s future as Auditor General is shaky at best. MJM knows it too. There’s a reason a Deputy Auditor General hasn’t been appointed yet.
Comment by Double Nickel Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 8:07 pm