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Yes, it’s the Blagojevich administration, but does every single campaign contribution have to be treated like some sort of federal crime?
The head of the state agency that provides student loans to college students says his ties to Gov. Rod Blagojevich had nothing to do with him getting his $180,000 job.
Andrew Davis, 50, said Thursday that it is “silly” to suggest that his contributions to the governor in 2000 and 2002 led to him being named as executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
“If that were the case I’m probably owed 25 other jobs because I’ve supported lots and lots and lots of people and never received a quid pro quo beyond an autographed photo,” said Davis.
Davis was appointed to a seat on the commission by Blagojevich in 2005 and signed a three-year contract as executive director in January. State records show Davis and his companies have contributed at least $31,000 to the governor’s campaign fund.
[Emphasis added]
And then there’s this from the Decatur Herald & Review…
THUMBS DOWN! To the Illinois Executive Ethics Committee, which allowed the former Illinois Department of Transportation secretary to take a job with a company that had received $50 million in contracts during his time with the state. Tim Martin asked for a waiver of the ethics law, which prohibits state employees from starting private-sector jobs at firms with which they did business for one year after leaving a state job. But the ethics commission decided to waive that requirement. What’s the use of having a law if a commission is going to ignore it?
Um, guys, the law specifically allows for the waivers. The commission didn’t “ignore” the law. The commission applied it.
And while we’re at it, the same editorial page had this gem…
THUMBS DOWN! To Gov. Rod Blagojevich for stepping over the line by claiming God is on his side in his battle to reform the state’s tax system. Blagojevich told the Illinois Education Association last weekend that he wants to use some of the proceeds from the gross receipts tax to increase funding for education. He also told teachers he was expecting a battle in the legislature. “It will be Armageddon, but we are on the side of the Lord, and we will prevail.” Huh? Politicians are prone to exaggeration, but Armageddon, with the Lord picking sides? That’s over the top.
Blagojevich was actually quoting Teddy Roosevelt. Here’s what he told me in an interview last week…
You know, Teddy Roosevelt left the Republican convention because the machine renominated William Howard Taft, and Teddy Roosevelt didn’t get the nomination, so he bolted and he went to the Old Historic Chicago Coliseum in 1912 and rallied the troops behind his own Bull Moose Party, a progressive party.
And the last line of his speech was ‘It is Armageddon and we are on the side of the Lord.’ And I was dying to say it out there, cause that’s how I’m feeling.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 7:28 am
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“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” Plato
Comment by The Devil Wears Plastic Looking Hair Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 8:36 am
I don’t think its silly to suggest that Andrew Davis’s contributions to the governor in 2000 and 2002 led to him being named as executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. We all know that the current system of private finance of public elections is just a form legalized bribery. What would be silly would be for anyone to believe that these contributors give so much money without the expectation of any return on their investment.
Blagojevich makes an interesting point about Roosevelt and the Bull Moose Party. I do see some parallels here in Illinois, where a machine nominated Blagojevich; and people are bolting to the Green Party–a progressive political party.
Comment by Squideshi Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 9:02 am
Rich, I think it’s interesting that you chose to add emphasis to the fact that Davis’s contributions were in 2000 and 2002, and not that they totalled $31,000. Heck, according to reports, it only costs $25,000 to get appointed to a board, it’s not unreasonable to think another $6,000 makes you executive director.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 10:14 am
Don’t you think the gov has brought this on himself when he said he would “change business as usual”? While this administration has been very aggressive in some areas of streamlining the state (to a certain degree good). They have continued to prove that not only have they NOT changed business as usual, but have amplified the old way (Pay to play). Had GROD not ran as a reformist I don’t know if the bashing would have been as bad as it is.
There are a lot of bad things going on in state government (and has for the last 4 years) that has indeed “made George Ryan look like a saint” and eventually it will come out thanks to the US Attorney!
Comment by He Makes Ryan look like a saint Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 10:18 am
If he was talking to the teachers, he was preaching to the choir. They love tax hikes…any way they can get ‘em, especially if they come largely free of accountability for the teachers.
Actually, I think Blago enjoys the fight. He probably wishes there were more opposition. Business interests might want to keep that in mind and stick to the high ground.
We need to keep our eyes on the money here. How much, where is it coming from, and how much is it going to cost me.
Comment by Cassandra Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 10:22 am
To all you cynics; I don’t believe campaign contributions are given only in expectation of some quid pro quo, though I’m sure some are.
Most of the campaign contributions I make (and I suspect I make more than many, if not most, of you, are simply to help elect, or re-elect, people who I believe will do a good job. I view the $ as mainly an investment in future good government, and in most cases there’s nothing those people could ever do for me personally.
Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 11:45 am
The issue of whether or not Davis was appointed due to campaign contributions aside - his intention to sell off the student loan portfolio is what is really troubling. This will financially ruin ISAC (which is probably the only self-supporting state agency) and be a disaster for Illinois college students and their parents. What are Davis’ qualifications? He has no background in Education and he presided over a failed company. He was appointed to sell off Illinois’ student loans to make a one-time quick profit, at the long term expense of higher education in Illinois. That is a real shame.
Rex
Comment by Rex Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 12:34 pm
I’ve been a critic of a lot of things out of Springfield for the past few years, however hiring Andy Davis is one of the few things that makes sense. I have known him personally since the mid ’90’s. The changes he made at the Chicago Stock Exchange were ground breaking for the local securities community. He brought Corporate Governance to a stock exchange that could not even pronounce it before he got there. He led the exchange to volume numbers that were other wise unheard of for a regional exchange.
Comment by Boutte-no name nickname needed Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 1:05 pm
Come on rs Ryan stuffed money in his personal pocket this fact has not only not been an accusation yet i do believe but not one bit of evidence of this has been presented just countless baseless accusations from poor loosers
Comment by anon again Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 4:52 pm
“anon again” I have two words for you:
Michael Ascaridis
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 5:05 pm
Re: “The commission didn’t “ignore†the law. The commission applied it.”… Perhaps, but it smells like an insider deal to avoid the “reform and renewal” theme so frequently stated by Blago. Time and again he fails to live up to the jargon. He proposed to stop the “revolving door” and the comission has approved two out of two requests for waivers….
Comment by Decatur Dave Friday, Mar 16, 07 @ 7:21 pm
Since when is giving student loans to out of state students part of the ISAC mandate? Getting rid of those and making a profit on them IS a good deal for Illinois and allows, as Davis said, ISAC to focus its efforts on Illinois kids. By the way, Davis was trustee of Beloit for 10 years and then became chairman of their board for another five so it is incorrect to say that he has no education credentials.
Comment by Ron Chicago Monday, Mar 19, 07 @ 4:05 pm
It’s no secret. They guy has no idea where he is going to get money to fund the state programs now since he sold the porfolios. His only mistake was that he thought that the sales would go undetected by the time he drained the ISAC agency. Fotunatly, this has backfired and you will soon hear more about this Blagojevich appointed axeman in the next few months. Blagojevich will wipe his hands of his puppet and the guy will look as foolish as he really is
Comment by Lance Wednesday, Mar 28, 07 @ 4:44 pm