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* If you don’t subscribe and were wondering about that mysterious subscriber-only post yesterday afternoon, here’s the rundown…
The acrimony between Gov. Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan hit a new low Thursday after the administration abruptly fired the wife of Madigan’s top aide from her $102,000-a-year state post.
The Department of Human Service justified last week’s firing of Bronwyn Rains, noting she did not meet educational requirements dictated by the Social Security Administration, which funded her job.
But Madigan spokesman Steve Brown dismissed the justification as “an absolute lie.”
Key House Democrats viewed the firing as a new phase in the “political vendetta” Blagojevich is waging against his chief nemesis, who has stifled the governor’s agenda.
“I think the governor’s latest move seems clearly vindictive and can do nothing but make an already volatile situation worse,” said Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago).
* Thanks to the AP for giving me some props on yesterday morning’s scoop…
Mapes said he didn’t know why his wife was fired after a long period of service with the state but acknowledged retribution could be a reason.
“She’s doing fine,” Mapes said. “Just like any person when they’re terminated, she finds it unusual.”
News of the move, first reported by the Capitol Fax political newsletter, caught lawmakers off guard Thursday, as they wrapped up the first week of their two-week fall veto session. Some feared it could poison any chance of reconciliation between Blagojevich and Madigan on key policy issues for the rest of this year and beyond.
* More…
Tom Green, spokesman for the state Department of Human Services, said the federal Social Security Administration notified DHS that certain disability determinations must be signed by psychologists who either have doctorates or, alternatively, master’s degrees coupled with a listing on a national register of health service providers in psychology. Rains and another person doing the same job at DHS had only master’s degrees and aren’t on the national register. […]
Because of the change in rules, he said, “It was a decision that was made by the federal government.” […]
Steve Brown, spokesman for Madigan, D-Chicago, said, “We find the administration devoid of credibility.”
* The trouble is, as subscribers know, it took the administration three tries to finally come up with that explanation, which still isn’t complete. The first two (actually, the first three, but I didn’t report the other one) were factually incorrect.
Plus, and I can’t emphasize this enough, the DHS explanation doesn’t really matter, no matter how credible you find it. What really matters here is how the players react to it, and Madigan is one angry camper.
* More…
A spokeswoman for the governor said the issue is not personal despite such heated rhetoric.
“I think that people are starting to filter out comments that we’ve come to expect from Mr. Brown. But this issue is not between Governor Blagojevich and Speaker Madigan. It’s between Human Services and the Social Security Administration,” said Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch. “The federal government was very clear … that they would no longer fund a person in that position that did not possessed a specific set of qualifications.”
There’s more to this story, but you’ll have to subscribe to get it.
* Meanwhile…
Rep. Tom Cross, the Republican leader in his chamber, had the quote of the day from the House floor before lawmakers finished their first week of the annual fall session.
“Perhaps, at least at the higher level, we’ve had an inability to communicate to get the budget done, to take care of capital, to take care of RTA, to take care of gaming. And I have a suggestion,” he said.
He cited psychologist and author Kate Wachs, who’s been interviewed by such media entities as the Chicago Tribune and Oprah Winfrey.
“She’s a nationally acclaimed relationship expert, and she’s written a book, Relationships for Dummies,” Cross said. “And she has a very good chapter on good communication, the bolts. One of the things she talks about is finding compromises that work for you and your partners. And I thought maybe she could come to a leaders’ meeting.”
I kinda think that won’t work. You?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:07 am
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didnt rod just run a play from the madigan playbook? why are people shocked? madigan has been doing this for decades, right?
Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:12 am
Anon:
No he hasn’t.
Comment by GA Watcher Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:16 am
He often uses this againt potential candidates. The difference here is that Rains is a non-combatant.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:18 am
Blagojevich has no idea how to accomplish his goals. He’s like a pool player that shoots the cue ball really hard every time.
No finesse, no success. Ask Bush.
Comment by Truth Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:22 am
Too late. Maybe last June.
How about if we get Jerry Springer to “mediate” this show?
Rich, is any of this picked up by national media?
Comment by North of I-80 Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:23 am
One hardly feels sorry for a politically-connected contractor earning $100,000 + a year, likely far more than she could make in the private sector.
Are there thousands of waiters and bartenders with MA’s in psych.
And why didn’t she get herself on the register in the two years since this ruling came out? Too arrogant, I guess. Or maybe couldn’t even meet requirements for that.
Let’s hope the next person doing the job has
the right qualifications in addition to, likely,
being a Friend of Emil, whose wife is a honcho at DHS. After all, Social Security disability is another huge taxpayer ripoff and fraud abounds.
We should applaud the feds for increasing, not
decreasing, the requirements for the job.
The story that us taxpayers should be concerned about is that this is the tip of the iceberg.
There are thousands of underqualified politically connected hacks working as $100k + contracts or
$100k civil servants (and you can’t even get rid of the latter). And we’re paying for ‘em.
Comment by Cassandra Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:23 am
How many unqualified personnel has Governor Blago placed in plum positions in the last 4+ years?
Answer: Is Staggering
Comment by Foxes watching the Hen House Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:23 am
Cassandra, I’m not even sure that she knew about the federal concerns.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:25 am
The governor’s daughters and mine attend the same Montessori school in Chicago. Each classroom is equipped with a “Peace Corner” where children go to resolve conflict. Rod, Mike and Emil, place your hands on your chest and speak from your heart…
Comment by Rod sez I'm pork Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:27 am
Rebecca Raush has it wrong. For quite some time now, people have been filtering out comments SHE makes.
Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:27 am
Question: Is a doctorate degree required for this job or not (i.e., was it required prior to 10/2/07)? If so, why wouldn’t the media report that and investigate how she got this job? Also, I realize this is kinda small potatoes, but doesn’t such hiring controversies come under Lisa Madigan’s jurisdiction?
Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:28 am
Speaking of $100,000+ salaries, has anyone noticed how may staff members make over that amount at I.D.O.T. and the Illinois Tollway. It has to be a historical record.
Comment by I.D.O.T. Bleachers Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:32 am
If $100K plus people are unqualified in jobs, the corollary is that the jobs are not required.
Except to assuage political leaders.
What is the lowest paying job that is being filled by an Emil family member?
Is this a great state or not?
It is about time to have the GA set up a Department of Nepotism specifically for relatives of the politically connected. Offices in some basement in a building leased from some other politically connected guy. And nobody needs to take attendance.
Comment by Truthful James Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:32 am
Truth
Blago is like a pool player that uses a string for a cue! Blago doesn’t know the rules of the game and doesn’t have the “tools”.
Comment by MOON Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:39 am
HB001 would end all this. But it’s the Rod and Emil show.
Comment by SPEND, SPEND, SPEND Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:39 am
Let’s see. They give Lorrie Rickman Jones a $70,000 raise and promote her into a position that previously required a more advanced degree.
Then they fire Bronwyn Rains because she didn’t have the “right” degree.
Makes perfect sense when you remember it’s coming from an administration whose defense in court was that the Governor can’t be held accountable for what he says because it’s just “classic political puffery.”
Comment by Old Elephant Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:45 am
Yeah, I don’t think couples therapy is going to work. Perhaps a lighting bolt from God.
Comment by Huckleberry Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:46 am
A psychiatrist could only work if the parties involved realized they have a problem. LOL!
Comment by Levois Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:46 am
For the good of the state, it would be nice if Blago, Jones, Madigan, Cross and Watson all put aside their differences and had a gentleman’s code/agreement. This would entail getting budgets done on time; passing meaningful ethics legislation; not firing spouses, family members or friends; and actually behaving like adults. If anything, these ideas would repair the state’s image and improve the morale of people such as state employees, teachers and rank-and-file legislators.
The nastiness in D.C. is just barbaric. The sad thing is that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid promised to correct the problems of the DeLay-Hastert Congress and it’s gotten worse. They are making Illinois look somewhat decent - and I never thought I would say that.
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:54 am
In 2002, Madigan hinted that he had dirt on Blago and that if Rod didn’t start behaving he would share that dirt. Is this incident enough to fully pull off the gloves? Will we (and the feds) finally know all that Madigan knows?
Comment by S. Illinois Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:54 am
Bottom line, the gov went after Madigan’s staff. Madigan has always struck me as the type of guy who apreceates the value staff adds (I might be wrong).
He has to at this point ‘Cry Havoc and release the dogs of war’ otherwise the staff will not feel like he has their backs.
Mess with me, I understand it. Mess with my people, it’s on….
Comment by OneMan Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:04 am
Cross needs to stop waving touchy-feely books by crazy people and decide or not he wants to be a force or not. Is Mike Madigan your enemy or not?
Do you stand for conservative principles or not?
Admittedly, he is no position to do much about it at this juncture. But why the schtick?
But, with watered-down Democrats populating the GOP leadership, who needs Republicans and why vote?
The legislature needs to justify its own self-existence and the legislators need to justify their own perpetuation at the trough of the taxpayers.
The only diffference between Madigan and Cross is…?
Comment by Cruz, Brandon Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:11 am
I am sending this one in without my normal handle. I have been a supporter of the Gov for over 10 years but it is clear to me that he is insane. Nothing else can explain this behavior. Nothing. I am bitterly disappointed.
Comment by Anonymous for today Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:12 am
===Bottom line, the gov went after Madigan’s staff. Madigan has always struck me as the type of guy who apreceates the value staff adds (I might be wrong).
Essentially correct, but this is even a step further. Mapes is in the game. His wife isn’t. Mess with Mapes. Okay. Mess with his wife–no, no, no. And everyone whoever worked for Madigan is mad too.
Comment by archpundit Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:17 am
One Man, you said you might be wrong and you are wrong.
Lots of campaign workers expected invites after Lisa’s ‘02 campaign that were not forthcoming.
It’s still Saturday Morning at the Ward office with these folks.
They will go after Blago for this and expend political capital on it for Lisa ‘10.
Comment by Seen It Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:20 am
As for the firing, I am surprised Mapes’ wife made as much as she did and was kept as long as she was. This really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Lets move on!
Comment by anon Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:34 am
Cassandra,
As usual you have no facts to back up your anti-governement program statements. You stated: “Social Security disability is another huge taxpayer ripoff and fraud abounds.” Where are your facts?
Comment by So Blue Democrat Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:44 am
It must be hard for Rebbeca Rausch to tell tales on behalf of Governor Blago all day long and then go home and deal with children!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:45 am
The lady worked for 20+ years under a contract. Two years ago the Feds upped the degrees or registration needed for payment. Why didn’t she just do what she needed to get registered and why didn’t DHS find something else for her to do while they work out a solution with all the players. This could have easily been handled quietly. Just bush league stupid.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 11:18 am
How can we verify the Federal hiring requirements for this position? All we are doing right now is taking DHS’ and Blago’s word for it. Sorry but that’s not good enough for me. I want to see something in writing from SS.
Comment by Just My Opinion Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 11:23 am
zatoichi, You must ask the question… Was Rains aware of the federal concerns? Rich indicated he wasn’t sure she knew of the federal concerns. Did someone with an axe to grind hang onto that info until the opportune time to strike? Anyone who understands how to play chess, and can put themselves into a horrendously vindictive state of mind can play this game - EVEN A C STUDENT! What a poison environment. So toxic. So embarrasing. So obvious.
Comment by Say WHAT? Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 11:37 am
You saw that Gov. Milorad was on the 5 a.m. news shows talking about “Cubbie Swagger.”
Comment by Up Early Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 11:49 am
I think many of you are missing the point, the governors office has been doing this to many of the Legislators family members, if they have gone against the Governor in session. I can name a few of them but will leave it up to Rich. Either they fire them or demote them.
What is going to happen the rest of the time he is Governor? Anything that passes the house will not get through the senate and anything out of the senate will not get out of the house. None of the Governors initiatives will pass. We are doomed as a state for 3 more years of gridlock.
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 12:08 pm
I imagine Gov. B intends this to be a warning to everyone with relatives, friends, & neighbors who work for the state. I hope it backfires big time. If he continues like this, watch for talk of impeachment. His presence will be seen as a threat to everyone.
Someone please explain how the Governor’s actions are rational.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 12:17 pm
Bronwyn Rains salary went from $37,000 to $102,000 in six years.
I think she has lapped up enough gravy, don’t you?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 12:40 pm
This game of “gotcha” is bringing us to the point that the name MADIGAN will be just as detrimental to Lisa as the name RYAN was to Jim. People will cringe when they hear the name.
Hello Governor Obama.
Comment by What's in a name? Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 12:45 pm
Madigan, maybe, but don’t leave out Jones and Blagojevich.
It’s like watching a slap fight. Nobody wins and everyone looks stupid.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 12:56 pm
It’s unclear why the agency didn’t try to get Rains on this listing when they were first told. That could have been due to influence from above. My guess is it was, based on the lowlife’s record up to now.
Marilee Leahy, white courtesey phone… client waiting.
Comment by Code of honor Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:06 pm
The gov will pay dearly for this cheap idiotic act. This “revenge” will challenge the creativity of the Avenger. I am just near giddy with anticipation - betcha gov is looking over his shoulder more than he’s looking ahead. Oh, and while not a 10 year blago supporter, I couldn’t agree more with - Anonymous for today -. The last time I saw this kind of brutality was during Dan Walker’s admin. Staff are simply out of bounds for anyone with honor and integrity.
Comment by A Citizen Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:21 pm
Is Blago really this stupid to understand the wrath he has just unleashed?
Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:37 pm
LE and others, this is generally viewed as a “victory” at Camp Blago.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:41 pm
Rich, that is just delusional on their part. Are they really that insulated from the real world?
Comment by A Citizen Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:45 pm
So Blue–
A number of studies have shown that many applicants who get certified for SS disability, especially those on the margin, could, in fact, work and are not objectively eligible for the lifetime free ride. Often they work with physicians and other unscrupulous”professionals” who help them produce the necessary paperwork.
I realize that it’s hard for “so blue” Dems to believe that corruption in government exists but, well, there you have it. Look around your state.
As to the lady in question, only people who have lived in Springfield too long would view her political contract being yanked as a human tragedy. People who are hired for political reasons should be able to be fired for political reasons…take the job, take the chance.
Comment by Cassandra Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:46 pm
Obvious questions to ask:
(1) Is there any evidence that the feds changed their criteria for contract psychologists (the SJ-R refers to a letter from Social Security, but it’s not online)? If so, maybe this is no big deal.
(2) Were there any other contract psychologists affected by this decision? Again, maybe this is less of a big deal if she’s not the only person affected.
(3) Did the pay for the other contract psychologists also go up 200+% in a few years? This seems less likely. Perhaps the increase was due to her working more hours in the last year or so.
(4) Is there any evidence that Ms. Rains was doing good work for DHS, other than Mr. Mapes say-so? Contract workers don’t usually have a “201″ performance review, but there must be some indicator to back this up or not.
Comment by Decatur Don Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:51 pm
Spouses and children of all parties, including the Governor’s wife and children, should be off limits. The Governor has added more fuel to the fire by taking an adverse action against Mapes’ wife.
I doubt that the Governor’s people made any effort to work out a reasonable e alternative to firing Rains - transfer to another position or maybe even a demotion to a prior position. Therefore, I would conclude that Rains was fired for vindictive political reasons rather than because of technical/legal requirements set by Social Security. The political firing theory is credible since the Blago administration changed its story several times to justiify the termination.
Cross’s commnets about seeking a relationship expert to resolve a bare-knuckle political conflict are absurd. Somehow, I don’t think group therapy would be helpful. “Electoral shock therapy” seems to be the ultimate long-term cure for the ills of our body politic.
Comment by Captain America Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:59 pm
Blago thinks he can get away with it because he is the head honcho and his staff can cut out positions and fire people. Rich is right: he probably views this as a win since he and his staff don’t think Madigan can fire back. Even if Madigan wanted to cut funding for a Blago-backed project, Emil & Company would be waiting to shoot the cut down. And then we’re back at square one. Since Blago has no control over legislative and legal staffs, he hurts the employees in a different way by ridding the state of a wife, a husband, a sibling, a child, etc.
I don’t feel sorry for Mapes, though. As Madigan’s COS, he must pull in $120K or so. COSs are worth every penny, but they also know what comes with the territory.
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:01 pm
The Disability Determination Services organization is the nest from which the Rutan decision on patronage hiring and firing hatched. The consultative physicians and other professional are contract employees paid with federal funds. Their hours and schedules generally fluctuate as many are retired or semi retired physicians, hence their pay will fluctuate. They are a group of professionals, hardly incompetent political hacks. Deriving pleasure from the firing is indicative of a very troubled and sick person or perhaps persons.
Comment by A Citizen Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:03 pm
That Tom Green can sure tell a story.
Thank goodness no one asked what other assignments she had besides the SSA reviews. That’s one we could not explain.
Comment by Doc Adams Shadow Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:09 pm
“I realize that it’s hard for “so blue” Dems to believe that corruption in government exists but, well, there you have it. Look around your state.”
Cassandra -
I don’t have to look any further than two blocks down the street. There is a family that both parents have been on SSI for something like 20 years…not because either is disabled but because they simply decided to walk away from STATE EMPLOYMENT and hit the government trough. I regularly see them running around, walking up and down the street and generally living large.
If you are lazy or a coke fiend you will likely find a free ride into SSI…..if you are legitimately disabled and NEED the assistance you better prepare to be declined and hire a lawyer. I know two people personally who had to do just that and only one of the two got the help even with the mouthpiece. The kicker was that both were MORE than willing to work in anything they could find and physically do. The problem was that employers weren’t exactly lined up to help and they both really needed the assistance.
SSI Disability might be helpful to a lot of people but the bureaucracy and the arbitrary denials and approvals make the system a crap shoot at best. Anyone who thinks that the program isn’t riddled with corruption and waste hasn’t been paying attention. After all, it was set up by politicians with other peoples’ money and administered by policy wonks. How could it NOT be corrupt?
Comment by Name/Nickname/Anon Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:19 pm
The guv, or his people, can’t sit down and talk over a situation with the employee? Sounds like a real setup to me.
Comment by Independent One Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:25 pm
Rains does absolutely top-notch work. DHS, Social Security, disability applicants, and taxpayers were fortunate to have her and that may be the reason DHS kept her eventhough she did not meet the new criteria. This happens alot with federal programs–federal regs change, states appeal, federal regs change again. On any given day, agencies are out of compliance with many federal regs, but the state continues to get federal funding. Can’t even imagine how much her replacement will cost. It’s all very unfortunate.
Comment by observer Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:27 pm
The firing is not so bad….
Blago fired me via a press conference. He did not blame the feds, rather he lied and said I (& others) were “part and parcel to a conspiracy to commit fraud” and unqualified for the job! All of which he back off of once the cameras were off him.
Blago & team use people, they abuse families they couldn’t care less and then Chicago re-elects him by a wide margin. Rich said it earlier, what a great state we live in! And to really top it off and make make matters worse, Blago is on national tv talking about his cubbies and now were down 2 games…..whats next?
I feel for Ms Rains & Mr. Mapes.
Comment by Jeff Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:33 pm
Google 20 CFR 404.1616 and 20 CFR 404.1617 to see the federal regualtions on the use of qualified psychologists in making disability determinations.
The fed’s letters are on the subscriber portoin of the blog and refer to the fed regs.
In regard to fraud and social security claims, most applications for benefits are denied by DDS personnel and consultants. Once the claim is denied it can go before a federal administrative law judge who makes the ultimate decision. It usually takes at least a year and a half to get through that process. Not many people who are out to defraud the patience to hold out for that long. In my experience DDS does only an adequate job in putting the file together and making a decision. The fact that over 50% of DDS decsions are reversed at hearing shows that a better job could be done by DDS in working up the files.
Comment by Marcus Agrippa Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:34 pm
Politically motivated firings? in this administration??
This has been going on since day ONE of this administration - the first set of firings were handled with press releases and cheers from everyone that there would be no more business as usual - this is WORSE than business as usual.
Patrick Fitzgerald - WHERE ARE YOU?????
Comment by never a dull moment Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:36 pm
I’m happy to know who to blame for the Cubs losing the first two games. Blago, for the love of mike, will you shut your big mouth about the Cubbies and give them a chance to win. You are jinxing them worse than the billy goat.
Comment by Just My Opinion Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:58 pm
Not even Rod could jinx that crew.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 3:00 pm
Does this mean Lou Pinella is moving into the Mansion?
Comment by A Citizen Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 3:03 pm
He might as well since no one else is living there…
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 3:09 pm
This HAS been going on since day one. And not only to people who were making $100,000+ annually.
This governor and his merry band of goofs have been screwing over hard working employees with bogus charges, charging them with breaking rules (rules that don’t exist) and inventing ways of eliminating individuals. They harass people until they walk or rack up enough “black marks” on their records to earn multiple unpaid suspensions and other arbitrary disciplinary actions.
They are a bunch or cowardly, snot nosed bullies hiding behind “rules” that don’t apply to the whole. Just ask all the red X’ers who were relieved from their jobs just because they held a useful head count position that could be used for installing a hack.
Comment by Papa Legba Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 3:10 pm
At least Kate Wachs has targeted the proper audience in this case with her book title.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 3:26 pm
As with many of Blago’s “victories” I suspect this one will come back to bite him in the ____ (animal that represents democrats).
Comment by Leigh Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 3:30 pm
A few years back, the Gov. cleared the DNR of anyone who indicated the cuts he was making were a bad idea. (Then he back-filled by appointing campaign workers to admin. positions.)
It’s nothing new, but I think the scale is catching everyone’s attention.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 3:34 pm
The patronage system will eventually loose.
This is an old style of politics of which people are sick and tired. Give people an alternative, which they do not currently have, and they’ll defect to it in droves. At least, that’s the plan.
Comment by Squideshi Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 4:12 pm
Quote of the week: Rep. Bill Black, in his usual priceless manner, said something yesterday about the atmosphere in the Capitol being so toxic he would have to start wearing a Hazmat suit during session. Would somebody want to try bringing a Geiger counter to the next leaders meeting : )
Comment by Lainer Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 4:22 pm
I’d pay Bill Black to wear a hazmat suit to session at least one time.
Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 4:36 pm
And I’d paint it to look like the obligatory coat and tie. What a hoot.
Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 4:37 pm
SSI determination requires a signature of a physician or a federally registered (licensed) clinical staffer. Others can do the scut work, and make the recommendation to the signature authority SSI executives. If you think Mapes’ wife makes good money, the reality is that her salary is less than the top honchos with the signature authority. So using her and other similar qualified staffers to do the investigation work and put together the file for the determination decision is good government and saves the state money.
Comment by capitol view Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 6:16 pm
Wouldn’t you think that an agency director’s office which is told that personnel have to meet a certain criteria to remain a viable employee, would inform the impacted employees of this situation? But then again, I guess you have to care first - about someone besides yourself.
Comment by Disgusted Saturday, Oct 6, 07 @ 5:58 am
The Springfield insiders who live of the government debating about whether the contract termination was political. Of course it was.
Now spend some time debating whether the position was actually neccesary and whether $100,000 was an appropriate level of compensation.
There is a plague on both the Madigan and Blagojevich houses.
Comment by Anonymoose Saturday, Oct 6, 07 @ 2:26 pm