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* Gov. Blagojevich was in southern Illinois yesterday for a highway renaming ceremony and was asked about the controversy about moving almost 150 IDOT jobs from Springfield to Benton…
“All I know is there will be 150 new jobs and I’m really excited about it.”
“New” as in “new” for Sen. Gary Forby’s district, but those aren’t “new” jobs. He’s just moving them around.
* Sen. Forby has the quote of the week…
Forby said he doesn’t know why the administration would announce a move without a site in mind.
“That’s the governor’s office,” he said. “I don’t have a clue.”
Neither do we, Gary. Neither do we.
* Meanwhile, on another topic - the governor’s absence from the annual Holocaust memorial service - but on the same frame of reference, the State Journal-Register admits…
We have given up trying to figure out this governor’s motivations.
* Pretty funny, but then they try again anyway…
We have a fairly good idea why he couldn’t be bothered with Wednesday’s Holocaust ceremony. The Hall of Representatives in the Old State Capitol does not provide a secret exit through which the governor could make a hasty retreat and avoid questions from pesky reporters. The governor these days rarely appears in venues where he can’t conveniently avoid any unscripted public contact.
* Meanwhile, the governor has said a capital bill is his top priority, but Sen. Dale Risinger claims the guv has been shafting the state’s Road Fund, which means less cash now for roads and bridges…
About $370 million typically used to be diverted out of the road fund each year and into the budgets of agencies that deal with roads, such as the Illinois State Police or the Secretary of State’s Office, Risinger said.
But he said the Blagojevich administration has made $4.2 billion worth of road fund diversions between fiscal years 2004 and 2009. If road fund diversions had remained at their typical level, the combined amount in that period would have been about $2.2 billion, he said.
* And then there’s this…
The AFSCME report claimed [state] employees are overworked to maintain minimal operational integrity at 24-hour facilities. The report also disclosed that the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Human Services and Department of Corrections collectively spent $62 million in overtime in a year. “When our members came to work in the state of Illinois, they signed up for public service, not for servitude,” said Henry Bayer, executive director of AFSCME Council 31. “All too many of them are forced to work two and even three 16-hour shifts in one week’s time.”
* The administration’s response?
Kelley Quinn, budget spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said the governor’s office is trying to recruit for positions such as nurses at veterans’ homes.
“We aggressively try to fill those positions, but they are difficult to fill,” Quinn said.
She forgot to add “they are difficult to fill because we don’t have any political friends with those qualifications,” or something like that.
Quinn does have a point that the state can operate more efficiently with less workers. I’d like to see a study, however, of how many contractors were hired - and at what cost - to fill the gaps created by that 2002 early retirement deal which emptied out so many state offices.
* Somewhat related…
* Union for state workers wants mandatory overtime eliminated - Members of AFSCME throw support behind contract clause, legislation…
* Republicans propose moratorium on closing Illinois prisons
* Tribune editorial: Prison blues
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 9, 08 @ 9:57 am
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Previous Post: Yet another banner day in the Illinois Senate *** UPDATED x2 ***
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I am applying Blago’s magic math to my personal budget — I took five bucks out of my right pocket and moved it to my left and now I have five NEW dollars.
At this rate, I’ll be able to retire before the sun goes down.
– SCAM
so-called “Austin Mayor”
http://austinmayor.blogspot.com
Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Friday, May 9, 08 @ 10:18 am
I saw an interview that occurred with the spokesperson from Ceasefire right after the Governor’s 150 mil news conference. He had the most incredulous look on his face and was dumbfounded.
These are guys who go into some of the worst neighborhoods in the world and negotiate with some of the worst cutthroats ever put on this earth but this Governor leaves them speechless.
Say what you will about Blogo but he can baffle the best of them.
Comment by Garp Friday, May 9, 08 @ 10:20 am
It appears that our governor, being unable to show his face to the public without an escape route to avoid being pelted with rotten tomatoes, has escaped fate via recall, and so is rewarding those who saved him.
Since we’re broke, he has to rob someone, so he chooses those who favored giving voters the recall. Although he clearly stated publically his approval of recall.
His political toxicity level is the highest in the US at this time. He easily beats George Bush by doubling the President’s disapproval rating and does so without fighting a war - not an easy feat.
Now we are left watching an unpopular governor do unpopular things that damage families, communities and intergovernmental relationships. Blagojevich just keeps on destroying others as he goes under and the Illinois Democratic Party, the Illinois General Assembly and other Democratic statewide office holders does nothing to end this never-ending horror show of an administration.
What did Illinois ever do to deserve this treatment?
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, May 9, 08 @ 10:24 am
LIke SCAM I moved $5, but I took it from my son’s pocket and put in my pocket, then put it back in his other pocket. Now we BOTH have a new $5.
Comment by anon Friday, May 9, 08 @ 10:31 am
Maybe we could try creating a Blago Math Test for inclusion for extra credit in the next Prairie State Achievement Exam
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 9, 08 @ 10:32 am
This is what happens when you try to learn math from an admitted “C” student. No wonder we’re broke.
Comment by Bluefish Friday, May 9, 08 @ 10:35 am
Why hasn’t the legislature initiated any legislation against him for diverting the funds they’ve approved? He’s usurping the authority of the legislature, and this state is probably already bankrupt because of it.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Friday, May 9, 08 @ 10:40 am
What did Illinois ever do to deserve this treatment?
The answer is so obvious it is not worth mentioning.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, May 9, 08 @ 10:41 am
Unfortunately, until the Democrats in the SEnate develop a spine and dump Jones so he can’t run interference for the governor, I can’ see much of anything changing, until we’re forced into bankruptcy court.
Comment by ChampaignDweller Friday, May 9, 08 @ 11:27 am
All fun aside, it can’t go on. Real lives are being impacted negatively here. Sadly, there are legitimate grounds for impeachment on incompetence and dereliction of duty alone. Let’s do it and get on with our lives.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 9, 08 @ 11:32 am
150 new jobs - More Blago Smokin’ Mirrors!
Comment by iMAGINE Friday, May 9, 08 @ 12:21 pm
If I was still in Spfld, I think I would invest in a bunch of t-shirts blasting the governor, to sell during the state fair parade. I think at $10.00 a pop, someone would have a gold mine.
I miss George.
Comment by Shelbyville Friday, May 9, 08 @ 12:38 pm
According to our Illinois constitution…what is an impeachable offence…exactly? I am refering to the Governor. Or is there an exact one (or others) spelled out?
Comment by Siyotanka Friday, May 9, 08 @ 12:56 pm
FYI…
SECTION 14. IMPEACHMENT
The House of Representatives has the sole power to
conduct legislative investigations to determine the existence
of cause for impeachment and, by the vote of a majority of
the members elected, to impeach Executive and Judicial
officers. Impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. When
sitting for that purpose, Senators shall be upon oath, or
affirmation, to do justice according to law. If the Governor
is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall
preside. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence
of two-thirds of the Senators elected. Judgment shall not
extend beyond removal from office and disqualification to
hold any public office of this State. An impeached officer,
whether convicted or acquitted, shall be liable to
prosecution, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)
Comment by Siyotanka Friday, May 9, 08 @ 1:02 pm
Now SCAM, to be fair the example should read: you took 5 out of one pocket, spent 4 to buy a second pair of pants with pockets, then put the 1 in the pocket you just purchased, thus creatig one new dollar.
Comment by Ghost Friday, May 9, 08 @ 2:37 pm
Lets dont foreget it was little jimmy Edgar governor at the time that said state workers can do more with less. I know i worked at the IVH in quincy at the time. So he a saint not by a long shot. Thank God He’s gone now too.
Comment by quincy Friday, May 9, 08 @ 8:04 pm