This one goes out to the oh-so-nice commenter who asked whether someone was paying me to write about the troubles at the Department of Natural Resources. Cracks like that will only result in more postings on this topic, my good friend. From Bernie Schoenburg’s column this week:

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has lost more than 100 employees through layoffs, but they have a new official - who happens to be a past contributor to Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH.

JOSEPH ANGLETON, 58, of DuQuoin began this week as office director of mines and minerals within DNR. He’s being paid $73,500 annually, said JOE BAUER, spokesman for the agency.

Angleton is former president of United Mine Workers of America District 12.

He was appointed by the governor to the State Mining Board on July 1, 2003, Bauer said, filling one of three labor positions on the board. That job paid $13,294 annually. On July 14, 2003 - two weeks after the appointment - Angleton donated $1,000 to the governor’s campaign fund. And on Dec. 23, 2003, he gave another $100. He also gave $1,600 to Blagojevich in 2002, bringing his two-year total to $2,600.

The UMWA has also been a contributor to the governor, giving $27,000 total in 2002 and 2003, including $5,000 on July 24, 2003. Angleton was a member of the union’s political action committee, Bauer said.