Other stuff
Friday, Apr 3, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We already knew this…
On Oct. 8, 2008, defendant Blagojevich advised Lobbyist A that he intended to take official action that would provide additional state money to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and that Blagojevich wanted to get $50,000 in campaign contributions from the hospital’s chief executive officer.
On Oct. 17, 2008, Blagojevich called the hospital’s CEO to tell him of his intent to increase the Illinois Medicaid reimbursement rate for speciality-care pediatric physicians. Shortly before this, Blagojevich had directed Deputy Governor A to initiate such an increase, which Illinois providers of pediatric healthcare, including Children’s Memorial Hospital, had actively supported for years.
On Oct. 22, 2008, Blagojevich spoke with the Children’s CEO and asked him to arrange to raise $25,000 for Blagojevich prior to Jan. 1, 2009. On Nov. 12, 2008, after the Children’s CEO had not returned additional phone calls from Robert Blagojevich and no political contributions from the Children’s CEO or other persons associated with the hospital had been received, Blagojevich spoke to Deputy Governor A about the increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rates for specialty-care pediatric physicians, asking whether “we could pull it back if we needed to. . . .”
I told subscribers about what happened next, but the feds didn’t reveal it until yesterday…
As a result of this conversation, Deputy Governor A instructed the Department of Healthcare Services to stop its work on increasing the reimbursement for specialty-care pediatric physicians.
So, you’ve got the alleged order and the alleged execution of that order. Bingo.
And also incredibly disgusting.
* Bill Cellini wants a separate trial…
The lawyer for Springfield businessman William F. Cellini said Thursday that Cellini will try to have his case tried separately from that of former governor Rod Blagojevich.
Cellini, Blagojevich and four Blagojevich associates were all included in a single indictment filed in Chicago federal court Thursday.
Cellini was accused five months ago of essentially the same package of charges, but the fact that he was linked via Thursday’s indictment to the alleged misdeeds of the former governor could complicate Cellini’s defense, a University of Illinois law professor said Thursday.”
Cellini’s alleged misdeeds…
In both indictments, the basic allegations involving Cellini center on Capri Capital, a real estate investment firm that wanted to manage $220 million in Teachers’ Retirement System funds. Cellini allegedly participated in a scheme to deny Capri the TRS business unless one of Capri’s co-owners, Thomas Rosenberg, came up with “significant political contributions for Blagojevich.”
Plus this one…
Cellini and Kelly also are accused of proposing to transfer Jon Bauman, the executive director of TRS, to a job with a different state agency to ensure that he would not cooperate with law enforcement.
* Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville) was the lone House voted against a pension “reform” bill this week. The bill essentially fired all state pension system board members, plus Jon Bauman, the executive director of the Teachers Retirement System mentioned above…
Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, said that is unfair to Bauman, who has not been accused of wrongdoing.
“By our action today, his career is effectively over. His reputation is effectively ruined,” Black said.
Cold comfort for Bauman.
More…
“Mr. Bauman was on deck before, during and after the scandal perpetrated by Stuart Levine at TRS, and he only became a whistleblower when the FBI appeared at his office,” [Speaker Madigan] said. Levine, who pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, was accused of illegally manipulating who got in pension investments.
Bauman, contacted after the vote, said no one from the Quinn administration has met anyone from the teacher pension system or is in position to evaluate the fund’s positive actions. Bauman, who held office before Blagojevich took office, declined further comment.
* I don’t think for a minute that Blagojevich will plead guilty, but the second part of this quote ought to chill him to the bone…
“I think a plea agreement is probably going to be the outcome of this,” Hall said. “But who knows, Blagojevich could push it to a trial. But if he goes to trial and loses on even one of the counts, his sentencing likely is going to be on the higher end.”
Yep.
* Quote of the week goes to Senate President John Cullerton…
“I can’t imagine what this place would be like if he were still the governor trying to solve the problems that we have”
It’s beyond imagining.
- Ghost - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 8:33 am:
=== Deputy Governor A instructed the Department of Healthcare Services to stop its work on increasing the reimbursement for specialty-care pediatric physicians. ===
Given the presence of DHS in many improper actions of the gov, including increasing programs withouty legislative or JCAR approval etc not to mention the imp-lausible testimony that millions of dollars in decisions were being executed without anyone having authorized or made any decisions. Hepaed with a director having herself driven around by a hired driver for 80k a year!
How can Quinn preach cuts and reform but leave Carol Adams and her crew in place!
- Toni H. - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 8:33 am:
With regards to Cellini, I find it absolutely incredible that he was in bed all these years with all of the politicians and now he wants his own sep. trial - the old saying “watch out who you sleep with” has never been so true as now. Personally, I don’t want to see anybody’s family suffer but all of these people reaped HUGE benefits through the years from the wrongdoings of their spouses, partners, etc. Time to pay the band folks. Nothing is free.
- enevlop - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 8:43 am:
Hey Bauman..still out there? still taking questions???
- Secret Square - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 8:43 am:
Ghost, you’re confusing DHS (Department of Human Services, which Carol Adams is director of) with DHFS (Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the agency formerly known as Public Aid; Barry Maram is its director). DHFS is the agency that tried to go around JCAR, and they are the agency that was asked to hold up the pediatric care reimbursement (apparently).
- Secret Square - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 8:46 am:
The indictment text quoted above left out the “Family” part of DHFS’ name.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 8:47 am:
Just some random observations:
If the feds investigation into O’Hare corruption proceeds like it probably will, Chris Kelly will be indicted again. Would that be some kind of corruption record.
Patrick Collins called out Capitol Fax last night on Chicago Tonight saying that some of the blow back to his reform recommendations are starting from here.
He also mentioned Patti probably wasn’t indicted because they might not have proof and because it might make the feds look bad.
- MikeintheSuburbs - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 8:52 am:
I don’t know if Blago will plead given his lack of contact with reality. On the other hand, I think the rest of the indictees will flip and become G witnesses. There is no point in them going down for this guy.
Today’s Kass column about Vallas was good. What would have happened if we had had a reformer as governor BEFORE we got into this mess?
- Jim Rockford - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 8:53 am:
Honest Government in Illinois: The final frontier
These are the voyages of the Blagojevich Enterprise
Its eight year mission
To explore unparalleled new corruption
To seek out new graft and new venality
To bend over the taxpayer and boldly go where no governor has gone before
- nino - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 9:06 am:
The old man will get his own trial and walk with a fine and probation.
- grategul - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 9:16 am:
Where are the GOOD people who supported
Gov. ROD Now ?????
All who took advantage of the TAXPAYERS
REFORM was his message / What a JOKE!!!!
I am Ethical / I am Honest / I am Hard working
I have Ethics?????
He tried to torture the Non-Union
State Employees
It only amounted to a BIG PAY BACK
Voters please remember this !!!!
- bugs - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 9:19 am:
Wasn’t the TRS a private function many years ago and taken over by the state because of mismanagement?
- Skirmisher - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 9:20 am:
Whether or not Cellini ends up in prison or simply is fined, someone meeds to paint out his face (And that of his wife) from the mural in the Lincoln Presidential Museum. It was always an insult to Lincoln and to the people of Illinois.
- fedup dem - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 9:21 am:
I am of the opinion that Patti Blagojevich could eventually face charges. Her absence from this indictment gives the feds some leverage to encourage Blago to cop a plea. Let me explain why they would want to do this.
The key figure in the indictment isn’t Rod Blagojevich; it is William Cellini, who could in turn bring down the entire Combine. By not indicting Patti now (but implying that action against her could be coming down the road), the feds are telling Blago that both he and his wife could be spending time in prison. Even a sociopath like Blagojevich would quickly realize that if Patti goes to prison, custody of their daughters would go to their Grandpa Mell before you can say “Clout” three times. To avoid that, Patti has to stay out of jail, and thus Blago cops a plea to help nail Cellini.
- Cassandra - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 9:26 am:
DHS neverthless is also problematic. It’s also a huge pork farm…high-paying no-work jobs whose incumbents were placed there by Blago and are still there, despite Quinn’s rhetoric about change and reform. It is under the current Director’s watch that Howe Developmental Center lost its federal certification (despite many, many warnings) which is costing Illinois taxpayers many millions in lost federal funding each year. Think about a little bonfire with a highly paid state employee standing next to it tearing up dollar bills of all denominations and throwing them in the fire. And doing it every day.
That’s DHS and our lost federal millions.
Howe was supposed to close. But I have heard lately that Quinn, obviously terrified of AFSCME, is thinking of keeping it open But is he even going to put somebody in charge of DHS who can
get Howe certified again. There is no indication that he is going to replace the current director, who must be a great example of how clout
still reigns in Democratic state government. Unless she decides to leave on her own, it’s Democratic politics as usual at DHS. Taxpayers shmaxpayers.
- What a Difference - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 9:26 am:
I’m sure many of the agency directors would have liked to have had a chance to “solve the problems” too under a different governor rather than with less employees, sweeping funds and micro-managing by the Blagojevich people. Congratulations goes to Senate President John Cullerton!
- wordslinger - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 9:38 am:
I’d be willing to let Cellini walk and give him immunity if he would give a sworn account of all his shady dealings with state and other governments since the Ogilive Administration. Basically, a tutorial on how things really work here.
The man has been a power in the state and state GOP for decades; he wasn’t corrupted by Blago.
- Truthful James - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 9:56 am:
Just wondering –
Are Blago and his friends the top of the heap?
Or will one or more of The Indicted provide a pipeline into Cook County and Chicago politics.?
This is the Circus that never stops.
- Skeeter - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 10:07 am:
A few months ago, I had to take my two year old son to Children’s Memorial Hospital (he had an infection around his eye — it ended up not being a big deal, but I took him at the recommmedation of our ped. and his eye and face looked pretty bad at the time).
The staff at the hospital was absolutely amazing both dealing with the somewhat anxious parent and with my son. When every person we encountered treated us in caring, kind, and dignified manner, you know that the hospital is doing an outstanding job in both hiring and in management.
In that context, I find Blago’s treatment of that hospital almost painful. They provide such high quality care that they deserve better than to have to have our elected officials treat them in that manner.
When I heard about most of the allegations against Blago, my general thought was “Big deal. Business as usual in Illinois.” When I heard about the CMH matter, I wanted the Feds to lock Blago and “Deputy Gov. A” up and throw away the key.
- PPHS - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 10:10 am:
It is my opinion only, that Cellini is a lot worse than Ryan. And age played no factor in Ryan’s sentence.
Cellini became a factor in 1976, when he nominated Ford as president from the GOP convention. To think that he came by his millions legally is a stretch. The Ryan’s made no money.
- You Go Boy - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 10:27 am:
“Ghost” took my points almost exactly. Why is she still around?
- Anonymous - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 10:30 am:
We often think of Organized Crime “influencing” politicians. Blago should remind us that what you can have is a Organized Crime figure that portrays a politician.
- enevlop - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 10:55 am:
Hello Jon Bauman? Jon? Jon? Why would cellini think he could just “move you” like a used lawnmower????
- JohhnyRite - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 11:09 am:
Rich, this was the best quote from the story you linked,to look at this another way:
Kevin Sullivan, a self-employed criminal defense attorney in Peoria, said it isn’t likely Blagojevich will accept a plea agreement because the criminal complaint brought against him may not be strong enough to stand in court.
“My question is why did they take until the 11th hour to indict him when they probably had all their ducks in a row for a while,” Sullivan said. “This could have and should have been done before now, and that causes me to question the validity and effectiveness of their evidence.”
- lincoln street - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 11:51 am:
Who is the “high-ranking state official” mentioned in connection with the Congressman A allegation? What would that noun refer to? An aide? A constitutional officer? A deputy governor?
- 2onfusedCrew - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 12:13 pm:
Looks like Rx Ron was on the silly sauce again…”…and State Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Greenville) went a step further: saying if House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) wants to remove pension fund directors by claiming “guilt by association,” he should look at the fact he was a Blagojevich campaign chairman….”
P.S. Check on Count #13 on how much Bauman did not do to stop “long time associate” Cellini and GOP appointee Levine.
eh s
- Can't Say My Nickname - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 12:28 pm:
After reading the indictment, I can’t imagine the pay to play with the awarding of contracts. Will agency director’s step up to the plate and come clean with themselves?
- steve schnorf - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 12:55 pm:
Rich, its your site, but I think you should out envelop for being such a colossal anonymous coward…just sayin’
- Tom Joad - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 1:33 pm:
I don’t see why Cellini would be given a separate trial. The facts of his indictment are the same as other defendants.
The same argument about prejudicial effect on the jury was used by a defendant in the George Ryan trial. The judge didn’t buy it in that case either.
- EmptySuitParade - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 4:02 pm:
GOP Circular Firing Squad Plan DC Weekend Shoot
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican senator has delayed President Barack Obama’s nomination of Tammy Duckworth, an injured Iraq war helicopter pilot, to be an assistant secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee didn’t vote on the nomination Thursday because North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr asked that the panel hold off. Burr, the top Republican on the committee, wants Duckworth and the White House to answer some of his questions. Burr’s spokesman, David Ward, would not say on Friday what the questions concerned.
TugBoatAndy McKenna would be proud!
- A Citizen - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 4:58 pm:
Hang in there Bauman - there is a noose party fever out there. The TRS investment performance speaks for itself and your stewardship.
- DuPage Dave - Friday, Apr 3, 09 @ 6:18 pm:
FYI to Cassandra- Howe had lost its federal certification at various times throughout the years, under previous Governors and prior administrators of the old DMHDD and prior DHS secretaries. Carol Adams has been a bad Secretary for DHS, but the Howe situation is not her unique achievement.
Let’s hope Chicago State (aka Emil Jones U.) takes her off our hands, eh?
- disgusted - Saturday, Apr 4, 09 @ 1:53 pm:
Ghost and others: I don’t know how the so called reformer Quinn can keep either the director of HFS or DHS ie Maram or Adams. It is incredible that the director in charge of holding back the pediatric rate increase and who insulted the general assembly with his impeachment testimony is still in place. This is the same director who was willing to implement ISAVE where others were not and who was the ex-Gov’s go to guy for so many intiatives that involved circumventing the general assembly that others were worried about. If he is not on Madigan’s fumigation list, then he ought to be.