* My intern Mike Murray has outdone himself with videos today. We’ll add a couple more later from the press conference held by Senate President John Cullerton and Pat Collins.

Our first is Speaker Michael Madigan talking about his position on tax hikes and the budget. As I’ve already told you, Madigan won’t support a tax hike to “grow” the government. He also talks about the capital bill, gaming, etc. But make extra sure to check out the very last question…

* Madigan on reform proposals, including reducing the number of state patronage employees and any other reforms he could support, including contribution limits…

* This next one is Speaker Madigan talking about Leader Cross and their dueling fumigation plans. Cross tried and failed yesterday to pass an amendment to dump a couple of people off the Health Facilities Planning Board. Cross’ district includes a planned hospital expansion that the board has blocked, so Madigan went after that aspect…

* And here’s Madigan on his grand fumigation plan…

*** UPDATE *** Senate President Cullerton and reform commission chairman Pat Collins make their opening statements at today’s press conference…

* Q&A with Cullerton and Collins…

* Collins on compromise…

       

63 Comments - Commonsense in Illinois - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:40 pm: Does the Speaker really think that anyone can review and rehire 3,000 in 60 days time? Not very realistic and my guess is that at least 2,500 will be on the unemployment rolls in very short order. Fumigate, okay…cut the top management with a meat clever, very unwise. And remember, many appointments are good for four years. HELLOOO LISA!!! - Linda - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:43 pm: Separation of powers. Separation of powers. Separation of powers. Separation of powers. Separation of powers. I’d love to do some fumigating, too, but there are some technical problems, Mike. - WOW - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:56 pm: Rich, If we use the broad brush the speaker is proposing then he should have to step down as the Chairmen of the Democratic Party! He was co-chair of Blagojevich’s reelection campaign so he is tainted also! Ok I am just as over the top as he is now but in fact we would be asking people like Director Arnold at idph to step down after he was widely praised for his work on the swine flu epedemic. I would point out to Gov. Quinn and the Speaker that support of this bill would cause the African-American community to pull there support from Both the Governor and Attorney General Madigan and support anyone but them. Blagojevich may have been corrupt but he appointed more qualified African-Americans then any Governor in the history of Illinois. The Speaker is trying to punish employees under former Governor Ryan because of corruption that occured mainly in the Secretary of States office! I will be keeping a close eye on this bill to see if any of the black or latino caucus memebers vote for it, if they do i would hope their comumunities will express their displeasure at the ballot box in the next election. - Linda - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:56 pm: Think about this. Imagine if Obama had followed Clinton (no W — it’s a hypothetical!) and he had to contend with a Gingrich-run GOP Congress and Gingrich introduces a bill to wipe out all of Clinton’s appointees. Or reverse it. W follows GHWB and Pelosi seeks to wipe out all of GHWB’s appointees. Constitutional meltdown, sure, but only for five minutes. The Supremes would fall over laughing before knocking them on their heads for such a stunt. - Realist - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:58 pm: This is all to help his daughter run for Governor - AGAINST QUINN. Another Madigan power grab againts the Executive Branch. If he wants to be Governor, then run (or use your daughter as a puppet). Quinn has a built-in organization from every county in the state ready to help him win re-election. He may not be able to compete against Mike, Lisa, and the IL Dem Partys money, but he does have an army waiting for direction. Problem is that no one is reaching out to them. Also, how many people were hired as a favor to a legislator? Are they gonna vote to fire their people? This further Illinois reputation as a JOKE. - Linda - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:03 pm: This just in: Email from Pat Collins. On April 28, 2009, the Illinois Reform Commission issued its 100-day Report, calling for ethics reform in six key areas. The report can be found at www.reformillinoisnow.org, the same place where you added your voice to the work of the Illinois Reform Commission. Will you give the same call for reform to your legislators? WE SUPPORT SIGNIFICANT REFORM AS OUTLINED BY THE ILLINOIS REFORM COMMISSION THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.As a citizen interested in reform, won’t you join us in calling for that reform now? The nation is watching Illinois to determine how we will respond to the corruption and scandal that has been the state’s legacy. Please call your legislator, as urged by the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. See Give your Illinois legislators an earful on ethics reform - Chicago Sun-Times, May 6, 2008 and Give lawmakers your ultimatum. And do it now. - Chicago Tribune, May 3, 2009. PLEASE CALL OR E-MAIL THE LEADERSHIP OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND TELL THEM — “We support major reform being enacted now, as called for by the Illinois Reform Commission. It can’t wait!” House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago): mmadigan@hds.ilga.gov, 300 Capitol Bldg., Springfield, IL 62706, telephone 217-782-5350. House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego): tom@tomcross.com, 316 Capitol Bldg., Springfield, IL 62706, telephone 217-782-1331. Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago): john@senatorcullerton.com, 327 Capitol Bldg., Springfield, IL 62706, telephone 217-782-2728. Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont): cradogno@sbcglobal.net, 309-A Capitol Bldg., Springfield, IL 62706, telephone 217-782-9407. You can also find your legislators at the Illinois State Board of Elections website. WATCH OUR VIDEO ON YOU TUBE AND BE INSPIRED! BE ACTIVE! THE TIME FOR REFORM IS NOW! Sincerely, Illinois Reform Commission Patrick Collins, Chair - shore - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:21 pm: The entire united states federal government has 4,500 political appointments, nowhere close to all of which are filled at once given security clearance issues, vetting by white house and other factors. I find it fascinating then that there are 3,000 political appointments in a state budget that’s roughly the size of one mid-size federal agency. At the federal ALL political appointees offer resignations once there is a change at the top. That should have been done here. - federal government not a good model - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:27 pm: i would be very careful using the federal government as a model…there is a reason people make fun of state and federal employees…the good people all work in the private sector for this very reason, their work ethic and product are never seen for themselves but rather the elected official for which they work…a majority of the 3000 people were probably not appointed due to their political affiliation, i know a majority of the ones i know are not…its so hard to get people to leave the union already for administrative position, this will make it impossible… - Ms Port Belly Mushroom - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:29 pm: I agree with Rich. You have to admire the play, cold though it may seem. And to those people who are in “double exempt” positions who say they didn’t get their jobs through politics I say–You should have then. Unless you’re a scientist, psychologist, computer programmer or other position that requires a real special technical expertise you probably came in with someone’s assistance. And if you didn’t and you’re in a highly specialized technical job you probably have absolutely nothing to worry about. Submit your vitae and you’ll be rehired (lab people, etc.) However, I’m not including many, many in the corrections system in that technical definition (my cousin was a GOP committeeman for years in his small town when he got his guard gig—when the GOP Chairman had a sign outside his barber shop advertising correction’s applications). It doesn’t mean you aren’t a valuable employee, it just means you got your job with help and it wasn’t protected by the union. You knew it when you took it–or you should have or maybe you shouldn’t have gotten it. This helps Gov. Quinn make a hard decision he wouldn’t otherwise have had the political stomach to make. As others have said here, he has had everyone and their brother whispering in his ear not to let go of “my” person, even if they only know them through a casual golf game or as an FOJ. That’s what Blago’s people told their cousins, brothers, bartender friends, waitresses, etc. to do—get a sponsor and Quinn can’t axe you. Meantime, these same people he’s not supposed to fire are out there telling everyone they’re now with Lisa. I bet in the last hour I’ve had already had eight to ten SPSAs tell me they’ll be fine–and these people came from the main downstate players: ex DNR director Flood, Hoffman, ex-leg affairs director Handley and ex deputy chief of staff Julie Curry. One girlfriend told me she may even get a promotion after all is said and done. If that’s the case there will only be about ten or twelve people let go ’cause these guys had a ton of hires between them. Ultimately, though, it makes it easy for Quinn to do what he’s probably wanted to do–get rid of some directors, commission members and high paid, high level staff who he had no ability to vet for himself, but who have called in every favor in the world to keep their positions. Finally, from a PR standpoint, outside Springfield there are probably 11,997,000 Illinoisans today who don’t care whether Mike Madigan is playing chess, checkers or chicken. - Boscobud - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:35 pm: This will make or break the Madigan machine. - Frankly Speaking - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:36 pm: There are plenty of organizations who ask for resignations when there is a change at the top. Some are excepted-some not. After 14 years of bonafide crooks appointing and recomending these people-it’s probably a good time for spring cleaning. - Bill - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:39 pm: == will put the unions in complete operational control of the State== The state should be so lucky! - PeppermintP - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:43 pm: While I would not be terminated if this bill is signed into law, many of the people at my agency who would be fired are career employees, 30+ years, master’s degrees, worked up through the chain of command. And just because their most recent term appointment falls between 1999 and 2009, they can be fired without cause? For these people, I’m sure they are worrying about retirement, health benefits, etc. Could those be at risk? While I certainly hope the bill doesn’t pass as is, I believe it casts a too wide net on one hand and misses many Blago appointees on the other. During the last year or so of Blago’s reign, many SPSA positions were magically converted to PSAs. And now some of those PSAs are even unionized. All of those people will not be affected by this. Yet someone 53 years old with 30 years of state service could be terminated and not yet qualified to retire. I know the Governor can reappoint any of these people, but how many might slip through the cracks? Particularly at a time when many agencies are dealing with potential stimulus $$$ and federal reimbursement changes, it’s not a good idea to terminate much of your instituional memory. Really Governor and Mr. Speaker, think through this a bit before proceeding. - Give Me A Break - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:43 pm: I won’t happen, but I would love to see legislative and budget folks from the state agencies stop responding to House Dems when they are aked for assistance on issues in their districts and the budget folks stop providing information to the speaker’s budget staff. Because after all, if they are all just a bunch of unqualified hacks and crooks, why should they help the speaker’s members when he just wants to fire them all. - siriusly - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:43 pm: Awesome video clips! Great job and thank you Rich and Mike. Capitolfaxblog.com rules! PS - you should make valuable stuff like that subscriber only! - A Citizen - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:44 pm: Where is Pete Vallone ? This is a golden opportunity for him to finish what he started - 100% unionization of State Gov’t from the Directors on down. Then he can go for “Tenure” for Legislators. Bill will be proud . . . broke but proud. - Rich Miller - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:50 pm: ===you should make valuable stuff like that subscriber only=== Since we’re using YouTube, that’s tough to do. But I should check into other options, I suppose. This is all just an experiment right now. - Bill - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:59 pm: A, There are more important things than money. Plus I’m broke now anyways. - Anon3 - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 6:00 pm: I would imagine every State Sen and State Rep’s phone is ringing of the hook tonight, not to mention the County Chairs etc, in the end how will Lisa convince these peoplpe to work hard for her 6 months after her father threatened to fire them. I know fear is the answer, but you need more the fear to get people out otherwise people will show to be counted but not work hard. - Rich Miller - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 6:06 pm: ===in the end how will Lisa convince these peoplpe to work hard for her 6 months after her father threatened to fire them.=== Probably because they’re gonna have to beg a few certain somebodies to keep their jobs. - southern illinoisan - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 6:09 pm: It is about time! Start with Roger Walker at IDOC. I am a little bit suprised that there has not been more media coverage of the Chicago Tribune story on 5-5-09, regarding a minimum security inmate that was transferred from Vienna CC to maximum security Menard CC for a positive drug test and was beaten to death by his cellmate. The family of the deceased is settling a wrongful death suit against the state for thousands of dollars. This incident can be attributed to blunders at many levels. But senior management staff appointed by Blago should be investigated. Walker, Rick Bard and Jay Merchant should all be held accountable. This only one incident that has happened under this administration. It is about time people ask some hard questions before more tragedies occur. - Anon3 - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 6:16 pm: I agree Rich, but we have all seen the difference between the ones who show up because of fear and those who show and work. Yea, they all had to work for that job but MJM and Lisa’s reputation for most of downstate is all the state workers know. Well I would imagine the list of “please welcome so and so” will be long tomorrow as Quinn finally really starts purging. They never really say who got the axe just who got the duties. - Ms Port Belly Mushroom - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 6:34 pm: Here’s one other group that shouldn’t necessarily escape “fumigation” but probably will because their fate can’t be legislated—it can only be “communicated”: that is, the lobbyist army Ryan and Rod created. Yes, it’s the private sector; but everyone knows around here that businesses/interest groups who rely on lobbyists take seriously “suggestions” from the Speaker, the Senate President and the Governor’s office when it comes to the kind of people they want showing up on their doorsteps. There are quite a few who got their jobs only because Fawell, Monk or Harris told someone to hire them to “transition” them out of state government. They then used these folks to button-hole cash for Friends of Ryan and for Rod’s “record” fundraising efforts. Quite a few, of course, now make Kjellander-league commissions off bond sales or by helping construction contractors land road and building contracts or by sleepwalking a host of other lucrative ventures through the G.A. I’m not saying there are a ton; but even a couple of high profile ones would be a clear communique. If you really want to squeeze reforms and send a message, I would think Cullerton, Madigan and Quinn would insist that change take place in that arena as well. And for anyone who worries they won’t be getting golf or drinks paid for anymore, remember: Someone will be more than happy to use their expense account on your behalf again! You want a new era in government and to send reverberations through the establishment? Try that one on for size, too. - Observer - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 6:41 pm: Could not the great reformer quinn done this without a law, i hate to agree with the speaker but talk was cheap and we have seen no action - walk in my shoes - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 6:44 pm: I will believe it when I see it; however I am hopeful that qualified people will be appointed to the warden/superintendent positions in all Illinois Prisons and Juvenile Justice. It is a CRIME to look at how some of these individuals received their jobs. Just check the who’s related to who hiring policy of Illinois. - another amazed citizen - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 6:48 pm: I have to agree with “southern illinoisan”. The IDOC represents both a grand general failure, and the perpetrator of many specific tragic instances of negligence and possibly malice. And worst of all, almost everyone currently in power at the IDOC has a bull-headed obstinance to reform or to doing anything besides concealing information from the public. We will see lawsuits in medical neglect cases as well–like the young man who died recently because they refused to give him medication. But, this will just continue because no one can access the information, and legislators look the other way because they wouldn’t dare pass a bill that involved prison reform. Speaking of which, is there ANY prison watchdog organization whatsoever in Illinois? - Ms Port Belly Mushroom - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 6:49 pm: –Observer– No, he could not, because: 20% had Obama’s people calling on their behalf, 20% had a legislator calling on their behalf, 20% had their county chairmen calling on their behalf, 20% had key lobbyists calling on their behalf and 20% just begged to be left alone. This gives Quinn the option of telling them all he had no choice and “he’ll get back to them.” I don’t think he or Stermer wanted to really pull the trigger (SEE how the IDOT fiasco was handled). Now they’ll have a little breathing room–and some cover. - Gregor - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 6:50 pm: I like the idea, and the good guys apparently can get re-hired the next day if Quinn wants some of them… but really this is just a stunt and if it actually passes, and is upheld by the courts, I will eat a bug. - federal government not a good model - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:01 pm: engineers i believe are a entity such as this and there will be many, i mean many laid off - A Citizen - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:06 pm: With Quinn’s truly unwavering respect and support of the military, Veterans’ Preference may finally be a reality. I certainly expect it to be ! - Nice Suit - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:10 pm: Quick question-and after reading the other post and this one I didn’t see this asked…or maybe I’m missing the lingo: If an appointed person was then hired to a career position under the previous two Govs–is that person out of a job too? Thanks to whoever can answer that one. Much appreciated… - federal government not a good model - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:18 pm: how can quinn rehire the good people without getting scrutiny? there will always be people alleging the people rehired were only rehired because they knew somebody…after all thats the reason they are considered exempt spot they are in a policy making position… - Black Ivy - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:19 pm: Attorneys are included as double-exempt state employees, my firends. - Ms Port Belly Mushroom - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:25 pm: –fed government– - Pete Mitchell - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:29 pm: Dear Govenor: I like you. I think you want to do the right thing. You and you staff seem confused at times and have had a rough start. Before you agree to fire thousands of employees and throw the word “fumigate” around please keep in mind that many out of those 3000 have advised your young staff and have been working hard to make you and them look good. Stop lumping everybody into the same group and please think before you speak. Thanks. - Ms Port Belly Mushroom - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:41 pm: –fed government–(sorry, a Stoli tremor) You have to think that if the Senate President can hire one of Blagojevich’s top policy people as his own policy person that Quinn can keep a few lower tier folks who are doing their jobs without complaint. - DuPage Dave - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:47 pm: So how does this work? I put in 20 plus years with the state- starting off as a worker bee (all I could get in the 80s as a Democrat)- get promoted a few times and end up an SPSA somewhere between 1999 and 2008. So now Mike Madigan wants to fire me? At least Quinn only wants to cut my paycheck. This hurts so much. Blago was bad enough but this is too much to bear. I had high hopes for Quinn and I always thoughy Madigan was a competent legislative leader. Now they have both declared war on me. I am going to have a few beers tonight. I don’t expect most people to respect state workers (just look at the comments on the Cap Fax!), but this guilt-by-association concept is just too, too much. - always anonymous - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:57 pm: anyone with Ryan or Blago stink on them has got to go. Enough already. - Jechislo - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:58 pm: I agree with Peppermint 5:53 pm. I retired in 2004 as a 4-year term appointment SPSA - I couldn’t stand the **** anymore, so I retired with around 35 years in the system. There are a LOT of very worthwhile career employees whose career path left them no option but a SPSA and a 4-year term appointment. I never sought a SPSA - it was just the only logical progression in my career path that was available. Terminating 3,000 employees carte blanche is like throwing the baby out with the bath water. Sure, some of these appointees need to be let go; but not necessarily career employees with 30+ years of outstanding service. If you are hell-bent on getting rid of 3,000+ employees, why not offer another early retirement? Terminating all of these employees will have the similar downside that an early retirement would have. Heck, there is barely anyone left who knows what’s going on inside of most State Agencies anyway - and Madigan wants to terminate them? As it stands, I think it’s a bad idea. - Animous - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 8:22 pm: I thought we were done with the Ready, Fire, Aim form of leadership in this state—I was wrong. The Speaker is using a baseball bat to kill a fly and not putting much foresight into its use. He’s putting 3,000 employees (a large number of which are career professionals; not hacks) and their families through hell to get to what, a few hundred of Blago’s enablers? How much will this experiment cost the state at a time when we have neither the resources or funds to deal with it. Governor Quinn has the ability to get rid of most of the enablers DIRECTLY, why put everybody else through it? Give him a “hit” list or god forbid, sit down and discuss what you want. Hand him a flyswatter and see if he uses it. We wonder why the “best & brightest” don’t wind up in leadership positions in state government. Its BS like this that keeps the good ones from wanting to move up–why put up with the hassle? First 6 years of Blago: non raises, term renewal “games”, etc. If you really are a capable and competent leader, what is the rationale to move up after this? The Speaker’s reactionary measures have the potential to keep the career “A” players on the sidelines and out of the decision making process at a time when we need them the most to help fix a lot of problems; ones that need long-term solutions. It creates a situation where in the future where only opportunistic hacks take leadership spots and “role the dice” with our state’s future. After Blago got hauled away I hoped for an end to gamesmanship for the sake of gamesmanship. I thought Blago was the source of all the problems, now I have my doubts… - We Can Hope - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 8:39 pm: Before today it was: Hey hey, ho ho, John Filan has to go. After today it is; Hey hey, ho ho, Dadigan says he will go. - southern illinoisan - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 8:42 pm: Firing all 3000 senior management staff may sound extreme, but guess what. GPQ ain’t getting it done. What is his problem? As Madigan stated, he is not happy with the speed or progress of the fumigation. There may be some good qualified people that would be fired in this group. If so, Quinn can hire them back immediately. Let’s be realistic. This is a blatant political move by MM to make PQ look foolish. And it is working because it doesn’t take much effort. Quinn is all talk and no show. - federal government not a good model - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 8:47 pm: give me a break everyone, not everyone ever hired or promoted is bad, but to terminate these 30 year vets and make them reinterview for this position is wrong…if someone in the private sector worked for a corrupt business are they too tainted, no…all those poor people who worked for enron are quilty too? - Rambler - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 8:56 pm: There are many, many unforeseen consequences going to pop up because of this. Crime Lab Tech - if you were single exempt that means Rutan exempt and means you’re included! Now all terms are staggered; with necessary reappointments, they’ll all be coming up within the same 60 day period 4 years from passage. And if a non-Veteran term appointee is not “reappointed” (as the bill language uses that word) within the 60 day period, he/she will have to first compete with all “A” veterans on the hiring list who have absolute preference. I’m guessing there are countless more land-mine like scenarios that would arise if this gets passed. Also, it looks like David Ellis appears to be the architect of the bill - does he have State personnel practices experience? - federal government not a good model - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 8:58 pm: most of those single exempt positions are union…i think they may be obliged to step in… - A Citizen - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 9:02 pm: The Speaker has been on a mission to improve and clean up the Exec Branch for over two years now. Remember the memo he created and circulated on Blago’s possibly impeachable offenses? That initiative was given quite some time to take root - and with the Fed’s arrest, complaint and eventual indictment and charges - it bore fruit and we are rid of the primary culprit. Now, with Quinn not moving even at a snails pace on follow through MJM has again made the appropriate decisive move to force improvement. Once the hysteria subsides and cooler heads prevail, the quality decisions on retention of many of the 3000 will be made. The Speaker and most of us on this forum have been calling for this recasting of a quality workforce for years now. MJM simply had the guts and wisdom to finally pull the cord and fire the cannon. This action is long overdue and we all know it. - State Worker - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 9:12 pm: According to the Speaker’s statements, John Filan, the most notorious holdover from the Blagojevich administration, will not be covered by this outrageous mass firing. Also, has the Speaker considered the devastating impact this mass firing will have on the economy of Springfield? - Fed Up State Employee - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 9:15 pm: Blago filled most of these jobs with people from Chicago. How will this be a devastating impact on the Springfield economy? - State Worker - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 9:37 pm: Blago’s transfers of State government functions and personnel away from Springfield has already brought much economic harm to our city. But most of State government still resides in Springfield. Also, remember that this bill affects individuals appointed since the beginning of the Ryan administration (January 1999). - Observer - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 9:58 pm: ten years of problems maybe the speaker is the common denominator - diane - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 10:12 pm: I hope this is the beginning of the end of Mike (I care about nothing but power) Madigan. Why isn’t anyone asking why the IL Arts Council is being spared? I’d like to see Shirley Madigan get fumigated. It’s funny how we were to be upset about Tim Mapes wife losing her job. Now this? It’s really sad how many people go through this latest Madigan power play. I thought killing the capital bill was enough. - Observer - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 10:20 pm: we couldnt be so lucky diane but we could all go work against cullerton next election 500 workers in one district could probably really help the Rs - wordslinger - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 10:29 pm: Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Madigan just swung the reform club and hit Quinn right between the eyes. When his eyes stop rolling around and the animated birds circling his head stop chirping, Quinn’s going to figure out his least bad course of action is to go along with it. In the wake of the Ryan and Blago scandals, The Great Reformer, Pat Collins (the public says… who?), set his sights directly on Madigan, talking about relative arcania like legislative leader terms and discharging bills from committee (the public says…. huh?). To the public, the big problems were former governors Ryan and Blago, back to back. You want reform? MJM asks a couple simple questions: Did you know 3,000 George Ryan and Blago appointees are still running a big part of your government, spending your tax dollars and collecting salaries and benefits? Don’t you think we should throw them all out and start fresh? The public says… yes! What’s Quinn going to do? Fight for 3,000 people he doesn’t know? How many time bombs are there in that lot? Explain that he’s still working on it? Not good enough. The only thing keeping this from being a grand slam for Madigan, up north anyway, is Drew Peterson got arrested tonight for killing Wife #3. Without that, MJMs proposal is the top news all day Friday. With Drew’s arrest, it might just get a mention. But he sure got a very targeted market’s attention. - 47th Ward - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 10:30 pm: Patrick Collins was over the top. Madigan goes over over the top. Weren’t we just talking about term limits for leaders? “He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. That’s the Chicago way” Sorry, what were we talking about again? - Grasso1 - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 10:32 pm: It is my understanding that Walker at IDOC got his walking papers and Sergio is in charge - Bookworm - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:03 pm: Are there really that many Ryan appointees left? Wouldn’t they have to have been reappointed by Blago anyway? It seems like overkill to me to go all the way back to Ryan appointees. Did MJM do that just so the bill would appear to be “bipartisan” and not single out a corrupt Democratic governor over a corrupt Republican? - Rich Miller - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:29 pm: === but we could all go work against cullerton next election 500 workers in one district could probably really help the Rs=== LOL. Yeah, I’m sure a Republican could win that seat with 500 unemployed state workers going door to door. You’d be better off going after one of his vulnerable targets. Also, from what I’m getting, this bill will probably be changed soon. I don’t think it’ll be as massive as it currently appears. Everybody, calm down. - state union worker - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:32 pm: What’s amazing here is two things. One, I am supporting my bosses and I am an AFSCME member. My bosses are hard working and give all of us a fair shake. Under this bill they are gone. Second, all the while, Madigan has ma de millions of of being a PUBLIC SERVANT. Talk about a criminal enterprise! My boss makes a small fraction of a fortune like that. Lisa had my vote til now! Now it ALL makes sense! - Observer - Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:48 pm: it was a nice thought - Tiparoostep - Friday, May 8, 09 @ 4:06 am: Rich — I’m glad to hear that changes to this legislation are on the way. I stepped down from 4 year term appointment into PSA for exactly this reason — I was tired of my ability to continue my 20+ year career as a public servant being jeopardized by political whims that had nothing to do with merit. What is truly unfortunate is that — once again — hard working state employees (yes, there are many out there) and their families are being put through the emotional wringer until (hoping?) sanity and common sense prevail. This is yet another blow to the morale of devoted public servants and adds unnecessary uncertainty for their staff and the programs they oversee. Not only does it discourage people from wanting to move into upper management positions, it probably also gives young people pause about working in state government. - wordslinger - Friday, May 8, 09 @ 6:31 am: –Not only does it discourage people from wanting to move into upper management positions,– I seriously doubt that. – it probably also gives young people pause about working in state government.– In this economy? You’ve got to be kidding. It sure did get everyone’s attention though, didn’t it? - Narcoleptic - Friday, May 8, 09 @ 8:20 am: Wordslinger is on it. The only thing I would caution the leg staff and the Governor’s office is to vet the information they are given closely. Blago’s folks still control CMS and most of the personnel offices in the agencies–and they have a tendency to be selective about providing information (“Oops, kinda forgot Jay’s uncle,” you know). This needs to be done. There’s a hundred little kingdoms out there with a lot of operators doing their own thing, telling Quinn’s people one thing and doing another. It doesn’t matter who does it. The madness needs to end, though. - Just Because - Friday, May 8, 09 @ 8:27 am: What about Lavin? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.