11 Comments - Ghost - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 10:23 am: == In effect, they are saying that even though our state is a regular segment on “Saturday Night Live,” we shouldn’t expect anything meaningful to occur in Springfield. === Actually I have been cirtical that they have no hands on experience working in State government, they are princiapply outsiders; that their proposals are not based upon proven changes that actually improve government; and that many of the reforms just create more beuracracy and barriers. I will start with a simple point: How many of them rely upon a thrid party purchaser who has no connection to the effects o those purchasing decisions. The Statewide czar does not have to work with or be concerned about the effects of their decisions; and is not acountable to the agencies for whom they are purchasing. make the purchasing process real time, open bids, ect would be much better then having another person with no accountability for their decisions makin decisions. CMS now has this role in many apsects of governemnt, they make decisions for agencies without real accountability; agencies pay higher then market costs for these services, and get bad service etc in return. - HoosierDaddy - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 10:36 am: Gee, Wally, it looks like the party in power is against reform and the party out of power is for it. Who woulda thunk it?! The answers to the questionnaire are not really surprising. What also needs to be considered is legislative term limits. When legislators know that their tenure will not be lifetime, and that they will have to go back home and answer for their actions, it seems like it would be less of a temptation to build a personal fiefdom in Springfield…. also less time to get it done. Just my thought. - wordslinger - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 11:10 am: Ormsby’s reference to the Trib is pretty amusing — as is that paper’s newfound zeal for reform. Funny, I don’t recall WGN TV or radio turning down any of that dirty campaign money for spots for Blago — or any candidate. The Trib has been a major power player in the Illinois political and government establishment since the time of Lincoln. Zell’s attempt to game the tax code for millions on a Wrigley Field deal with Blago is just the latest example of that paper using it’s clout derived from barrels of ink to get what it wants (think lakefront McCormick Place, lights in Wrigley Field…). Th old-timers will tell you that George Tagge, their long-time political editor, would come down to Springfield at session time, sit in the press box in the House and Senate, and give the thumbs up or down sign to legislation of interest to the Colonel. In the 80s, their corporate lobbyist would work out of the Trib’s statehouse bureau, with reporters answering phone calls and taking messages for him. - consulthammer - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 11:30 am: The cynics and pessimist should realize that they too are responsible for tIllinois’ state of corruption by their complacency and skepticism. We elect and re-elect the government officials that employ pay to play and patronage tactics.. Call your state senator and legislator and threaten you will vote them out if they do not vote for reform. Any effort less than that, then you deserve what you get.. From 1992 to 1995, while I was conducting state employee corruption investigations, there was a conspiracy by George Ryan and his cronies to cover up those investigations. That is called obstruction of justice, a felony.. All I heard from the cynics and skeptics was that they will never go after George Ryan. I faced indifference and retaliation by my bosses, other law enforcement officers and prosecutors. The corruption continued as Ryan moved on to the governor’s office. The complacent attitudes continued in the Secretary of State’s office after Ryan left. The perseverance of Asst. Us Attorney Patrick Collins and a handful of few other federal prosecutors and investigator finally resulted in the conviction of several conspirators and ultimately Ryan. Justice was slow and costly. In the end there was no reason for skepticism. Illinois government is a larger reflection of the big-city politics of Chicago, evolved from old-fashioned, patronage-laden government thick with favors and cronyism. Many people refer to the Windy City as the city that works. Others who are more complacent or simply less involved in the political process may call it business as usual. Does the end justify the means? Is there an ethical dilemma involved? If you have to ask, there is. Simply posing the question divulges the answer. Illinoisans have learned from the conviction and imprisonment of former Gov. George Ryan followed by the impeachment and indictment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich that business as usual is a national embarrassment. The media, including late-night comedy, had a feeding frenzy on our discomfiture. The hype that followed Blagojevich’s problems earlier this year is comparable to the hype from last week’s news of the swine flu. The national hype has all but faded, but political corruption remains a daily item in many Illinois newspapers. Gov. Pat Quinn, while still serving as lieutenant governor, appointed a reform panel to look at the causes and advise on cures. Other states have similarly analyzed their respective flaws. We are not alone nor the worst when it comes to political sleaziness. We just happen to have side-by-side governors caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Adding to the formula that Ryan was an international celebrity for his anti-death penalty stance and Blagojevich has become a talk show jester, the 49 other states had a good laugh.—— Business as usual is neither funny nor good government. Yes, the city works, but it doesn’t work if you look at potholes, parking meters and unqualified hacks.– The same goes for the state. The pension system is one of the lowest ranked in the country, and Medicaid bills are taking more than a year to be paid.—- The cost of a failed and corrupt government is not purely taxes. Paying for government waste and carelessness is a cause for great concern. The Illinois voter is worn out. The complacency toward unethical government almost has gotten to the point that there is no turning back. The social scientists call this phenomena anomie, a feeling of alienation from one’s culture. In Illinois, it is alienation from our culture of governance. The outcome of this estrangement resulted in traffic fatalities while George Ryan was secretary of state. Under Blagojevich, a children’s hospital was not built because a kickback was not paid. We are Americans. We must not allow this to continue. We are responsible. Now we have an opportunity given to us by the Illinois Reform Commission to begin fixing the problem through the Democratic process. The commission submitted recommendations that have been presented to the General Assembly. There is no defense for failing to contact your state representative, state senator or other members of the General Assembly. Not all reform can be legislated, and many elected officials will be opposed to the reforms, but using this rationale to not contact them is inexcusable. Illinois’ leaders need a vociferous reminder that we the people own our government, not them. If it is called “business as usual,” then we must ask, is it legal, moral and ethical? - bored now - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 11:51 am: i had no idea that television stations were allowed to decline political advertising. did i miss something? has the first amendment been repealed? is this only true in illinois? tell me more! - siriusly - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 11:52 am: Ormbsby’s point is right on. Rich - with your follow-up comment are you challenging Patrick Collins to show you the taint?? - Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 12:17 pm: Patrick “Columns”? Is he a journalist? - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 1:34 pm: word, a more recent example of the Tribbies trying to have the cake and eat it too, if you will, is the paper bashing Big Bob Kj while the “business” side of the house would call him to ask for favors from the Bush WH. On the other hand, it may just be cynical old AA, but the number of phony-baloney “reformers” these days is just stunning. All three of those on the blog-in, in particular the one who exploited his committee char position to raise money from firms directly affected by the committee’s jurisdiction, are self-styled reformers. True. Well, AA is a self-styled nuclear physicist, but it doesn’t mean that I am one. (Could barely spell it.) One would also be well-advised to stay clear of any proclamations, even inferred, that any particular individuals have escaped the Federal hammer. Like the man says, “the investigation is ongoing.” - SangamoGOP - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 1:35 pm: “3. Should the attorney general and local prosecutors be given powers akin to the U.S. attorney to investigate corruption? Madigan: No Cross: No” The AG & the State’s Attorneys have far reaching police powers…just so long as they don’t reach all the way to policing politicians in Illinois. They don’t get it… - EmptySuitParade - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 1:48 pm: Looks like Cross agrees with Madigan quite a bit. Wonder what Collins will have to complain about next? Perhaps he will turn to lobbying for his law firm’s clients? - ReddSuitCrew - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 9:42 pm: ..or maybe Collins could do some zoning or tax work. Always put the bread on the table for MJM. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.