* From the Rauner campaign. Sorry for the length. Blame them. But there is some interesting stuff here…
Over the last week, Pat Quinn has led voters to believe he took decisive action to end patronage hiring at the Illinois Department of Transportation by laying off those who were illegally hired. The State Journal-Register published the list of people who Pat Quinn claims he laid off.
But a review of last week’s Inspector General report, the State Comptroller’s website and state hiring records reveals that dozens of people who were illegally hired by IDOT as “staff assistants” are still working at IDOT and were not part of Quinn’s announced lay-offs.
“This already looks like another broken promise from Pat Quinn,” Bruce Rauner said. “You’ve got to wonder if this is just another charade. Instead of throwing people under the bus, we need a new driver.”
Here’s a look at just three of the dozens of examples:
Employee 201
“Employee 201” Is Identified In The Illinois Executive Inspector General’s Report As The Daughter Of Chicago Alderman Gene Schulter. (“In re: Ann Schneider, Gary Hannig, Matthew Hughes and Michael Woods, Jr – OEIG Final Report, Office Of The Executive Inspector General, 8/22/14, p. 143)
Monica Schulter, Gene Schulter’s Daughter, Is Identified In Press Accounts As Having Been Hired As A “Staff Assistant” At IDOT. “The hires made under the questionable ‘staff assistant’ process include Monica Schulter, daughter of former Chicago Ald. Eugene Schulter (47th). She was hired as a staff assistant in 2010, and now makes $58,000 as an assistant to IDOT’s top administrator, Ann Schneider. When reached by phone, Monica Schulter declined to answer questions, however Eugene Schulter did.” (Patrick McCraney, “Clout Hiring Persists Under Quinn,” Better Government Association, 8/14/13)
Schulter Does Not Appear On The List Of Illegal Hires Being Fired By IDOT As A Result Of The Inspector General Report. (IDOT Layoffs List, State Journal-Register, 8/27/14)
Schulter Is Still Listed As Being Employed By IDOT. (Employee Salary Database, Illinois Comptroller, Accessed 8/28/14)
Employee 140
“Employee 140” Is Identified In The Illinois Executive Inspector General’s Report As A Former District Scheduler For Congressman Phil Hare Who Left Hare’s Office In March Of 2010. “In addition to the examples discussed above, the OEIG investigation uncovered another Rutan-exempt Staff Assistant, Employee 140, who worked for Congressman Hare immediately prior to joining IDOT. Employee 140 began employment with Mr. Hare in 2007 as a District Scheduler and held that position until March 2010.” (“In re: Ann Schneider, Gary Hannig, Matthew Hughes and Michael Woods, Jr – OEIG Final Report, Office Of The Executive Inspector General, 8/22/14, p. 75)
Employee 140’s Duties Included Producing Spreadsheets And Planting Trees. “Employee 16 told the OEIG that as a Staff Assistant, Employee 140’s duties included producing spreadsheets and other computer-generated documents and assisting in the Services Development area. In that capacity, Employee 140 planted trees and performed other preventative maintenance tasks.” (“In re: Ann Schneider, Gary Hannig, Matthew Hughes and Michael Woods, Jr – OEIG Final Report, Office Of The Executive Inspector General, 8/22/14, p. 75)
IDOT Employee Andrew Waeyaert Was Employed By Phil Hare Until March 12, 2010, And Was The Only Hare Employee To Leave In March Of 2010. (Statement Of Disbursements Of The House – January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010, U.S. House Of Representatives, p. 1266)
Waeyaert Does Not Appear On The List Of Illegal Hires Being Fired By IDOT As A Result Of The Inspector General Report. (IDOT Layoffs List, State Journal-Register, 8/27/14)
Andrew Waeyaert Is Still Listed As Being Employed By IDOT. (Employee Salary Database, Illinois Comptroller, Accessed 8/28/14)
Employee 139
“Employee 139” Was A Former Phil Hare District Scheduler, Hired In March OF 2010, And Was Hired By IDOT Following Hare’s 2010 Loss. “Employee 139’s employment application indicates he began work for Congressman Hare as a District Scheduler in March 2010 and left that position because of Mr. Hare’s 2010 election loss. Employee 139 began employment with IDOT in the Bureau of Personnel Management, but transferred to District 2 of the Division of Highways on March 28, 2011. The Internal Personnel Request authorizing his hire into the Staff Assistant position was signed by former Director of Finance and Administration Matt Hughes and former Bureau Chief of Personnel Management Mike Woods, Jr.” (“In re: Ann Schneider, Gary Hannig, Matthew Hughes and Michael Woods, Jr – OEIG Final Report, Office Of The Executive Inspector General, 8/22/14, p. 74)
Employee 139 Developed And Implemented Training Classes, And Did Not Perform Duties Listed In The Staff Assistant Position Description. “Investigators questioned Administrative Services Manager for District 2 Employee 16 about the duties Employee 139 performed in Safety and Training after his transfer. Employee 16 stated Employee 139’s duties included developing and implementing training classes. According to Employee 16, Employee 139 did not perform duties reflected on the Staff Assistant position description.” (“In re: Ann Schneider, Gary Hannig, Matthew Hughes and Michael Woods, Jr – OEIG Final Report, Office Of The Executive Inspector General, 8/22/14, p. 74)
IDOT Employee Derek Jones Began Working For Hare On March 15, 2010, And Was The Only Hare Employee To Be Hired In March Of 2010. (Statement Of Disbursements Of The House – January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010, U.S. House Of Representatives, p. 1265)
Jones Does Not Appear On The List Of Illegal Hires Being Fired By IDOT As A Result Of The Inspector General Report. (IDOT Layoffs List, State Journal-Register, 8/27/14)
Derek Jones Is Still Listed As Being Employed By The Illinois Department Of Transportation. (State Employee Salary Database, Illinois Comptroller, Accessed 8/28/14)
- freshstart - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 1:45 pm:
I get it looks like people at IDOT did something wrong when it comes to hiring these people, but I don’t think it’s right to blame the workers. They were doing a job. It’s not likely they walked into an IDOT office and asked IDOT to skirt the process. Now these people are make to look like the guilty parties. That’s not fair.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 1:51 pm:
Rauner isn’t blaming the workers.
- Frankie L - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 1:51 pm:
Don’t blame the employees, blame Quinn. And what in the world is going on at IDOT when this is a job description: “Duties Included Producing Spreadsheets And Planting Trees.”
- Coffee Cup - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 1:51 pm:
Rauner certainly makes Pat Quinn’s frequent habit of patting himself on the back for “looking out for the people” look pretty bogus. A good summarization of Pat Quinn’s term in office as Governor of Illinois would be “Professor Harold Hill tells the citizens of River City why they should unlock their doors and welcome him back with open arms”.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 1:56 pm:
It looks like the Governor’s statement regarding this clean up needed to have been clearer. Quinn should not have led citizens into believing his one action would eliminate all the patronage used to hire IDOT employees.
Quinn was misleading, slightly. He needed to have suggested that his actions were ongoing as evidence surfaced, suggesting an illegal hire.
Quinn couldn’t have cleaned up the chicken coop that fast and he should have made that clear. We have due process, folks. These people are state workers and they have rights, folks.
- Cassiopeia - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 1:57 pm:
Wonder how long these releases will keep going and if there will be any Quinn reacts?
Drip, drip, drip….
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:00 pm:
Ruh-roh.
Please tell me they weren’t dumb enough to fire only the least “connected” hires in this case?
I hope for Mr. Quinn’s sake this isn’t true.
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:09 pm:
Producing spread sheets and planting trees? Did I read that right?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:09 pm:
I honestly admire how detail-oriented Team Rauner is when it comes to everything except the state budget.
- OneMan - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:11 pm:
Very true VM, I think the next question is going to be if some of them have more rights than others. If the really connected (or those who appear to be) were the ones kept around…
- Jack - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:13 pm:
Monica Schulter has always been the beneficiary of patronage. Clouted in at Water Reclamation, then on her father’s aldermanic staff, and now finally IDOT. Where will she end up next?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:15 pm:
@FKA -
It looks like they only fired those currently in staff assistant positions.
I believe Rauner is whacking them for folks who allegedly used the Rutan-exempt positions to sneak in the back door and then skip to the front of the line for other posts that are available first to current state employees.
Perhaps Schrimpf or Klinzman can explain better.
- Empty Suit - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:16 pm:
Hey the Gov took care of it as soon as he found out. Just ask him cause he says he always tells the truth. Where’s Quinnochio when you need him?
- Norseman - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:18 pm:
=== Employee 140’s Duties Included Producing Spreadsheets And Planting Trees. ===
Talking about other duties as assigned. Perhaps he needed to plant trees because he produced too many spreadsheets.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:21 pm:
If there are “dozens,” why list three?
Back it up. Give us the goods.
- the Patriot - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:22 pm:
It is a very fine line to say the workers did nothing wrong. Lots of people at Enron and AIG made millions just keeping their heads down when they knew what was going on around them is wrong. So that is ok?
I can’t help but kick this horse again. So the Inspector General essentially exonerated the hard working people at Menard over the carpal tunnel allegations and placed the blame on CMS and the AG’s office lack of accountability and no one cares.
But if they are going to blame the Governor for something it is news?
Tip of the day to the Governor, change your name to Madigan and you can’t get away with it.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:23 pm:
Louis, maybe you should get your pistoleros on the case.
- Downstate - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:24 pm:
I wonder if there are days that Governor Quinn, like Blago before him, wishes that maybe he hadn’t gotten the top job?
- Skirmisher - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:31 pm:
“It’s not likely they walked into an IDOT office and asked IDOT to skirt the process.”
Freshstart- Who are you trying to kid??? These people didn’t go down and take the appropriate Civil Service test and get hired off of a list after the normal interview and approval process. They went to Daddy or their husband, wife, or Significant Other and asked them to get them a State job. They knew exactly what they were doing, and getting canned when the heat is on is exactly what they have coming to them. So enough of the tears!
- Bogey Golfer - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:34 pm:
==Employee 140’s Duties Included Producing Spreadsheets And Planting Trees.==
Understand you can’t plant trees 12 months a year. Maybe the employee spent the winter months create spreadsheets of trees planted - location, species…..hey, just thinking out loud.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:42 pm:
Some of you guys want it both ways: holier-than-thou about patronage while wanting to hold patronage workers harmless.
If somebody gets clouted a job, they know it. Why should they continue to receive the benefits of a rigged game? Get back in line.
Rauner’s going to keep the heat on. If there are “dozens” more out there, as his peeps say, I’d suggest those folks’ jobs are in jeopardy as well.
- Mason born - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:49 pm:
Well said word.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:51 pm:
@YDD - thanks. That would be more logical.
My stomach initially dropped for Mr. Quinn. Win or lose, it would be nice to see him make it through this election with at least a shred of his old reputation.
If his response to an improper clouted hiring scandal were firing only the “least” clouted hires, that outcome may have been in jeopardy.
Though it makes me wonder if perhaps that is not the end result here regardless. The most clouted got promoted and will keep their new jobs, while the “lesser” clouts get their names in the paper.
- Downstate GOP Faithless - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:51 pm:
Perhaps if some of these hires had the opportunity to go to Payton Prep, they wouldn’t have needed to know someone to get hired.
- walker - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:51 pm:
Good. Clean it out.
But why mention only three?
Is it because this has long been a bi-party patronage sinkhole, and you don’t want to embarrass the wrong people?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 2:59 pm:
–Is it because this has long been a bi-party patronage sinkhole, and you don’t want to embarrass the wrong people?–
Now that you mention it, other than Rauner, leading GOPers have been pretty silent on this, as opposed to NRI.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 3:00 pm:
Meanwhile, we still await some sort of consequences for those who coordinated this improper hiring and maneuvering.
- so... - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 3:02 pm:
==Good. Clean it out.
But why mention only three?
Is it because this has long been a bi-party patronage sinkhole, and you don’t want to embarrass the wrong people?==
“Staff Assistant” hires were created by Rod Blagojevich, and it’s been Dem Governors continuously since. Just sayin’.
- Birdseed - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 3:16 pm:
== But why mention only three? ==
Drip, drip, drip. Keeping your powder dry.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 3:17 pm:
so…. no Republicans ever played ball with Blago? Testimony and convictions at a number of federal trials lead to the opposite conclusion.
And only Democrats contributed to that huge 2006 campaign fund? No, I don’t think so.
- A guy... - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 3:32 pm:
The equation of the day:
How many days left until election day divided by how many Staff Assistants at IDOT.
Don’t worry. The math will be done for you.
- Cheswick - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 3:34 pm:
== Perhaps he needed to plant trees because he produced too many spreadsheets. ==
OMG I laughed so hard. Good one, Norseman!
- dupage dan - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 3:34 pm:
Patronage (D-Ill)
Patronage (R-Ill)
Both sides do it. Maybe the GOP is watching to see which way this wind blows before stepping in. Let Quinn twist and look for the pathway to back door hiring for when the GOP takes over - teehee.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 3:40 pm:
===I honestly admire how detail-oriented Team Rauner is when it comes to everything except the state budget.===
That is the Million Dollar way of being the best Sgt. Schultz as possible.
- A guy... - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 3:46 pm:
=== wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 3:17 pm:
so…. no Republicans ever played ball with Blago?===
Shhh! Leave our next Treasurer out of this.
- Road Dog - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 4:21 pm:
Only 58, what a joke. I would guess there are hundreds more that used clout to get hired through the tainted “legal” process. It’s pretty obvious when positions are posted and interviews are conducted that the other employees can guess the outcome with remarkable accuracy. What a coincidence that some heavy hitters anointed candidate gets hired or promoted. You don’t have to be a Sherlock Holmes to expose this. What amazed all of us career employees is that Blago and everyone in his administration had to know the Feds were watching but went blatantly ahead full steam.
- WhoKnew - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 4:52 pm:
— A guy… - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 3:32 pm:–
Can I get that on a Spreadsheet?
- BehindTheScenes - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 5:01 pm:
So if ‘Staff Assistant’ positions were a Blago creation, how did the broom that swept out the SJ-R’s list include someone with 25 years in as of June 1? Or was that a typo?
- Anon - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 5:05 pm:
Not doubting the oppo file, but their proof is these employees are still in the Comptroller database? Wouldn’t they have been given severeance or at least final pay at end of month?
If the Comptroller portal is in real-time, then that is by far the most fascinating part and Team JBT has impressed me.
I might have missed their point due to this being the most technical dump ever, pricey extra staff just ain’t what they used to be.
- Cassandra - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 5:12 pm:
I believe they must have some protections under the civil service personnel regs, once employed, even though they may have been hired incorrectly. This would include some layoff rights. And that’s something Governor Rauner would have to learn if he gets the job. Layoff does not mean out on the street, no longer employed by the state. For some it might, depending on seniority, but for others they could have access to existing vacancies for which they qualify by education, training, and so forth, including in agencies other than their current one. The state personnel code is the wild west no matter how prepared an outsider believes himself to be.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 5:36 pm:
a golden job,could only plant money trees
- better days - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 5:59 pm:
Quinn just another corrupt, democrat hack.. $$58,000 jobs for his buddies .. what a reformer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
54 million dollars to give away in 2010 what quinn give away this time
Lets give Governor Rauner a chance… and move Quinn in with his buddly blago
- better days - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 6:02 pm:
bye bye Quinn or if he wins bye bye Illinois !!!!!!!!!!!!
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 6:05 pm:
- better days -,
You need to add some more exclamation marks, otherwise your Dopey drive-bys aren’t missed and mocked.
- low level - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 6:16 pm:
I’m sorry but I’m calling “total b.s.” on the spreadsheets - planting accusation. I’d like to know what motivations Employee 16 has and how his interview was conducted.
- admin - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 6:28 pm:
Other than the ST and Trib beating this horse most people dont know what this means.
- Milootis - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 6:34 pm:
If you are hired for a position that didn’t exist before and no conditions have changed to require this position to be created, then you are just a ghost payroller who unfortunately has to show up for work. I’ve seen them in our district and have little sympathy for them.
- anonagain - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 6:56 pm:
if we really want to clean it up we need to go back to clean out the ryan and edgar people who got hired through shady practices whats fair is fair
- SamHall - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 7:00 pm:
- BehindTheScenes - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 5:01 pm:
So if ‘Staff Assistant’ positions were a Blago creation, how did the broom that swept out the SJ-R’s list include someone with 25 years in as of June 1? Or was that a typo?
==================================================
If someone was a really low level employee with 13 years years in and then the Dems got in and they got a staff assistant job at $50K , the chart would show the person was hired 25 years ago (13 + 12)
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 7:27 pm:
what does it take to get vested in illinois pensions?
- Very Fed Up - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 8:14 pm:
How can you take the position the workers are blameless? Taking a position you know you get vs better qualified people on the tax payers dime with a patronage connection. Spare the mock outrage when they let go. Pat Quinn has made it clear his position that he needs to keep the 67% tax increase to fund the government. When you see stuff like this makes it hard to believe.
- BehindTheScenes - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 8:15 pm:
@ SamHall
Point taken.
@ Anonymous
Used to be 8 years to become vested but I never knew anyone who made enough of a retirement on 8 years. Just meant you had some protection.
- Mister M - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 9:19 pm:
At IDOT, pension vesting is 8 years, but that has nothing to do with protection. New employees are on a 6-month probationary period.
- Been There - Thursday, Aug 28, 14 @ 10:49 pm:
Personally, I always thought the governor, mayor or whoever the elected official is, should be able to hire whoever they want for any open position. Pretty much like any private business. But firing them or moving them around once they are in is a different story. They should be protected except for those in the exempt positions.
- they aren't the only ones - Friday, Aug 29, 14 @ 7:26 am:
One entire bureau at Traffic Safety is all political hires going back 4 decades with the majority of them being R’s. So how far back to we go? If they came in and analyze that entire bureau they would only find 2 or 3 that EVER interviewed into their positions!!
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Friday, Aug 29, 14 @ 7:54 am:
Why does IDOT have thier own Personnel system? There should be one system under the Governors office. They do not hire many engineers anymore, mostly Project mgmt people. They contract out most of thier engineering work. (this is what I was told by someone at IDOT)
- VanillaMan - Friday, Aug 29, 14 @ 8:11 am:
if we really want to clean it up we need to go back to clean out the ryan and edgar people who got hired through shady practices whats fair is fair
I agree. Too bad we couldn’t get a governor elected committed to reforming and ending these practices. Perhaps the next governor could do it. I would not recommend electing someone who made a career using patronage in state government because it seems that we have discovered recently that those kinds of individuals as governors are incapable of reform.
- Mister M - Friday, Aug 29, 14 @ 8:35 am:
IDOT does hire consulting engineering firms to prepare most construction project plans. But that does not mean that engineers are not needed in the oversight work at IDOT - including in Maintenance to assure that things such as bridges are safe. Don’t go looking for hold-over political hacks from the Edgar and Ryan years - there basically aren’t any. The organization was basically staffed and run by career professionals until Blago, and now Quinn.
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 29, 14 @ 9:17 am:
Generally, with the listed salaries these dont seem like particularly enviable positions and many of the clouted hires have turned out to be educated and at least somewhat qualified folks.
Are there any examples of clouted hires not actually doing their job, not working full hours, etc? If there is not, these Rauner releases are overkill. I don’t think the public will become too upset with this come voting time except for a small minority of folks that strongly believes politics and relationships have no place in state govt hiring.
- Mister M - Friday, Aug 29, 14 @ 9:28 am:
Anonymous - Note the the OEIG Report only addresses “Staff Assistants”, and although the loose application of the positions, and some variable pay was noted in the report, the patronage abuses go beyond just those positions - we would be naive to think othrwise. “Workers” is a pretty loose description for the clouted hires.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Aug 29, 14 @ 9:40 am:
Don’t go looking for hold-over political hacks from the Edgar and Ryan years - there basically aren’t any.
In my opinion, it would be a mistake to assume that. The point made is that it is not just a Democratic scandal, but that it is a bipartisan scandal.
So, lets say that there are IDOT employees who benefitted from the decades-long Republican patronage, and that they are still there.
If we were to thoroughly investigate each possible case, each individual IDOT employee is an Illinoisan working for their government and have due process. Consequently, we have a long history of laws about their right to employment which needs to be followed. If anything, this summer’s Supreme Court decision regarding pensions indicates that these individuals have rights which are constitutional. So, when we find even the most blazon example of an illegal political hire, there is a means of removing them that needs to recognize their legal rights as Illinois citizens. It isn’t all about unions, it is about our own constitutional rights.
If we were to end illegal patronage within IDOT, it needed to have happened under both political parties. The fact that this is a bipartisan issue does not resonate strongly when we have had over a decade of one party rule in Illinois.
Worse - we have a “reformer” as governor. He followed Rod Blagojevich who ran against Springfield and state government and also claimed to be a man who would reform. After 12 years, we have results which indicate that those claims were acts of dishonesty. That not only had the Blagojevich and Quinn administration failed to end the illegal patronage at IDOT, they accelerated it. So, not only were they not reformers - they were actually the kind of governors that they, themselves, campaigned against as being unworthy of holding that office.
One of these men is on the November ballot. Illinoisans need to seriously reconsider retaining him as our governor, should they hold this issue in a high priority. They may choose to return him to office, as is their prerogative. Yet, supporters of this incumbent should not belittle their fellow citizens who yearn for someone who has not been exposed as corrupted on this issue.
- Mason born - Friday, Aug 29, 14 @ 9:46 am:
Anonymous
You seem to forget the entire quinn administration the job market in this state has been atrocious. Now if I am flipping burgers because I cannot find a better job and you tell me the Governor has a friends and family plan where people get State Jobs over other IL citizens I’m pretty streamed.
Those names Rauner listed did exactly that.
- Demoralized - Friday, Aug 29, 14 @ 10:30 am:
==Those names Rauner listed did exactly that.==
So you’re ok dragging people’s names through the mud to score political points. Got it.
That’s like punishing kids for the sins of their parents. It’s despicable.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Aug 29, 14 @ 12:22 pm:
Check out the SJ-R.
Information like that is online 24/7.