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*** UPDATED x1 - Quinn responds *** Rauner unveils ethics reform plan

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Click here to read Bruce Rauner’s new ethics plan. Some of it is much-needed, some of it is obvious overkill or rehash.

* Hiring…

* Fire all IDOT employs who got an “illegal” job

* Launch an online portal that includes info on all non-civil service workers

* Request a federal hiring monitor to oversee IDOT

* Revolving door…

* A firm, one-year lobbying ban for all senior executive officials and legislators

I’d go even further and bar any of those folks from negotiating private sector jobs while in office.

…Adding… Gov. Quinn has a bill in the hopper to address part of this. From the LRB synopsis…

Provides that (in addition to current restrictions on chiefs of staff, deputy chiefs of staff, and deputy governors) a chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, or deputy governor serving in the Office of the Governor is prohibited from lobbying or consulting in any fashion before or with the executive or legislative branch of State government for a period of one year immediately after termination of State employment.

* Ban government contract lobsters…

* Any government entity receiving state funds would be barred from hiring an outside lobbyist

* No outside income for legislative leaders (he’s already proposed that one)

* Conflicts of interest…

* Expand powers of Legislative Ethics Commission powers to include fines and censure. Legislators whould be prohibited from voting on matters where there are conflicts of interest

It’s not clear if that means farmers couldn’t vote on a generic farm bill, or whether it would mean farmers couldn’t vote on a farm bill that mainly impacted them. Devils are always in the details.

* Recall…

* Recall expanded beyond governor to all constitutional officers and legislators

* No pensions for felons

* Multiple expulsions…

* Amend Constitution to allow for multiple expulsions for the same offense (addresses Rep. Derrick Smith case, when he was expelled and then re-elected and couldn’t be expelled again)

That is definitely needed.

* Term limits

* Slush funds…

* More transparency and accountability for state grants

Much of that was already addressed this spring.

*** UPDATE *** From the Quinn campaign…

Quinn for Illinois Communications Director Brooke Anderson issued the below statement regarding Bruce Rauner’s desperate attempt to hide his own proven record of profiting from pay-to-play, fraud and corruption:

“Bruce Rauner has zero credibility when it comes to ethics - he has profited from fraud, abuse and mismanagement of his own businesses and taxpayer dollars throughout his career.

“For example, the U.S. Attorney had this to say about one of Mr. Rauner’s companies: ‘APS Healthcare took Medicaid’s money for itself and left some of our most vulnerable citizens without the aid they deserved.’

“Unlike Governor Quinn who takes responsibility and fixes problems whenever they arise, Bruce Rauner takes no responsibility but always takes the profits.

“Mr. Rauner may have been able to take the money and run in the private sector but he can’t hide from his own business record of pay-to-play, corruption, fraud and hiring swindlers.

“Bruce Rauner can’t be trusted.”

Below is a recap of the Governor’s record of reform.

    Governor Quinn’s Record of Reform

    Enacted a strong new ethics code that forbids the promise of state jobs and contracts or political favors in exchange for campaign contributions and increases scrutiny of officials, state workers and lobbyists.
    Signed legislation that imposes a first-ever contribution limits on candidates, political parties and political action committees and created a Campaign Finance Reform Task Force, which will study the impact of contribution limits and make recommendations following the 2012 & 2014 elections. Mr. Rauner promptly took advantage of a loophole to smash the limits and benefit himself, so he and his fellow billionaires could try and take over Illinois.
    Fought for an enacted a law that allows the power to recall a Governor who is not working in the public’s interest.
    Established he Illinois Reform Commission to examine and present solutions against corruption and taxpayer abuse, including in state hiring.
    Issued Administrative Order to strengthen hiring controls and ensure compliance with all Rutan rules.
    Fought for and signed law to strengthen the OEIG authority as a hiring watchdog by allowing the OEIG to self-initiate investigations, requiring publication of state employee wrongdoing including wrongdoing related to hiring, and empowering the Inspector General with new authority to review hiring of all agencies to ensure compliance with Rutan and all applicable employment law.
    Fought for a signed Grant Accountability and Transparency Act, which is landmark legislation that overhauls the state’s grant oversight and accountability process, while providing the strongest grant oversight in the nation.
    Vetoed legislation that would have reduced government transparency by limiting the ability of citizens to seek public records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
    Signed legislation creating a permanent public access counselor within the Attorney General’s Office to oversee enforcement of the FOIA and strengthening fines for noncompliance.
    Launched the Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal to provide Illinoisans with access to state government spending information.
    Launched the Illinois Sunshine Portal Sunshine.Illinois.gov, a new one-stop shop where the public can view many public records and documents online.
    Launched data.illinois.gov, a searchable clearinghouse of information from state agencies that will help inform residents about the operation of state government and encourage the creative use of state information, including the development of applications for mobile devices that can be built around the data.
    Signed legislation that creates a position of a state actuary to oversee the five state-funded pension systems to help increase transparency of the systems.
    Issued an executive order that encourages state agencies and local governments across Illinois to increase the amount of raw data they share with each other, businesses, academic institutions and the general public.
    Signed legislation to strengthen the Illinois Open Meetings Act by ensuring that a copy of the meeting notice and agenda is available to the public for the entire 48 hours preceding the meeting.
    Signed legislation that strengthens ethics provisions in certain Illinois county governments to help establish ethical guidelines and simplifies the removal process for individuals who violate those guidelines.

It would’ve been nice if the Quinn campaign found one or two good ideas to praise, but this being the nastiest campaign in modern state history, I suppose that’s too much to ask.

       

66 Comments
  1. - Juvenal - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:52 am:

    === No outside income for legislative leaders ===

    Does this mean Tom Cross will be giving up his law practice?


  2. - Anonymous Retiree - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:53 am:

    What about Madigan’s outside law practice?


  3. - A guy... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:54 am:

    This looks like it’s coming straight from the mouths of the electorate. If it’s overkill, it’s because any previous efforts for reform aren’t resonating in voterland. This is the right strategy. This may be the beginning of the framing of the issues that will take center stage. Gotta keep the messaging strong, consistent and fresh. give them something new to react to every day. Control the agenda with offense. Will be interesting to see the progression of this. My observation is that an offensive strategy is underway. We’ll see.


  4. - Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:54 am:

    Is Rauner going to eliminate the practice of paying people who handle public money on commission or paying them a percent of the action?

    This practice seems particularly corrupt.


  5. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:54 am:

    More like this, please.

    From both.


  6. - Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:55 am:

    Is Rauner going to give up his outside income?


  7. - circularfiringsquad - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:56 am:

    Does this mean the farmers can’t farm
    Does this mean insurance peddlers can’t peddle
    Does this mean wealthy “venture capitalist” can’t buy the government by pay themselves, renting credit unions and GOPies backers?


  8. - Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:59 am:

    Getting half of these items would be a great leap forward.

    What will the reformer Quinn propose?


  9. - Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:59 am:

    Is anybody proposing to go after the law firms?

    Law firms should decide whether they work for the government or pay to lobby the government.

    Law firms bill government and distribute money to decide who gets elected. Yet law firms say their interactions with politicians are covered by attorney-client privilege.

    Law firms often look more like money laundering operations.

    And ever in the best of circumstances, it often seems the attorneys are protecting the interests of the politicians, not the taxing body.


  10. - Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:01 am:

    BTW, has Gov. Quinn created a system where veterans can raise concerns that State of Illinois jobs are being given but not in compliance with veterans preferences?


  11. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:03 am:

    If Quinn had all that ethics medicine, why didn’t he inoculate himself better by showing and broadcasting it?

    If he had, he would be able to better handle the negative consequences of these scandals.

    Quinn spent too much time running down his opponent’s federal tax shelters and pointing out that his opponent was wealthy, to tell the voters who elected him in 2010 that he is still the right guy for them to reelect.

    Dumb.


  12. - walker - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:03 am:

    Good start Mr. Rauner.

    Now do three things:

    Take out the stuff that is already done.

    Don’t even talk about things that need a constitutional change, without a realistic plan to amend the Constitution (unlike the Term Limits fiasco).

    Get legitimate and serious allies in the legislature from both parties,(based on their ethics, not your campaign support), and do not treat them all as “suspects” of some sort. That was Collins’ major failing.


  13. - Big Muddy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:04 am:

    There is some good stuff in Brucie’s plan here no doubt. Madigan will go for none of it which is why he should be hammering the airwaves with this. It sells well.
    Brooke’s response is just pot calling kettle stuff. Pretty weak sauce from her on this one.


  14. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:04 am:

    That “record of reform” could use a few addendums.

    Beginning with his failure to “fumigate” as promised years ago. Or IDOT for those with shorter memories.


  15. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:05 am:

    ===That was Collins’ major failing===

    Yep.


  16. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:05 am:

    Vetoed legislation that would have reduced government transparency by limiting the ability of citizens to seek public records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

    Who did he have to defy with that veto? His own party and supporters?


  17. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:06 am:

    I learned that the Quinn Crew continues to be un-pithy.

    Pathetic response.

    You guys need to do better, you’re losing the argument with that 31,854 word …”fast response”. Yikes


  18. - Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:06 am:

    Here’s how term limits should work.

    After a politician’s first run for re-election s/he has to stand before the voters in two ways.

    One, what we have now, run against the candidates who filed to run. Most votes wins.

    Two, the politician should run on the question, “Shall this be [politician’s name] final term in [insert office]?” If a majority vote “yes” then the politician can’t run for re-election in the next cycle.

    This would seem to deal with the objections that term limits throw out good pols with bad.

    My guess is this kind of system would clear out a bunch of deadwood that’s mediocre but not truly awful.


  19. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:07 am:

    Signed legislation that imposes a first-ever contribution limits on candidates, political parties and political action committees and created a Campaign Finance Reform Task Force, which will study the impact of contribution limits and make recommendations following the 2012 & 2014 elections. Mr. Rauner promptly took advantage of a loophole to smash the limits and benefit himself, so he and his fellow billionaires could try and take over Illinois.

    Why would you trumpet an accomplishment, then point out that it didn’t work? How many billionaires is Quinn fighting against? How many billionaires are trying to take over Illinois, and why isn’t it making news?


  20. - downstate hack - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:07 am:

    Some very good stuff in the plan, but I doubt this moves the election meter much. Needs to tie Quinn to lack of reforms and ethics to the voters which is difficult when most are already tuning out political ads.


  21. - Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:08 am:

    And which candidate is willing to put all IG investigations online with Privacy Act & FOIA exception info redacted?


  22. - Just Observing - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:08 am:

    === I’d go even further and bar any of those folks from negotiating private sector jobs while in office. ===

    Don’t think I agree. You are asking people to quit their job without having another job lined up. Even for a “senior official” they may not be able to afford that. What if a Governor’s term is ending… they have to wait for the term to end before looking for a job??


  23. - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:08 am:

    @OW

    Yes, absolutely. It is like they copy and paste the gov’s autobiography. Knock it off, and sum it up. Somebody is just lazy and doesn’t want to think.


  24. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:09 am:

    == that 31,854 word …”fast response”. Yikes ==

    Did the Rauner communications guru who was writing those lengthy releases a few weeks ago switch teams?


  25. - Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:09 am:

    Most detailed Rauner document yet. What I find stunning from the Quinn press release is my take-away that Quinn disagrees with every single provision? If that was his intent, fire the author of that press release now!

    Instead of I agree with this and I disagree with that, Quinn played right into this one.


  26. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:10 am:

    Bruce Rauner has zero credibility when it comes to ethics…

    I wish I can read today’s news and agree that only Rauner is having this problem, but I can’t.


  27. - Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:10 am:

    Which candidate has a plan to deal with malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance in law enforcement?

    My criminal justice 101 prof made the point that police corruption and political corruption go hand in hand.


  28. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:10 am:

    ===You are asking people to quit their job without having another job lined up===

    Yes, I am. I’ve watched too many of these over the years. Legislators and admin staff voting and working on bills while they’re trying to get a sweet gig with this or that association or company. It needs to stop.


  29. - Anonymoiis - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:11 am:

    ==What will the reformer Quinn propose?==

    He hasn’t proposed much of anything that he would change going forward, so it’s probably expecting too much for him to start now


  30. - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:12 am:

    Oh, and I almost forgot… Watching the Rauner campaign is about like watching Jim Ryan go up in smoke. You come out with an ethics plan, and your opponent smacks you down for your own lack of pursuing corruption (and in Rauner’s case, being very corrupt in business dealings).


  31. - Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:13 am:

    What about the practice of paying political communications firms by giving them contracts to buy advertisements?


  32. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:13 am:

    Fought for an enacted a law that allows the power to recall a Governor who is not working in the public’s interest.

    Too bad we didn’t have a governor powerful enough to persuade that Democratic supermajority to pass that!


  33. - A guy... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:16 am:

    To the update from Brooke: Sit up straight, young lady! lol.

    Wrong answer. Adopt the Madigan theory and co-opt the good ideas and package them as yours. He’s shooting straight at Ethics, and you’re arguing.

    Double dumb.


  34. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:16 am:

    There is a lot of good stuff in that crap. It is too bad Quinnsters can’t figure out how to run on their guy’s accomplishments, instead of telling voters that their opponent is wealthy.

    Did you know Rauner is rich? Betcha did! Quinnsters spent millions telling us Rauner has millions. Dumb.


  35. - circularfiringsquad - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:17 am:

    Hey Mitt — read the criminal code — this stuff is already illegal
    Now let’s move on to HomeBanc Mortgage Corportation


  36. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:18 am:

    == Legislators and admin staff voting and working on bills while they’re trying to get a sweet gig with this or that association or company. ==

    I remember seeing a study about 2 or 3 years ago from the “Sunlight Initiative” or some group of a similar name. The link between state legislators introducing legislation that directly impacts their largest campaign donors is staggering.

    iirc, it was something like 60% of all legislation introduced at the state level nationwide relates to at least one of the bill author’s 5 largest campaign donors.


  37. - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:19 am:

    @Vman

    They spent millions telling you how Rauner got his millions, not that he has them. Can you see the difference between class warfare and pointing out corruption and immorality of how a “rich” guy made his money?


  38. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:20 am:

    And by “impacts”, I mean “benefits”.


  39. - Not it - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:20 am:

    Banning governmental bodies from hiring their own lobbyists sounds good on paper, but it would require them to hire a ton of internal government affairs liaisons that would probably cost more money and have less experience then having a lobbyist or two on contract. It would also require those liaisons to spend a huge amount of time in Springfield twiddling their thumbs but staying at hotels and eating at restaurants.


  40. - Not it - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:22 am:

    Carl Nyberg: what you are alleging is already illegal I believe. No honest lobbyist would accept such a contract.


  41. - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:23 am:

    Pat Quinn wants to own nothing. He wants someone else to wear the Cape of Responsibility for NRI and for IDOT. He took over for Blago and claimed he and his staff had no idea how bad things were and how big of a mess the Governor’s office had become.

    Funny, but I can read the Trib, the SJ-R and Cap Fax (daily edition and blog) and figure this stuff out.

    Quinn cannot manage his own office properly - let alone the state.

    Rauner clearly has ethical and moral issues. I get it. But so does Pat Quinn - even though he and his staff refuse to admit it.


  42. - ugh - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:27 am:

    These may be great ideas, but many would actually require constitutional amendments. A law that prohibit legislators from having outside employment or impose a one year ban would be unconstitutional.


  43. - Tequila Mockingbird - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:33 am:

    If Quinn has done so much to reform politics, Why does the current Illinois look so much like the old Illinois?


  44. - Not it - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:34 am:

    Ugh has an excellent point, although the proposal is for legislative leaders, I don’t see how you can still get away from the Constitutuon that says we have a part time legislature.


  45. - Law Dude - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:40 am:

    Have to disagree with Rich on multiple expulsions. The provision preventing multiple expulsions was actually a progressive reform-era idea. There was a time in our political history when impeachments were more common, especially on the state level, and often politically-motivated. Impeachment is necessary tool to have, as an elected official can be caught in the middle of a term doing something illegal or improper.

    But allowing multiple impeachments of someone that voters continue to elect (and who isn’t convicted of a felony, thus unable to serve per the requirements of office)? That seems very anti-democratic. I wouldn’t have voted for Derrick Smith, or someone in a similar circumstance, but if the voters wanted him representing them in Springfield even knowing about the impeachable offense, and his impeachment from office, then he serves. It’s democracy.

    Perhaps I’m too paranoid, but allowing this could be a dangerous tool. Impeachment is a great check on voters electing someone who turns out to be a criminal. But voters are also a great check on elected officials abusing impeachment, but sending someone back who was impeached wrongly (since the GA is the final word on impeachment, this is something that could happen - not saying it has). I think allowing someone to be impeached every time they are elected based on the same thing could destroy this check-and-balances and weaken the democratic process.


  46. - Craig - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:43 am:

    It wasn’t Collins commission, it was Quinn’s. The members were appointed by Quinn pursuant to an executive order. Quinn even takes credit for it today.
    Of course that is after Quinn ran away from the commission’s work like the weak kneed coward he is.


  47. - foster brooks - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:44 am:

    Go ahead and fire the IDOT workers, they’ll just sue and get their job back just like they did under blago.


  48. - Walter Mitty - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:51 am:

    Where’s Rauner’s plans? It’s what has been echoed here when he was third in the primary. Well, here’s some good ones folks can understand. The response from PQ shows the biggest weakness all can consume. He has none. And worse, he is part of the problem. As the Feds have noticed…


  49. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:52 am:

    == But allowing multiple impeachments of someone that voters continue to elect ==

    With the influential support and resources of Mr. Madigan. Lest we forget.


  50. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:52 am:

    If he gets this message out it will sway independents. Quinn’s responce wasn’t the best work from his people. It was more like he was giving reasons to shoot down reforms in State Goverment .


  51. - Walter Mitty - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:54 am:

    The response read like a plan for the status quo.


  52. - Roadiepig - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:03 pm:

    Maybe I’m missing something, but if you ban all legislators from having any outside job/ source of income doesn’t that leave you with only “career politicians” eligible to serve in office? Isn’t that one of Rauner’s favorite things to attack- career politicians? It’s been a while since I took government classes, but wasn’t the original idea of representatives (not senators) as being businessmen/farmers/etc. from local communities ,serving as a representative for a term of two years, then returning to their community to return to their former occupation? Would anyone who gets elected have to quit their job or close down their law practice before they get sworn in? Details details…


  53. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:08 pm:

    Quinn’s people should have left out the part on Freedom of info act , seeing how they just bushed the Sun Times.


  54. - Soccermom - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:31 pm:

    Is PQ paying staff by the word?


  55. - Anon - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:40 pm:

    == A firm, one-year lobbying ban for all… legislators. Recall for all state elected officials. Term limits. ==

    Come on! How many GOP legislators would support that agenda? There are a number of retired GOP legislators earning a very good living now as lobbyists. Would legislators really deprive themselves of that gig?


  56. - Anon - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:55 pm:

    == Any government entity receiving state funds would be barred from hiring an outside lobbyist ==

    I wonder what the immediate past state GOP chairman thinks of that one?


  57. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:55 pm:

    I’m not sure I understand the purpose of a “portal” for non-civil service hires. I’m not even sure I know what he defines as “non-civil service.” And what information will be available on that portal? Who my mom is? My cousin?

    And I will once again point out that firing all of those people at IDOT will result in a lawsuit that he will lose. And I don’t want to hear from people about how Quinn has done things similar and lost. Rauner’s action would suffer the same fate.

    Once again Rauner is peddling things that sound good to the electorate but can’t be accomplished in reality. I wonder what all of the Rauner supporters will say if he wins and completely fails to do most of the things he has promised to do during this campaign? Governing is hard. Rauner will figure that out in a real hurry.


  58. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:08 pm:

    Also, as much as I hate term limits, I hate recall even more. My idea of democracy is allowing me to vote for somebody as many times as I want to. And my idea of democracy is not allowing a “do over” if the guy that wins doesn’t happen to turn out the way people wanted. You’ll get to vote against them in the next election. And if they’ve done something really bad you can impeach them.

    Can we please stop with the initiatives of the constant whiners who don’t like the outcome of elections? Please. Pretty please.

    You want to know the way to fix this? VOTE. It’s really that simple. And if you’re guy or gal doesn’t win then try again next time. But stop whining about it.


  59. - William j Kelly - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:34 pm:

    Bruce rauner? Ethics plan? THATS HILARIOUS!!! Omg, I am laughing so hard!


  60. - Western Ave. Doug - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:44 pm:

    - William j Kelly - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:34 pm:

    Don’t you have Quinnochios to chase around? Are better yet petitions to circulate? Mayor Kelly, “THATS HILARIOUS!!! Omg, I am laughing so hard!”


  61. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:15 pm:

    It’s amazing that no one ever introduced “reform” into the Illinois political dialogue before, lol.

    Another “reform” plan that will be put on the dusty shelf after the election.

    From my experience, not that many people I meet day-to-day pay much attention to the General Assembly at all. If they are tuned into politics, it’s the hysterical screaming matches in Washington or whatever the mayor is doing any given day.

    Because that stuff’s on TV.

    Springfield, I think, is rarely on the radar, until the federales bag someone.

    Then, you get another blue-ribbon “reform” commission……


  62. - anon - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:49 pm:

    What Wordslinger said.

    Don’t discount all of the important “ethics reforms” of the past. The executive inspector general gets $30M to investigate people who eat lunch at their desks and watch porn on State computers or to rewrite Auditor General reports. That’s money well spent.


  63. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:51 pm:

    == Constitutuon that says we have a part time legislature ==

    Funny how we pay them a full-time salary for a ==part-time== job.

    One of the highest salaries in the nation, iirc.


  64. - Former Downstater - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 4:09 pm:

    I sent this info to Rich too but here are two interesting coincidences.

    In June Bruce & Diana Rauner donated the max $10,500 each to the Illinois Republican Party.

    Rauner, Bruce
    $10,500.00 6/13/2014
    Individual Contribution
    Illinois Republican Party

    Rauner, Diana
    $10,500.00 6/13/2014
    Individual Contribution
    Illinois Republican Party

    On 9/12 one of them donates $10k to Henry County Repubs
    Rauner, Bruce or Diana
    $10,000.00 9/12/2014
    Individual Contribution
    Henry County Republican Central Committee

    On 9/17 Henry County Repubs donate $7k to Illinois Republican Party.

    Henry County Republican Central Committee
    $7,000.00 9/17/2014
    2A
    Illinois Republican Party

    On 8/14 Rauner donates $7k to Hanover Elects Responsible Officials (HERO).
    Rauner, Bruce
    $7,000.00 8/14/2014
    Individual Contribution
    Hanover Elects Responsible Officials

    On 9/17 HERO donates $7k to Illinois Republican Party. HERO had $1,399 in the bank on 6/30.

    Hanover Elects Responsible Officials
    $7,000.00 9/17/2014
    2A
    Illinois Republican Party


  65. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 8:46 pm:

    ethics,oh my is that related to a social agenda or cultural behavior


  66. - Norseman - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:30 pm:

    === Yes, I am. I’ve watched too many of these over the years. Legislators and admin staff voting and working on bills while they’re trying to get a sweet gig with this or that association or company. It needs to stop. ===

    I don’t disagree with your observation, but I do disagree with your proposed solution with respect to administrative employees. Not all of the folks affected by these blanket requirements engage in this quid pro quo activity or even have an opportunity to participation in negotiations. We’re talking about a lot of career employees who have risen through the ranks. Now that their quality work has been recognized with senior management positions, they’re asked to sacrifice their ability to support their families when there is a need to move on because of the changing winds of politics.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


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