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*** UPDATED x1 *** Slow down, please
Wednesday, Jan 14, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller * The Secretary of State’s office says Gov. Bruce Rauner’s move to sweep away former Gov. Quinn’s late term appointments all had to be refiled because his legal team put the wrong General Assembly number on the letters. Oops. Rauner’s office just filed this appointment of IDOT Secretary Erica Borggren as its new acting secretary, but also accidentally appointed her the new acting CMS director…  Sheesh. *** UPDATE *** Team Rauner just filed a corrected letter. Measure twice, cut once.
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- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:27 am:
Fast, sloppy work…isn’t good work.
The jobs ain’t going anywhere.
Proofread. It helps when the Governor’s signature is below your errors.
- Motambe - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:27 am:
I hope he hires a proof-reader.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:27 am:
The Secretary of IDOT makes $150,000 per year?
Wow.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:32 am:
They got her address wrong too. 2212 W. Eastwood is in the 47th Ward, so that West Town zip code is wrong.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:33 am:
@Gooner
The Secretary is not A secretary.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:34 am:
@Gooner,
The head of a 5,000+ employee state agency with a $2 billion budget…are you surprised it’s that high, or that low?
- Gooner - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:35 am:
Six Degrees,
I think it is a lot of money for a state job.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:37 am:
- Gooner -
I doubt you can find a CEO that has 5,000 employees and the budget that agency has, that will take $150K.
- Casual Observer - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:37 am:
Mr. Governor,
I have a great deal for you. Don’t bother reading, just sign here please.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:39 am:
But I thought his mission was to run everything efficiently in a business-like manner and clear up all the garbage. He’s creating his own garbage, I guess. Efficient.
- Ok - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:41 am:
-Six Degrees,
I think it is a lot of money for a state job-
You are kidding right? You are living in a fantasy world if you think that is a “high” salary for someone running an organization of that size.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:41 am:
Oswego,
The State is not the private sector.
State employment at that level should be short term with a focus on service rather than making money.
I’ve never bought into “treat government like a business” because on so many levels, government is not a business.
These salaries are part of “business as usual” in Illinois, and that needs to change.
- Del Clinkton - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:41 am:
You’d think with Bruce’s vast “business acumen” and how corrupt everyone else is…that this wouldnt happen.
Not that big of a deal today. I’ll give him a break. I mean back at the pizza parlor that him and Tish ran, they screwed up orders. So hes just getting used to the new job.
- anon - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:42 am:
Yes, for those responsibilities, $150K is low.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:44 am:
So this is how a business works?
- How Ironic - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:45 am:
@ Gooner,
“I think it is a lot of money for a state job.”
I don’t know what you do in either the public, or private sector for work. But clearly you are overpaid and under-worked.
Know how I know that? Because I just made it up, like your fine and well researched posting above.
How exactly is it ‘a lot of money’? Have you done the job? Do you know all of the responsibilities? If it were in the private sector, and the same person would be paid $1.2M per year, does suddenly the same job now seem ‘a lot’?
I’m willing to bet you’re the same kneejerk economist that on one hand bemoans the tsunami of cheap Chinease imports, but shops at Wal-Mart and buys the stuff because its $.50 cheaper than the American product.
Get over yourself.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:45 am:
===The State is not the private sector.
State employment at that level should be short term with a focus on service rather than making money.
I’ve never bought into “treat government like a business” because on so many levels, government is not a business.
These salaries are part of “business as usual” in Illinois, and that needs to change.===
Remember;
You get what you pay for.
So, running a billion dollar agency with 5,000 employees isn’t worthy of $150K.
The state is getting a “steal” if they get someone qualified at that price.
- Watching - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:46 am:
According to appointment letters- Sharron Matthews, Jeff Mays, Harold Sawyer and Jim Stevens appointments expire next Monday January 19th. Maybe that was intended, I dunno. But I find it hard to believe that Jeff Mays stepped down from the school board for a week long appointment at IDES.
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:46 am:
1) Thought Rauner already ‘appointed’ Blankenhorn as IDOT Secty?
2) Is this another right-hand/left-hand issue or just sloppy & careless.
3) Nice to see the salary. Since Rauner mentioned: ‘Every dollar we save is a dollar that can go to services’; be great to see an itemized salary list for Rauner’s first 50 appointments he released.
- Apocalypse Now - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:47 am:
Some staff person is now wondering, if the next thing he or she reads is a pink slip. Very poor start and unnecessary.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:48 am:
Oswego and How Ironic,
Great. We let’s increase the pay.
And then fire her when the stock price does not go up 18%.
Owe wait.
There is no stock price. Or profits.
So maybe the private sector numbers are not applicable at all.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:50 am:
The CEO of an engineering firm of that size would probably be making 7 figures if all the ESOP’s were figured in. So in that respect, the state is not running IDOT or the other large agencies “like a business”. In my experience, there is rarely a move of professionals from the private sector to the public sector at the upper management level, or any level for that matter…it’s almost always the other way around. Even during the Great Recession, when there were all sorts of layoffs in the private sector.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:50 am:
lol
- Gooner -,
The free market, even in government jobs, dictate the “value” of getting someone and intersecting that, with the responsibilities and qualifications.
I’m sure you wouldn’t want a state job…you’d have to take a pay cut.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:53 am:
What happened to blakenhorn was he fired after one day?
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 11:59 am:
So people in state government aren’t supposed to have families? Their children aren’t supposed to go to college?
I left state government because I had a child heading to college, and I couldn’t let her pile up tens of thousands of dollars of college debt because I would rather serve the people of Illinois than work for a bunch of greedy stockholders.
So I moved to the private sector — and got an 80 percent pay bump on my first day.
150k is a lot of money compared with what the average working person in Illinois is bringing home. But Erica is a Rhodes Scholar, Truman Scholar, and was the valedictorian of her West Point class. She holds postgraduate degrees in comparative social policy and theology from Oxford University. You really think she couldn’t add a zero to her salary just by stepping into the private sector?
I miss state government so bad it hurts, and I would go back in a heartbeat. But I know it would mean a serious blow to the Soccerfamily bottom line — even though I’d still be making more than Gooner thinks is an appropriate amount for a public servant.
Geez. If you had any idea how hard those jobs are — the hours that people work, and the intense, unrelenting pressure and scrutiny — you’d be amazed that anybody decent is willing to sign on, at any price.
In short — bite me.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:00 pm:
Gooner, your theory of these jobs being ’short term with focus on service’ sounds noble, but who with the qualifications to do the job do you hypothesize would take the job? Especially since the revolving door provisions applicable to Secretaries/Directors essentially prohibits them from working in their field for a year after they leave.
- Snucka - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:02 pm:
They still got her zip code wrong!!!
- Gooner - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:02 pm:
Oswego,
Depends on the year, but for most years that’s probably true.
Of course, I’m required to turn a profit or I don’t have a job. I have specific measurable criteria for my performance.
And then there is the idea of public service. While I care about public policy, I’ve never had the drive to do public service myself.
So again, I don’t think the two positions (my own and this one) are really comparable.
And now, as much as I’ve enjoyed this discussion, I need to leave it. I have those criteria to meet, or my accountant is not going to write me a check at the end of the month.
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:15 pm:
Well done Soccer-mom. The private sector workers don’t have a clue.
- anon. - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:15 pm:
Some of the IDOT workers will easily approach $150000 with OT. The boss should make that much.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:16 pm:
@Snucka
3rd time’s a charm!!!
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:16 pm:
Proofreading and editing isn’t valued. Takes too much time, supposedly. You see the results everywhere, every day.
Check out the first sentence in Joe Cahill’s column in today’s online Crain’s.
– Bruce Rauner isn’t the first newly elected governor to say he’ll won’t do the job.–
First sentence. Supposedly, a few pairs of eyes were supposed to read the column before it was posted.
I don’t think so.
- Gone, but not forgotten - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:20 pm:
With regard to Erica’s salary, it’s well in line for someone with no transportation experience. I do not care what her educational credentials are, none of the degrees are in transportation or business administration. In fact, she may be getting paid too much based on her qualifications. But then, her subordinates are practically all in the $100,000. club with little qualifications or good performance, so . . . there you have it.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:21 pm:
===I have specific measurable criteria for my performance.===
lol, …and state appointed secretaries don’t?
Ok.
Very well said, - Soccermom -. Awesome!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
Amen, Soccermom!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
Does the refilling of the letter change the status of any of the withdrawn appointments? Some appeared to be very close to the 60 session day limit before their confirmation became final.
- JoanP - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:34 pm:
Oh, who among us has never done a lousy “cut-and-paste” job?
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:35 pm:
I add my kudos to Soccermom.
P.S. I bet the folks responsible for the errant letters appreciate the fact that this discussion got sidetracked to salaries.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:41 pm:
Well, the idea of ’service’ is interesting, for how long should someone take a pay cut from what they may have been making someplace else or what they could be making someplace else for ’service’..
But it is only short term….
That is one of the problems with many of these roles, people only take them for a short term (see DCFS) this tax payer is more than willing to pay people in these roles (director) a bit more if it makes it so they can stick around a bit longer…
Yet again I am reminded of the words of my Grandfather
“Everyone else is overpaid and you are underpaid”
- Over it - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
Maybe those “over paid” interns (Dunn’s) are useful aferall
- The KQ - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:52 pm:
I, like soccermom, left state employment due to the low pay. I have been gone for 6 year. I tripled my salary, I have amazing benefits and come very close to the secretary’s salary with only 1 staff person reporting to me and a million dollar budget. I do miss working for the state, but would never go back. Soccermom, well said.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:56 pm:
=== Oh, who among us has never done a lousy “cut-and-paste” job? ===
It’s hard for people who have been vilified, told they make too much money and have too generous of a benefit plan by a billionaire who claims to shake things up to be gracious regarding mistakes that could have been avoided if his office’s focus was on the work instead of the PR.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:01 pm:
Norse,
Don’t forget the other lazy state worker stereotype of showing up 30 minutes late, taking 2 hour lunches & sneaking out 30 minutes early.
- How Ironic - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:02 pm:
@Gooner
You’re a big problem in the way of making the State work better. You (and your ilk) want the state to be 120% efficient, but feel that paying it’s workers 33% of market rates is ok. Simply because state work is a ‘calling’?
Whatever. You’re delusional at best.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:07 pm:
How Ironic,
Compare Oswego’s claim that there are specific and measurable criteria, with Anon 12:15’s post that some hourly workers are close to $150,000 with OT.
If we have hourly workers at $150,000 with OT, then the specific measurable criteria are pretty far off from what the private sector would accept.
How Ironic, if those state employees can do so much better in the private sector, I invite them to try it.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:09 pm:
This conversation is interesting on one level though. People can talk about “changing business as usual” but as soon as somebody mentions real change, the response is outrage.
That’s going to be an issue for the Gov. going forward. I wish him the best in his battles.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:12 pm:
- Gooner -,
Thought you were done?
Different jobs have different … criteria …as is your job…so … your point has no point.
You should run for the General Assembly and correct jobs and appointments… unless you can’t take a pay cut there too …
- Chris - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:16 pm:
“150k is a lot of money compared with what the average working person in Illinois is bringing home. … You really think she couldn’t add a zero to her salary just by stepping into the private sector?”
There are that many $1.5 million jobs around? Really?
- Mason born - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
Gooner
I have a question for you. IDOT has Engineers responsible for ensuring the structural integrity of bridges, overpasses etc. Different engineers oversee state contracts to ensure that the road construction is done properly and is safe for you and your family to drive on. Would you prefer that these engineers come from ABET schools (Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology) and be supervised by Professional Engineers or be just the guy who wants to serve for the pittance you demand?
There is a big difference between the professionals the state needs for technical jobs and the idea in your mind of a state worker. When it comes to Professionals you get what you pay for.
- Former State Employee 2 - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:27 pm:
KUDOS to soccermom.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:28 pm:
Oswego Willy wrote: “Different jobs have different … criteria …as is your job…so … your point has no point.”
Well, if Anon 12:15 is right, then budgeting and management are not part of that criteria.
In any case, as I noted above this thread really does point to the difficulties that the Gov. has ahead in battling an entrenched culture. I wish him the best.
- How Ironic - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:30 pm:
@Gooner
“If we have hourly workers at $150,000 with OT, then the specific measurable criteria are pretty far off from what the private sector would accept.”
You have no idea what you are talking about. There are plenty of private sector jobs that pay $150,000 with overtime. Just off the top of my head oil drillers, nurses (RN), and other highly skilled professionals can easily top that range.
Your ignorance (either deliberate or willful) is astonishing, but not unbelievable. But keep telling yourself that state workers are not entitled to a wage comparable to the private sector.
@Chris
“There are that many $1.5 million jobs around? Really?”
Yes. If you are qualified and know where to look they are out there. Perhaps she wouldn’t be making 1.5M, but certainly double if not 3x her current salary. Plus stock options etc.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:34 pm:
Mason Born,
I think those professionals are very different from the person running the shop.
Marc Trestman was running the Bears, but he wasn’t close to being the highest paid Bears employee.
Similarly, if the market for engineers is priced more than $150,000 that’s what they should be paid.
Ultimately, I consider the work of the engineers far more important than I do the person running the place.
And that really is my final word on this thread.
As always, enjoyed the conversation and exchange of ideas, even when it was somewhat pointed.
- no suprise - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:38 pm:
I hope the FOIA requests start rolling in on the salaries of the double exempt replacement positions. We have 4 replacements starting this Friday and they are making 20K more a year than the person they replaced. That is really shaking up Springfield. Digging a bigger hole!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
@Gooner
OT likely reaches that level as a result of understaffing. How do you fix that? Well you hire more “overpaid” people. But wait, isn’t the bureaucracy already bloated? You make it impossible for any Governor (or public servant) to ever live up to you standards. Please do yourself a favor & find a different ax to grind because you really don’t get it.
- Yatzi - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:42 pm:
It is important that State employees receive the respect they are owed - because many have earned it over and over again. Those that have gone without raises for so long are suffering. I have been offered many positions outside of the state at a 50% increase - my fault - I did not think we would go from 2004 through 2014 without a raise. I am respected throughout this state and through out most of the country - I don’t know why we place no value on ourselves - there more right about Illinois than wrong.
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:48 pm:
“other highly skilled professionals can easily top that range.” Doctors, lawyers, architects, venture capitalists….and a quick Google shows that there are 42 Private University presidents whose salary tops $1M (U of Chicago at the top of that list at $3.5M) and the average annual compensation for public research universities nationwide is over $500,000. So $150,000 is “too much?”
- Mason born - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:58 pm:
Gooner
When you get around to it think about what you just said. It’s fine for Engineers to get paid 150k (note P.E. is closer to 100k at State agencies) but the individual ultimately responsible for the work they do shouldn’t be paid that. I’m sure you can see the fallacy in that argument.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:59 pm:
Gooner, I don’t think trotting out Marc Trestman helps you make your point, whatever that point might be.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 1:59 pm:
Let’s move along, please. This has gone on far longer than need be. Get back to the topic at hand.
- walker - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 2:56 pm:
Stop reacting as if you’re in a campaign war room! Start acting like you deserve the jobs you just won!
- Reggaeman - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 3:45 pm:
So who is the new Secretary at IDOT? Blankenhorn or Borggren?
- Quill - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 4:54 pm:
The paperwork is for through Feb 2. It’s really not that long.
- Big Ern McCracken - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 6:01 pm:
We’ll said soccer mom. It seems like many people have adopted the “how dare they” attitude that anyone earning a six figure salary is suspect.
Geez. Sometime there is some correlation ( but not parity) between the public and private sector.
- Roadiepig - Thursday, Jan 15, 15 @ 7:46 am:
- anon. - Wednesday, Jan 14, 15 @ 12:15 pm:
Some of the IDOT workers will easily approach $150000 with OT. The boss should make that much.
Not sure who these “workers” are you mention, but a maintainer would have to work an average of 70 hours a week, year round , to reach that level of pay. The most OT I ever received in a year was all of 300 hours (1999, the worst winter I worked in my 30+ years. I believe it bumped my salary about $4500 . That’s for the whole year.
There might be a handful of political appointees making $150,000, but you said workers. None make close to that.
Citations please, if you have “proof” of your spurious claim.