* Press release…

House Democrats engage in sexist smear campaign
to deflect from own failures

Ignore Democrat Legislative Staff Compensation topping $300k Taking a pay raise, while trying to raise taxes on hardworking Illinoisans Fail to explain why budget doesn’t cut General Assembly

SPRINGFIELD - In an effort to distract from their own pay raises, refusal to cut their own budget or that of other Democratic officeholders and passage of a phony state budget with a $4 billion hole, Illinois Democrats today sought to smear the reputation of one of Illinois’ leading educators before a House committee.

“It is clear that politicians controlled by Mike Madigan will stop at nothing to distract from what they’re doing in Springfield,” Governor Rauner Spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said. “Instead of stopping their own pay increase, instead of cutting their own General Assembly budget and instead of passing an honest, balanced state budget, they are engaging in a sexist smear campaign to tarnish the reputation of a woman who has dedicated her life to improving education for children in this state and makes less in total compensation than the men who lead the offices of the House Speaker and Senate President.”

House Democrats recently passed an out of balance budget that keeps level funding for the General Assembly, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State while cutting the Governor and the Comptroller by 10 percent.

Furthermore, the committee refuses to address some of the highest paid staff of the General Assembly - some topping the $300,000 mark.

* The accompanying chart…

* More…

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Gov. Rauner Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Goldberg House Appropriations Committee on Human Services June 4, 2015

Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee -

Beth Purvis is the one of the most accomplished women I have ever met. A Doctorate in early childhood special education, Beth has devoted her life to bettering the world for future generations. Across Illinois, across America, around the world - Beth is a respected education and cradle-to-career expert who is sought after for her wisdom, leadership and counsel.

Put simply, Governor Rauner recruited a superstar to be in his cabinet. To bring a new approach to how the state treats education and child development. Beth’s philosophy is simple: every agency, every program, every taxpayer dollar that touches a child’s life should be coordinated to support a cradle-to-career approach for each new generation.

As this committee knows well, early childhood education and a range of other programs that touch child development are housed at the Department of Human Services. The Board of Education, Board of Higher Ed, Community College Board and Student Assistance Commission play critical roles as well.

It’s no secret that Governor Rauner puts the issue of education at the top of his priority list. It’s also no secret that, for too many years, Illinois has been failing kids when it comes to education.

So it should be no surprise that a new governor dedicated to turning around education would recruit a superstar like Beth Purvis for his cabinet.

Now I want to make a couple of points that everyone on this committee knows to be true.

First - paying top administration personnel out of agencies is not new. This is a standard practice of every administration. And when you compare this administration’s IGA personnel costs to the previous administration, Governor Rauner comes in more than $500,000 under Governor Quinn on spending.

Second - and I think in the 21st century when we think the days of double standards are behind us - I am deeply troubled by a hearing targeting a highly successful, highly respected woman in our administration when the male staff of the Democratic leadership makes as much or more in compensation. I want to be clear - I am not here to criticize their pay or their professionalism - I’ve worked with them and find them to be utmost professionals. But I will not sit by and watch you berate and belittle an incredibly successful woman like Beth, when those who control this Committee refuse to look in the mirror.
Third, I would point out the deep hypocrisy in attacking the pay of administration personnel when the career politicians who run the General Assembly refuse to cut their own budget or stop their own pay increases.
The out of balance budget you passed keeps level funding for the GA, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State while cutting the Governor and the Comptroller by 10 percent. We are willing to do our part - why won’t you?

Separately, as you know, legislation is required to stop the automatic pay increases legislators receive every year. Leader Durkin and Leader Radogno have introduced legislation to stop this pay increase but the majority refuses to pass that. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee - if this hearing was anything more than a charade to distract the public from your phony $4 billion out of balance budget, you’d have already passed that bill and sent it to the governor’s desk

Let’s call this hearing what it is. A desperate attempt to distract the public from your phony unbalanced budget and your demand to raise taxes without reform — all at the expense of a talented woman who has earned her pay and position.

Let’s end this hearing now and use the time to get back to the negotiating table to deliver a balanced budget and real reform for the people of Illinois.

Thank you.

Live video is here.

       

163 Comments - Wensicia - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:25 am: Didn’t take long for them to pull the sexism card. - How Ironic - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:25 am: Hmmmm. Looks like Bruce can’t take the arrows coming his way, and is now flailing about trying to divert attention from his payroll scheme. The only reason he’s $500,000 light vs Quinn, is that he’s stashed his staff in agency payroll. Exactly what this hearing is about. - Deep Yogurt - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:25 am: Hey Goldberg, we’ve got superstars too! - Not quite a majority - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:27 am: Wow. That is just . . . No one is questioning her pay (except to say that it’s a new position and we already have a Superintendent of Education so that seems like duplicating responsibilities). What is the beef is that the pay is coming out of the same agency (which has little connection to her responsibilities) that is already so strapped for cash that it has been cutting services! Talk about deflection! Next they’re going to question Madigan’s love of his mother! I’m not saying the Dems don’t have problems but please — at least address the issue at hand and not one you conveniently toss out there to grab headlines! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:29 am: ===First - paying top administration personnel out of agencies is not new. This is a standard practice of every administration.=== First? You want to highlight… first … Rauner is just doing business as usual? Words fail me, lol. I guess Ms. Purvis, the superstar, is more than willing to be the frail female and allow the Rauner Adminstration to make this a sexism framing? Again, words fail me. - walker - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:30 am: The hearing’s about hiding her salary in a department away from the governor’s own staff, so that he looks better. Not a big deal. Not a new tactic. And Goldberg’s statement is deliberate distraction. That said, the hearing is a waste of time for everyone. Get back to work. - Johnny Pyle Driver - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:32 am: sooooo, business as usual? - Norseman - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:33 am: I think Rauner’s staff forgot to add how much it cost for the toilet paper Mapes and the others are using as well. Pencils and pens… - walker - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:33 am: When I read Rich’s headline, assumed that the story would be about treatment of Lt. Gov. Sanguinetti. That might hold some water. - How Ironic - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:34 am: @ Walker- “The hearing’s about hiding her salary in a department away from the governor’s own staff, so that he looks better.” So this is the vaunted ‘Shake’ maneuver we were to expect from Rauner? Doin’ the same old-same old as others before him? Brilliant. - Macbeth - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:34 am: There are “superstars” working in every agency. Rauner has no idea — absolutely no idea — who they are. - Macbeth - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:35 am: BTW — I’m still looking for what Purvis has published. I can’t locate any books — and Google’s not returning any papers or articles. Is she in peer-reviewed journals? If so — does anyone have a cite? As far I’m concerned, no one’s a “superstar” educator unless they have a peer-reviewed paper trail to prove it. - Bluefish - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:36 am: Every time he says “superstar” I think of Mary Katherine Gallagher. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:36 am: Goldberg just admitted hiding her salary in an agency budget is business as usual. Why can’t Harris or another Democrat follow-up on that softball? - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:37 am: How about we ask all the working poor women who are losing their child care assistance about sexism and gender discrimination? - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:37 am: Goldberg is doing an awesome job! - 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:40 am: Sandack too. - Norseman - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:40 am: 47, picked up on that too. Harris doesn’t have Lang or Curry’s ability to exploit those points. - Short Bus Rider - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:40 am: If the want to do something constructive they should look into the almost half BILLION that quinn gave away after he lost the election. - Commander Norton - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:42 am: Also, three of the individuals on the GA Dem salary list the governor’s office released are women. (They’re also lower down on the pay scale and a bit on the responsibility scale than the guys, but that’s neither here nor there.) In any case, you can’t yell sexism and say that the men who run the GA are escaping scrutiny but scrutinizing Purvis - while releasing a list of high-salaried GA employees that includes women. - Commander Norton - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:43 am: Rather than “that’s neither here nor there,” I meant more exactly, “that’s a separate question.” And an important one. But it’s the not the question Rauner’s people are trying to raise. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:44 am: Does Ron Sandack have amnesia? If this ONE hearing is a distraction then what was NRI? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:44 am: Maybe the sexist smear has Harris nervous to go after her(?) Either you go after Purvis, I mean, you called a hearing on this, or gavel out and head to the microphones, claiming nothing. Where are the Owls when Illinois needs them? - anon - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:45 am: Short Bus, that would mean the dems should be accountable. Aint gonna happen, much easier to play the victim!! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:46 am: The Owl Sandack knows, can’t go against Uihlein, sorry, I meant Rauner. My bad. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:47 am: Here’s a question someone should ask Goldberg: who else reports to the Governor’s office but is paid from a different agency? - SAP - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:47 am: So the Governor has to pay top dollar to attract superstars to his team, but he thinks quality staff will work for the Speaker and the President for free. Got it. Thanks. - Norseman - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:48 am: Decrying budgeting in silos. It’s all State money. THEN why not pay her from GOV’s budget??? - Macbeth - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:49 am: “She was recruited to be a superstar” Wait — what? You mean, this job will *earn* her superstar status? Come on. That’s insane. If she’s being paid a quarter of a million dollar, she better already have her “superstar” bona fides. - DuPage - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:52 am: =…berate and belittle an incredibly successful woman like Beth=… I thought the hearing was about how and where Rauner is getting money for her salary, not about her background or anything she did. …=those who control this committee refuse to look in the mirror.= When was the last time Rauner has looked in the mirror? - readingisfundamental - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:53 am: This is hilarious. Everyone on the House Dems list makes LESS than Governor’s staff, and each person has been here at least a decade. Notice they don’t go out of the way to make that point. This is more of an attack on staff than a point about Purvis’ salary. - jake - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:54 am: You can download Elizabeth Purvis’ resume at http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/faculty/directory/purvis_elizabeth.aspx And decide for yourself whether she looks like a “superstar”. It lists a total of 9 papers, with perhaps 3 or 4 in peer-reviewed journals based on listing volume number in the citation. - Skeptic - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:58 am: First we had Squeezy the Python, and then Quinnocchio, I think we should have Phoney the Phone. You know, a telephone dressed up as Madigan making phoney phone calls and…oh never mind. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:58 am: Is this practice part of the hammer? Or is it part of the shake? #Shakeupspringfield - Aldyth - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 11:59 am: To be sexist, the questions about Beth Purvis’ meriting a position or a salary be the same if the name was Ben Purvis? I suspect the same issues would be brought up, if we were discussing Ben Purvis. As a rather rabid feminist, I see nothing sexist in questioning Beth Purvis, because Ben Purvis would be getting the same treatment. - Anon. - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:02 pm: I like the way they include pension costs in order to inflate the salaries of the legislative staffers — especially the part about using budgeted pension contributions as a percent of payroll. The vast majority of the pension contributions are not current costs — they’re catching up for failure to make contributions in the past, and so are attributable to prior years’ compensation (including compensation that was paid to people who are currently retired or simply no longer on the payroll). Squeezy would be proud. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:03 pm: They’re on the ropes. Keep the pressure on! - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:04 pm: It would be very interesting to find out why Ms. Purvis, as a “superstar” head of a charter school network that offers a Pre-K through 12th grade education, sent her son to a parochial school for two years rather than one of the schools in her own network… - anon - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:07 pm: If Ms. Purvis sent her kid to a parochial school(let’s say Catholic) maybe she wanted him to have a Catholic education. - Ethos - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:07 pm: Can’t believe these DC Folks are turning this into a gender issue but whatever. 3 things: 1. The people on the chart ARE actually rockstars with a proven track record. 2. 3 of the 7 people on the list are women. 3. Throwing in the pension cost and healthcare makes for some dramatic flair, but I wonder how much more money Miss Purvis earns when you take into account those factors also. - Taxman - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:08 pm: It’s not about her credintials, it’s about paying her salary from the Agency you propose drastic cuts? Really? You can’t be that unaware this would blow up in your face. Looks like we are making this up as we go, without any real plan to fix the budget. Smoke and Mirror governing wont work - Shore - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:08 pm: some of those staffers are making more than members of congress and springfield is a lot cheaper to live in than dc. State and municipal salaries are completely out of whack and that includes superintendents ect. - Cheryl44 - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:08 pm: DemocratIC. - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:10 pm: Haven’t seen an admin play the sexist card since Blago in 2006. Responding to questions about some of his wife’s business dealings, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Monday that anyone who suggests she got private real estate deals with a state contractor because he is governor is “Neanderthal and sexist.” http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-10-31/news/0610310241_1_real-estate-rod-blagojevich-no-bid - Mad Mad Mad - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:11 pm: Still no answer why she couldn’t be paid from another budget. Have I missed that? - Johnny Pyle Driver - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:11 pm: wow, these guys are complete psychopaths - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:13 pm: I’m a Republican and every time I hear “Democrat X”, without saying Democratic - “Democrat Majority”, “Democrat Speaker”, I always get a sinking feeling Indie voters may just tune out the rest. I never understood it. - Anonin' - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:14 pm: Gotta wonder by BVR did not send the ghost payroller to appear? Bad move - Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:15 pm: When will the GOP quit playing the identity politics card from the bottom of the deck? Obviorusly Purvis doesn’t have any qualifications. Just another Rauner affirmative action hire. - anon - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:16 pm: == - Shore - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:08 pm: some of those staffers are making more than members of congress and springfield is a lot cheaper to live in than dc. State and municipal salaries are completely out of whack and that includes superintendents ect. === If you do a comparison of these salaries with the private sector, I think you will find the legislative staffers make much, much less than they would in the private market. - ILPundit - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:16 pm: If this hearing is a sexist smear, why did Rauner send a white male to defend his quarter-million, female superstar? - Monday morning - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:17 pm: Somehow I can’t help but think Goldberg’s calling the criticism of Purvis’s pay “sexist” is sexist. That first line that she’s “one of the most accomplished women [notice that he doesn’t say people/professionals] smacks of the old line “Some of my best friends are . . . - Anonymiss - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:19 pm: This is rich. Advice to Dems on committee: he’s leading you into a debate about process. Don’t take the bait. Focus on slashing funding for average families and using the money to create new positions that pay a quarter million dollars. - walker - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:19 pm: The Distraction Game. Ever hopeful that it’s because somebody is doing something worthwhile somewhere. - Formerpol - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:19 pm: Rauner’s performance is being very well-received by people where I work. Many of you posters are inside the Springfield/Government bubble! - Arsenal - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:21 pm: @ OW- I get that it drives Democrats right up a wall, and I think that’s fair, but I can’t imagine any persuadable voter actually cares. - ABC Lawyer - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:22 pm: Goldberg is awesome! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:23 pm: - Arsenal -, yeah, I just go back to a part of civility. Your point I guess is my feel that, “Are we as a party about drawing ire by the way we say a word?” That’s probably why I go back to the Indies. There may be more rolling of the eyes of anything, lol - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:24 pm: ===Rauner’s performance is being very well-received by people where I work. Many of you posters are inside the Springfield/Government bubble!=== And where you work isn’t… a bubble? - the Other Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:27 pm: Nothing to add to the other comments on substance, but part of Goldberg’s statement is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Dr. Purvis (has or has earned) a doctorate. She is not a doctorate, she is a doctor. It’s like saying “I am a driver’s license” instead of “I have a driver’s license.” I feel so much better getting that off my chest! - How Ironic - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:28 pm: @ Formerpol “Rauner’s performance is being very well-received by people where I work.” Shouldn’t you be helping ck! push out her next RTW update? - crazybleedingheart - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:30 pm: Oh, SEXISM?! Tsk, tsk. Maybe Rep. GHarris should ask Dr. Purvis if he can get a hug, that’ll surely set the proper tone. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:32 pm: This is a bridge too far for Goldberg, he should not be engaging on the broader budget/reform issue, especially given his combative stance. - Mad Mad Mad - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:36 pm: Thank every part of this universe that I don’t live in Sandack’s district. Wow. I dislike him very very much. - Arizona Bob - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:39 pm: @MacBeth =There are “superstars” working in every agency. Rauner has no idea — absolutely no idea — who they are.= Got a few names, Mac? What do you think makes someone a “superstar” other than doing a good job ensuring that the “right” political people get jobs and the “right” political consultants and companies get contracts? How about using the private sector criterion; improving outcomes while reducing costs? I don’t think you’ll find that in many state agencies, particularly involved in education. Budgeting and finance in Illinois state government? Puhleeese! Actually, a lot school superintendents in Illinois are in the same compensation ballpark as Ms Purvis and haven’t improved cost efficiency nor student outcomes in their entire tenure. There’s a lot more waste in programs like student teaching supervision. I knew oone poltically connected retired teacher (with over a six figure annual pension” who got a job paying $150 per hour for up to 2000 hours per year to “check in” on student teachers from ISU in her area, and give out reports. Wow! When a mediocre retired teacher is taking $400K per year from taxpayers for that level of service, it’s pretty clear where there’s budget to cut. I’d really like to know about those agency superstars who achieve more with less, though. If there’s folks like that in state government, they bear watching and rewarding. - Blah - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:40 pm: Am I the only one who can picture Goldberg on Fox News as Bill O’Reilly’s sidekick? - Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:44 pm: ==- Blah - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:40 pm:== The next Jesse Watters. - Mad Mad Mad - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:46 pm: Superstar is such a ridiculous adjective here. I think I’m a superstar AZ Bob. Come work with me for a day. And then come from behind your keyboard, and insult me in person. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:48 pm: I don’t have strong feelings about this (aside from cynicism growing stronger every day) but I think there is a point to clarify. As I understand it, Ms. Purvis is being paid by contract and as such is ineligible for a State pension or health benefits. The chart above is apparently designed to provide an “apples to apples” comparison with regular State employees receiving those benefits. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:48 pm: anon @ 12:07 - There’s this thing? That hundreds of thousands of Catholics who send their kids to public schools do? It’s called “Religious Education,” often referred to as “CCD,” and it happens after school. No reason not to get a Catholic education just ’cause you’re otherwise edumacatin’ the kids in a public school system. So, again, why would a “superstar” not send her own kid to one of her own charter schools when she clearly can? - VanillaMan - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:48 pm: They believe so highly in their superstar that they hide her salary, have her claim to be a consultant when she was first introduced, then send a old white guy into to defend this administration by claiming people are being sexist by wondering why it all happened. More, please. - DHSJim - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:49 pm: …but the issue at hand is why is she being paid out of DHS funds, not her qualifications, not the ga budget and not because she is a she. Typical diversionary tactics you would expect from high school students. Disgusting. - Wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:49 pm: Websters: Sexism noun prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, based on sex. Welllllllllllll……we’re waitinggggggggggg…. - Toffee - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:51 pm: Her course description from the Kellogg site seems to be about monetizing public education: “The Education Industry (KPPI-454-A) The education sector is a critical component of our society, and significant energy has been directed at education reform in recent years. This is a course about the economic, social, historical and technological forces that shape the education sector. One goal of the course is to understand the implications for new value creation emerging from the confluence of these forces. Consequently, this course will be particularly helpful to students with interest in educational entrepreneurship. A second goal is to provide an introduction to the key issues facing the sector for students interested in engaging with education reform in a variety of ways ¿ from volunteering in the field to running for an elected board membership of a school district.” - Mouthy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:53 pm: Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:44 pm: ==- Blah - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:40 pm:== The next Jesse Watters. “I’m Goldberg and Illinois is my world”.. - A guy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:55 pm: Well, if you schedule a silly hearing…. - sal-says - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:56 pm: Dear Gov Raunner: Typical bobbing & weaving & deflecting spin. One would think that your Mr. Goldberg’s tantrum would be below a Deputy Chief of Staff and the Governor’s office. Apparently not. It was unseemly at best. So, what is the benefits additive for Ms. Purvis; salary $250,000.00. At a third, takes her up to about $335,000 and at 50% takes her up to near $375,000. And, she does appear to be more of an education ‘administrator’, not the ‘educator’ you suggest, even is a ’superstar’. $350K for an ‘educator’ seems somewhat high. Yours, truly. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:56 pm: Wow…the Rups are using the DC Dems’ ammo? However instead of middle class vs the very rich; they have framed the argument by talking about political class vs working class; “war on woman” (sexism). And it appears my fellow Dems are not taking it well! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:57 pm: - A Guy - ===First - paying top administration personnel out of agencies is not new. This is a standard practice of every administration.=== First? You want to highlight… first … Rauner is just doing business as usual? Is that shaking, or bringing back? - Arsenal - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:57 pm: ==Many of you posters are inside the Springfield/Government bubble!== It’s really weird to think that only your social circle is “the real world”. Anyway, the Governor’s actions- readying a multi-million dollar ad campaign to assign blame, crying “Sexism!” when criticized- indicate that he doesn’t share your certitude that the people are on his side. Of course, he’s obviously in the Springfield/government bubble, too, but then, that goes right to his performance. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:58 pm: What an insult. There are “superstars” who work for the General Assembly, “superstars” who worked for the Quinn administration, and every administration before that. Rauner needs to quit acting as if he’s discovered fire. The salary a person earns doesn’t always determine their worth. Our small town public school teachers make pennies compared to his staff. Does that mean the man and women educating our youth are not “superstars,” Governor? - Just sayin' - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:12 pm: Half of the highest paid staff for Dem’s in the General Assembly are women.. can the Governor’s office say the same? - Miami - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:13 pm: VM Goldberg isn’t old at all. But he is getting in their face like no one has done in a long time. And it’s fun to watch. - Do It - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:14 pm: Amazing - per the chart 46% pension contribution. WOW. No wonder there is a budget crisis. 46%… - Cirspy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:14 pm: @Macbeth & jake–here’s the publication list from her page on the Kellogg site: http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/faculty/directory/purvis_elizabeth.aspx#research - Team Sleep - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:16 pm: My head hurts. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:17 pm: Dear sal-says: She’s on contract and gets no benefits. Therefore, her “benefits additive” is zero. Yours truly, AA - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:24 pm: AA, doesn’t Northwestern University cover those benefits in addition to her salary there? It’s not like she’s working exclusively for the administration … for $250,000. - illinoised - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:29 pm: I’m so tired of both sides. This type of back and forth reminds me of schoolyard kids sticking their tongues out at each other and trading insults. I am effected by politicians and deal with politicians frequently, and when I retire I don’t want to talk to any of them again (including my brother in law). - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:30 pm: Arizona Bob, I am blowing the BS whistle loud on your $400k retired teacher. First of all, that hourly rate is totally out of line for the work involved. Secondly, retired teachers can’t return to work full time in teaching-related jobs and keep their pensions. Moreover, given human nature, I find it highly unlikely that someone at the second employer would not have turned her in to TRS for working full-time while retired. For that matter, as a self-styled guardian of the public trust, why didn’t YOU blow the whistle, Bob? Scared of politicians? Or because it never happened? I’ll go with the latter. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:35 pm: ==I’d really like to know about those agency superstars who achieve more with less, though.== There are lots of them Bob. Lots. You really are pathetic sometimes. - Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:35 pm: That was me above - Skeptic - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:37 pm: “First? You want to highlight… first … Rauner is just doing business as usual?” OW: Remember that yesterday he successfully argued that Rauner has less support than we saw on election day. Consider the source. - Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:37 pm: AA: Don’t question Bob on education. He’s the self proclaimed expert on everything and the savior of the system. I know. He’s told us before. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:37 pm: Goldberg isn’t old at all. Are you calling me ageist? - anon - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:39 pm: @anonymous 12:48. By your remark, you have not attended a Catholic school or sent kids to Catholic schools. A world of difference my friend. - Skeptic - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:39 pm: I’m with AA in the BS whistle. “$150 per hour for up to 2000 hours per year” You know the old ad phrase, “Save up to 90%!” One on item. For 10 minutes a day. Based on that she could be earning $150/year. - nikobey - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:41 pm: After an examination of Dr. Purvis’s background and experience, by no stretch of the imagination can she characterized as an educational or academic “superstar.” At best, she might qualify as an educational entrepreneur with a mission to expand the role of charter schools in Illinois. Equally distressing is the source of the funding for her salary. Hype can only go so far, Governor! - Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:45 pm: ==all at the expense of a talented woman who has earned her pay and position.== That doesn’t seem to matter to them in their quest to take state employees to the cleaners. I get so sick of their rhetoric on how good their employees are while they drag the rest of the employees in the state through the mud as overpaid, golden benefit, individuals. - Team Sleep - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:45 pm: Michelle - I would guess it depends on how her contract is structured. Perhaps that is something that Chairman Harris should have requested via a FOIA. However - even if she is receiving some benefits from NU - her other employer is private, so whatever benefits are being paid to her are being “comped” by endowments, tuition and, since she is with Kellogg School, business grants. - horse w/ no name - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:46 pm: Hey Rauner staffers, we got a long way to go this summer. Try to do a slightly better job of masking yourself in comments. “Oh boy, I’m just a casual observer but this young man seems to be telling it like it is to these career politicians!” - It’s getting lame. - Wensicia - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:47 pm: Superstar status is acquired on appointment by Rauner, not through experience or credentials. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:52 pm: @anon 1:39 You’re wrong on both counts. I also live in a highly Catholic area with a great school system, and the Religious Education program in our parish — like many others — has a FAR larger population than the parish school enrollment. The kids in that “CCD” program — who include the children of a state legislator — enjoy the benefits of the both the public school district and the nine-year religious ed program. So, one more time; please explain why someone who heads up a charter school network which is supposed to be so awesome wouldn’t enroll her own kid in said network? Which still doesn’t - A guy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 1:54 pm: Meanwhile….Rome burns. Ugh. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:02 pm: I’m tired of the status quo folks saying ’state workers could make more in the private sector’. Then go do it. No one should make more than $125k except the governor - How Ironic - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:05 pm: @- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:02 pm: “No one should make more than $125k except the governor” Could you please call the Gov’s office and suggest they lay off their staff, and all of their ’superstar’ contract employees they have hired since the election then? Thanks - Left Leaner - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:12 pm: Would Rauner have done a ‘hug check’ with a male reporter in the elevator? - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:12 pm: I have, but also the legislators, educators,state workers, etc….no tax increases until everything has been cut to the bone. - DuPage - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:13 pm: Did previous governors have advisors with the same job title, and how much were they paid? - Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:13 pm: ==No one should make more than $125k== And you pulled that number out of your rear end because? Is that a magical number spoken from on high? - Macbeth - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:15 pm: The idea that someone promoting monetizing education is a “superstar’ says more about Rauner than Purvis. Heck, if Rauner if hiring sad hacks like this who can blame Purvis for accepting the offer? I’d take the job, too, if someone offered me half-a-million dollars to figure out how to make money off government. - Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:15 pm: DuPage I don’t know if they had the exact same job title but previous Governor’s have had a position similar to hers. I don’t think they paid that much though. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:15 pm: ===I have, but also the legislators, educators,state workers, etc….no tax increases until everything has been cut to the bone.=== - Anonymous -, this isn’t a dorm room, sophomore year; Make an argument what to cut where, make the argument why you think $125K is “enough”. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:20 pm: Anon 2:02, that’s a crock of baloney. Reasonable people can disagree about the “superstars” or other individual State worker’s salary, but a blanket statement like that is absurd. Would you want a loved one to be treated by a $125k doctor? I wouldn’t. Should we entrust the investment of our pension funds to those willing to do it for $125k? I don’t think so. Get real. - anon - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:23 pm: @anonaymous 1:52——–Well, you are fortunate. But, if a family wants a complete Catholic education and they choose to attend the school, that is acceptable to me. The school system where I live pales in comparison to the parochial schools. Its called choice. - Macbeth - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:25 pm: I also think what this entire thread points out — and what no one is saying — is that if you are hired by Rauner, you’re lucky. Really lucky. I watched Rauner opening remarks to his cabinet yesterday. Rauner remains — for me, at least — as charasmatic as Richard Nixon — and his body language says he doesn’t believe much of what he’s saying (”I couldn’t be prouder of you all” he told his cabinet at one point) — but the fact remains that if you were handpicked by Rauner, you’ll do okay. Purvis, I’m sure agrees. She’s set for the next 3.5 years. She’s got a quarter of a million income, the ear of the Governor, and sense that she has, indeed, some real power. What more can you want at this point? - Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:27 pm: I feel like we are on the cusp of reaching the argument of: “my dad can beat up your dad.” - One to the Dome - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:34 pm: What’s the definition of a “agency superstar”? No really, Innovation, new federal money, budgeting for results, bringing up test scores, increase in jobs, reduction of staff.. What? We know that pay does not always qualify as “superstar” (jay cutler). Just because they came from the private sector does not make them a superstar nor because they are in state government they are not. Maybe the public should set metrics on what defines a superstar instead of being told what one is. Then I can dream… - crazybleedingheart - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:41 pm: (translation: Not. Faculty.) One never knows what her deal is, but her CV certainly looks like someone who held a tenure-track position for 7 years at UIC but failed to be tenured, then decided to try another career. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e5/ce/3a/e5ce3aeff6da81fa9ccc55e6248b9f79.jpg - DuPage - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:42 pm: @Arthur Anderson1:30 =retired teachers can’t return to work full time in teaching related jobs and keep their pensions.= I agree with you that 400k sounds very high, most retired teachers don’t have a pension anywhere near 6 figures, and it is possibly inaccurate. However, correct me if I am mistaken, but I thought TRS limits TRS retirees amount of work in positions that are covered in the TRS. If the retired teacher worked for ISU, it would be under SURS, (State University Retirement System). Or the retired teacher might have been paid as a “1099 independent contractor” or some such thing. - Team Sleep - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:43 pm: Macbath - she should’ve held out for an unlimited Grab-a-Java drink card. Duh! - anonlurker - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 2:59 pm: AA, DuPage. Not sure but he might be referring to the UIC doctor. https://capitolfax.com/2015/02/19/spiking-living-large-and-the-supremes/ - Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:01 pm: ==Perhaps that is something that Chairman Harris should have requested via a FOIA== This is Rauner’s transparency. The legislature should FOIA information. The plane has crashed into the mountain. - Arizona Bob - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:24 pm: @MadMadMad =Superstar is such a ridiculous adjective here. I think I’m a superstar AZ Bob. Come work with me for a day. And then come from behind your keyboard, and insult me in person.= Fine. Where do you work? - Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:28 pm: Bob: I believe the point is that you insulted the entire state workforce by insinuating nobody in state government can possibly rise to that “status” (whatever that status means). There are many, many, many, many good people that work in government. Try to have a bit less disdain for them Bob. - Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:29 pm: Also, Bob, I’d beg to differ with your continued characterization of education. I know plenty of superstars in that field as well. You arrogance is amazing sometimes. - Arizona Bob - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:30 pm: @anonymous =There are lots of them [superstars sic] Bob. Lots= Fine. Name a few and give them the credit they deserve. anonymous, are you there? ANOYMOUS? (knock knock on screen) Gee, I wonder why he can’t answer.lol - Rod - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:31 pm: So first off I wanted to thank Rich for making the link to the hearing available to his readers. Second I want to say that I have known Beth Purvis for a number of years and she is a competent and thoughtful educator. I suspect she might be embarrassed by all the superstar stuff. Beth and I have had over the last few years some disagreements over charter school issues and agreement too. She always returned phone calls when she was at CICS. I honestly was surprised she took the job with Governor Rauner and I wonder given how this is going if she has some regrets about taking the position. Richard Goldberg did the job he was sent to do and Rep Greg Harris made the points he wanted to make. Representative Ron Sandack was in fine form and I have to wonder if leader Durkin sent him as a replacement to the committee to act as the Republican hard cop. It should be noted that during the hearing it came out that Governor Quinn had 5 people reporting to him that came out of the DHS budget as a total cost of $500,000. Rep Edward Acevedo also seemed incredibly upset with Goldberg’s opening statement and his general lack of any deference to the elected representatives. I have to say Mr. Goldberg did come off as arrogant and accusatory towards all Democrats for their role in approving the last budget. Effectively he gave a war speech against the Democrats. - Anonin' - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:32 pm: Very surprised to see the Team BVR superstars use the Blagoof defense….stunning since the big boss hates any reference to Blagoof…if it walks like a duck…talks like a duck… Any it only took five months. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:49 pm: DuPage, if the “work” (which I don’t think ever happened) was directly for ISU or a related entity, that would be SURS-reportable and likely have no impact on a TRS pension. My first impression was that the work involved another school district. i see Bob has popped out from under the bridge and wants names. Maybe he will man up and name the $400k fantasy retiree, but don’t hold your breath. - Skeptic - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 3:55 pm: ABob: I can look down my hallway and see several and more around the corner and upstairs, and dozens more I’ve interacted with over the years. Why don’t I name them? Unlike you, it’s not because I’m making it up, it’s because I wish to remain anonymous. - Ben Franklin - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:10 pm: of ALL THE POSITIONS in the state, do we REALLY need to have a “SUPERSTAR” in this role? Can’t we make do with someone of lesser abilities? - Centennial - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:35 pm: I will say this Goldberg character has violated staffer rule numero uno. Never ever become “the” issue. The fact that the Illinois House of Representatives is discussing and debating his lack of respect for elected members of the GA is an embarrassment to this Administration and the Governor himself. If a staffer becomes the story - someone did something very wrong. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:39 pm: Why doesn’t the Governor come and testify in public at the hearing instead of talking through people? Is he too above anyone to do so? - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:43 pm: The governor is no sexist look at all the superstar female’s that had a seat on his board - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:45 pm: How did the hearing end? - Anon - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:50 pm: And, Rauner ia an equal opportunity baddest enemy anyone can have. Afterall, he threatened to crush a former female employee and her family. - Norseman - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:51 pm: === How did the hearing end? === The Dems went off and burned an effigy of Rauner, while the GOP stayed and stuck voodoo needles into a Madigan doll. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:57 pm: ===How did the hearing end?=== Slightly worse than it started. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 4:59 pm: ===How did the hearing end?=== Badly. - Norseman -, you think I can that video on The YouTube? lol - Macbeth - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 5:18 pm: Did she fail to get tenured? If so — that’s no superstar. That’s a failure. And weak. Very weak. - Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 5:20 pm: So sorry I missed this whole charade. Darned work. Fortunately Rich will give us a full report tomorrow. - Chicago 20 - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 5:23 pm: Rauner hired a “superstar” to head Choose Chicago. Don Welsh is paid over $491,000 a year and increas - Chicago 20 - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 5:32 pm: Rauner hired a “superstar” to head Choose Chicago. Don Welsh is paid over $491,000 a year and increased Chicago’s 2014 hotel occupancy rate .5% trailing the national average of 4.8%. Rauner rewards perceptions, not results. - Wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 6:02 pm: – She’s set for 3.5 years.– She might not be there 3.5 months. I don’t know what she brought to the table before, but all she’ll bring to the table now are a continuation of bad headlines. She’s the poster-child for old-school, big-money political cronyism. Next up in the media: what is your job, anyway? Don’t we already have one of those? What do you say…. you do here? What do you gain by allowing that to continue? There will be a suitable waiting period to make it look like they’re not buckling under bad press, then out the door or through the window she goes to “spend more time with family.” - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 6:26 pm: Yep, out the door, through the window, or under the bus she goes. - AnonymousOne - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 7:22 pm: The point here is that she is being paid out a fund that is slashing services to autistic kids. She gets the cash, they get nothing. Nice guy, our governor. But besides that, amazing how one, two or six peoples’ public salaries are debated, analyzed, scrutinized and ignorantly applied to every public employee in the state. Put on the thinking caps, folks! Unless it’s ok for public employees to assume everyone who works in the private sector has a Bill Gates or Warren Buffett salary. Just as dufuss thinking. - MrJM - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 7:24 pm: “a mediocre retired teacher is taking $400K per year from taxpayers” As long as we’re talking hysterical nonsense, let’s just claim that retired teachers transform into werewolves and vampires! – MrJM - southwest - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 7:36 pm: Demoralized - Yes! I did pull that number out of my rear end! Arthur - Yes I would take my loved one to a doctor who “only” made 125K per year if I was poor and dependent on the state for my family’s well being. I would also trust someone to handle our pension problem for 125K too. Couldn’t do much worse than now! Oswego Willy - I told you where I would cut. I’d start with salaries capped at 125K, layoffs, increase employees’ benefit payment to 50% of premium, cut holidays, quit carrying over and paying out sick and vacation time. Audit all contracts, cut all programs and services across the board. Once that and more is in place, start taxing! Shared sacrifice! - John - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 7:45 pm: I am retired and worked for both Chiefs, they earn every penny. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 7:46 pm: ===I’d start with salaries capped at 125K=== How are you going to roll back salaries, legally? ===layoffs=== Union jobs, non-Union jobs, this is an HR nightmare, can’t be done arbitrarily, lol ===increase employees’ benefit payment to 50% of premium=== “Might” need to be negotiated… ===cut holidays, quit carrying over and paying out sick and vacation time.=== Negotiated. ===Audit all contracts=== Better include Arduin, lol ===cut all programs and services across the board.=== How so? What percentage? You know government isn’t about… profits… right? ===Once that and more is in place, start taxing!=== All above, won’t happen in short order. Not in contracts, government, and needs of services. This isn’t dorm room. ===Shared sacrifice!=== You sure? lol - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 7:59 pm: -I did pull that number out of my rear end- Enough said. Try harder next time, dude. - PoolGuy - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 8:10 pm: someday, when median salaries are over $100K, will people still complain about state workers who make over $100K? /s more and more people are going to make $100K+ salaries as every year goes by. that whole raises, inflation, cost of living thing… it’s not a bad thing. - Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 8:34 pm: My old consulting firm is now paying very bright newly minted M.B.A. ’s $200,000 per year. Talent costs. Problem is that these bright people lack the specific knowledge needed in many positions. It takes a mix of skills to make an organization work. Good managers learn this and to value each person’s skills. - Enough is Enough - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 8:35 pm: Regarding the $400,000 “mediocre retired teachers” comment: This level is well above any possible teacher’s pension. I presume that this comment referenced University Research Professors and Medical Doctors that show up in pension listings. Some inaccurately use these numbers as examples of employees “gaming the system”. In reality these pensions are earned and well deserved. they are paid to retired medical professionals whose salaries and benefits were actually funded through research grants. The money was administered by the University managing the research grant. The employment of these people actually made the University money. The pension and other employer costs were never actually paid by the state. The salaries and benefits were paid by the grant. These people most assuredly are not mediocre and cost the state nothing. These people do wonderful things and do not deserve to be called mediocre in any sense. - Chomp - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 9:03 pm: P.S. In my limited in-person experience, I’ve found Purvis pretty impressive. Although the hearing was never really about HER, she’d have done just fine with this committee and given much better explanations than Goldberg. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 9:13 pm: I am sorry, but Goldberg came off being very narcissistic and condescending. Almost like “how dare you ask questions of the Governor.” Too bad the governor can’t sit in front of the hearing himself. Is he too good for that? - SinceWeAreBeingHonest - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 9:29 pm: Most of the criticism was not directed at Ms Purvis, it was directed at the way she was paid out of and agency’s budget that serves the poor and that the governor has targeted. Second, yes politicians have used these types of budgetary tactics before, so can Governor Rauner please stop this BS about not being a politician. He plays the games better than most. So finally, who is doing the sexist smear here? I suggest that it is the governor who is deflecting criticism of his actions at the woman he recruited. Way to through her under the bus gov. - aghhh - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:00 pm: I know some very sharp attorneys in the Attorney General’s Office who make $70-75k. Are they superstars? I don’t know what that means. But it grates when state workers get painted with a broad brush as being lazy and living high on the hog; the ones I know work pretty damn hard for a quarter of what Purvis makes. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:37 pm: She is no superstar more of a guest star - Anonymous - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 8:28 am: There’s a merit comp in my office making $88k and a union guy making $57k for doing the same work. - Mad Mad Mad - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 9:14 am: I work for the State of Illinois, AZ Bob. You can find me in my agency and folks like me in an all types of agencies. I’m a woman with a couple of degrees and 25 years of public service. I chose this field and the agency, when I was in college. I serve the public every day, because I like it. I listen to the people whose lives are affected by the decisions the GA makes and try to make it better for them. Anyone who wakes up everyday and goes to work with the hope of making it better day for someone else is a real superstar. The state workforce is full of them. - Anonymous - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 9:27 am: We just want him to pay her out of the correct budget thats all. Take the money from the Deans and the Principles not pore mentally ill people, Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.