Do better
Tuesday, Mar 9, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Better Government Association testimony to the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform last year…
Last week, new Senate President Don Harmon made a big statement by giving up his outside job, recognizing that his new responsibilities would need his full-time attention. I’ll note that still another ethics commission (in 2009) suggested making this a requirement for the House Speaker and Senate President — and paying them the same salaries as Supreme Court justices to make up for it. President Harmon might appreciate that idea.
* Better Government Association President and CEO David Greising’s Tribune op-ed last week…
Don Harmon, just beyond his one-year anniversary as state Senate president, has yet to utter a quotable phrase — on or off script.
- Hannibal Lecter - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 9:38 am:
The BGA muckrakers are at it again. So pitiful.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 9:49 am:
=== has yet to utter a quotable phrase — on or off script.===
Huh?
You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it’s me, but unquotable how, I mean unquotable, not a clown, Harmon isn’t amusing them, making them laugh, Is Harmon there to amuse them with quotes? What do they mean unquotable, unquotable how?
How do I know what’s unquotable? They said he’s unquotable.
- not for nothing - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 9:50 am:
A great ethics proposal no one’s talking about:
Any entity that both registers as a lobbyist under the Act *and* chooses to publish news and opinion shall disclose donors, salary data, contracts, and be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
- NotRich - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 9:54 am:
“not for nothing” KUDOS
- Norseman - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 9:56 am:
Quotable is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps if the BGA’s leadership focused less on making quotes and more on working with our political leadership on meaningful changes the once notable organization wouldn’t be such a joke.
- Bruce( no not him) - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 9:59 am:
Don’t need, don’t want quotes. I just want any politician to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:05 am:
Haven’t we had enough “quotes” from the former president?
- Roman - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:10 am:
When David Greising waded multiple times into the progressive tax debate — an issue that had nothing to do with ethics — he showed us who his masters are: the deep-pocketed LaSalle Street types who make donations to the BGA to pay his salary. His credibility is shot.
- Essential State Employee - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:10 am:
You mean there weren’t “quotable” moments and phrases in his pension bailout letter to the feds last spring?
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:11 am:
To the BGA, in the words of a former co-worker-
“What is it that you do here?”
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:11 am:
What a bizarre, gratuitous shot that means absolutely nothing and makes them look bad. Cmon, David. Do better indeed.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:13 am:
Does David Greising want better government or more entertaining government? I’ll take the former.
- Essential State Employee - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:15 am:
Does Greising expect every politician to utter the famous words “Bleepin’ Golden”?
- Donnie Elgin - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:16 am:
=has yet to utter a quotable phrase — on or off script=
That’s a good thing - the less talk the less legislative overreach.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:22 am:
Makes you think BGA wants a show horse and not a work horse.
Is it better governing with witty quotes and silly phrases?
If the BGA wants to be about PR and quotes, they should change their name and mission and be done with it.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:24 am:
“Don Harmon, just beyond his one-year anniversary as state Senate president, has yet to utter a quotable phrase — on or off script.”
And it is refreshing. You mean to tell me that a politician does his job without a bunch of grandstanding BS? OH NO.
- Mugs - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:30 am:
The BGA’s attitude that all electeds are guilty until proven innocent is offensive and limits the organization’s effectiveness.
- low level - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:34 am:
I’d say that’s a compliment. So Harmon is boring. He just keeps doing the right thing and isn’t interested in making headlines.
Might add: Harmon is very much a good government type. David should like that.
- 1st Ward - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:41 am:
He was just interviewed yesterday by the Paul Simon Institute for an hour or so. Will listen to it later today sounded like he had some quotables around pensions and budget policy after seeing some headlines.
- G falkes - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:55 am:
Which is a virtue for those of you scoring at home.
- bogey golfer - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 10:56 am:
First Andy Shaw, now David Geising. Those who want to be quoted, and not report on quotes.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 11:03 am:
Looks this week’s early favorite for “Capt. Fax Pinata of the Week” is the dark money lobby group BGA’s Greising, a former Tribbie biz writer. The shot at President Harmon. Was the tiebreaker. Wanting some open debate on complex issues and then slamming two efforts probably assures that open debate does not occur. Wonder if the BGA watched the Senate President at the Simon Center? He said a number of quotables. BGA remains committed to taking pension $$$ away. That is unlikely even under the Trump Supreme Court. Focus BGA.
- Flack Dragon - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 11:04 am:
BGA is independent and that obviously bothers some people here. Its a good thing that not every watchdog group marches to the same beat as the ones backed by unions.
- SAP - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 11:11 am:
What a glass bowl.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 11:14 am:
Bore me with good government…quietly…please.
- not for nothing - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 11:32 am:
@Flack Dragon - independence doesn’t equal objectivity, rationality, nor does it rule out impure motives. BGA could always dish it without being able to take it.
- TNR - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 12:00 pm:
I don’t think Greising realizes how much he exposed himself with that statement. He’s making no pretense about prioritizing show biz over substance. That’s good for stoking the BGA fundraising machine, not so good for actual getting stuff done.
- Ferris Wheeler - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 12:13 pm:
=== BGA is independent ===
I’m so old, I remember when The Secret Six told us they were “independent.” The it turned out they were funded by the Illinois Policy Institute.
Let’s see whose financing the BGA these days.
While we’re talking about reform, the BGA has a budget of $3.5M and is only spending 77% on programming like its reporters. A full 23% is going to administration and fundraising.
For comparison, most grants from foundations and government cap non-programmatic costs at 10%.
The big driver of those costs? The CEO’s salary. The last tax return showed a salary of $277K paid to the CEO and his predecessor, Andy Shaw.
8% of the budget going to the CEO is the highest ratio I have ever seen for a nonprofit executive that wasn’t under criminal investigation.
Is that quotable enough for you, Mr. Greising?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 12:25 pm:
===8% of the budget going to the CEO is the highest ratio I have ever seen for a nonprofit executive that wasn’t under criminal investigation===
Ouch.
Also, they appear to have spent $744k more than they took in.
- Ferris Wheeler - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 1:03 pm:
It gets worse.
They spent $2.1 million on salaries for their 27 employees.
$848K — 40% — went to just six senior management positions, an average of $141K each.
The lowest paid of the six was the only woman in senior management, Madeleine Doubek, at $105K.
That means of course the other 21 employees — many of whom are frontline investigative reporters - averaged only $63K a year in salary and wages.
I’m not arguing that those folks in the management are not good people or talented, but the pay scale is way out of whack for the budget of the organization and the salaries at the bottom.
The danger becomes that in order to maintain that top-heavy pay scale, the CEO becomes susceptible to influence, you know, like a bunch of Uber wealthy donors lean on him to go after the Fair Tax amendment or those who support it.
That’s why I say, let’s see their donor list.
- MG85 - Tuesday, Mar 9, 21 @ 3:05 pm:
==Also, they appear to have spent $744k more than they took in.==
So this organization wants to preach and lecture state government on fiscal responsibility?