* You may not have realized it, but I was sick with the flu all week. Didn’t make it to the Statehouse one day. Slept a lot last night and feel better this afternoon. Many thanks to my intern Mike Murray for working his tail off this week, running down stories for me, doing this and that even though he wasn’t feeling well, either. I couldn’t have done it without you, Mike.
* Anyway, is there anyone cooler than Lucinda Williams? I don’t think so. Turn it up…
* Lynn Sweet has drastically revised her scooplet yesterday that Republican Congressman Mark was “poised” to jump into the US Senate race…
Note: In an earlier version I wrote Kirk was “poised” to jump in the contest. I revised to “mulling” later.
That’s quite a big difference. He’s been “mulling” the race for months.
The people I talked to yesterday are also backtracking today, so I’m not sure what the heck is going on.
* On its blog, Public Policy Polling takes a closer look at its Kirk vs. Alexi Giannoulias and Kirk vs. Jan Schakowsky results we had here yesterday and comes up with this tidbit about independent voter preference…
…55% of independents said they approved of Barack Obama’s job performance. But when it came to the 2010 Senate race Mark Kirk led Alexi Giannoulias 36-25 among independents and had a 39-22 edge over Jan Schakowsky. In other words less than half of those independents who said they liked the job the President is doing are committed to voting for someone from his party to assume his old Senate seat next year.
PPP does admit, however, that “independents” are getting more conservative as a whole because so many people are leaving the Republican Party these days.
What they didn’t mention because it might not have fit their theme is that independents favored Lisa Madigan over Kirk 44-32. Independents also picked Pat Quinn over Bill Brady 34-27 and went with LMadigan over Brady 43-25.
* Also, as I’ve told you many times before, African-American voters always break late, and it’s no different in that PPP poll. African-American undecided numbers for the hypothetical US Senate matchup with Congressman Kirk show a Democratic underperformance which won’t be there come election day…
* Meanwhile, Democratic Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s people are attempting a bit of damage control. As I told you yesterday, that Public Policy Polling survey had Kirk leading Schakowsky 37-30.
Late yesterday, Schakowsky’s campaign blasted out this e-mail…
Momentum continues to build for Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, to enter the 2010 Illinois Senate race. A statewide survey of 600 likely voters showed Rep. Schakowsky holding a 6-point lead over Rep. Mark Kirk in a potential 2010 Senate race. As voters learn more about the two candidates, Schakowsky’s lead over Kirk expands.
Not quite.
First, the poll was taken December 20-22 of last year. The poll is over four months old. So much for “momentum.”
Second, if you take a closer look you’ll see that her own poll shows her initially leading Kirk 23-20. Only when “leaners” are factored in did her December lead expand to 36-30.
* And Greg Hinz talked to Democratic US Senate possible Chris Kennedy about his latest poll…
The North Shore resident also confirmed that he’s interested enough in the race for the seat now held by Roland Burris that he’s commissioned a poll, and that the results are pretty good.
Mr. Kennedy wouldn’t give any numbers but, as he put it, “Let’s just say there was nothing in there that would discourage me.” Another source familiar with the poll agreed that the results are favorable.
* There used to be a saying at the Tribune that if it isn’t in the Trib then it hasn’t happened yet. That’s often how they excuse theft…
Cicero spokesman Dan Proft, a political strategist who made hundreds of thousands of dollars as the town’s mouthpiece, is leaving that job to pursue other interests, including perhaps a run for governor. […]
Though his statement did not specify his plans, the Illinois State Board of Elections’ Web site shows that on April 9 he filed a form D-1, Statement of Organization, which indicates that he has formed a “new committee” as a Republican candidate for governor.
The story ignores the fact that Illinois Review reported on Proft’s D-1 days ago.
…last night we ran into several people in the Chicago political scene who told us Proft’s employee Julie, who also was National Communications Director for the Tea Parties on April 15th, has been actively recruiting people to work for Proft’s gubernatorial bid.
If you are receiving this email then I have discussed with you my interest in running for Governor.
Among the tasks to be completed in this pre-launch phase of the initiative is circling back with family and friends interested in helping with specific asks.
So here they are in my inimitable direct fashion:
(1) Please write a check. We have opened a campaign account (but will not have campaign website live for online contributions until I would announce).
Checks can be made payable to:
Proft for Governor
P.O. Box XXXXX Chicago , IL XXXXX
The Trib did give itself credit for this…
The Tribune reported last year that Proft, who helped Larry Dominick get elected town president twice since 2005, has received no-bid contracts worth more than $500,000 a year to represent the town and local school districts.
The Chicago Tribune in recent weeks solicited subscribers’ opinions on stories before they were published, a practice the paper’s own reporters said raises ethical questions, as well as legal and competitive issues.
An e-mail signed by 55 reporters and editors, sent Wednesday to Editor Gerould Kern and Managing Editor Jane Hirt and obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, questions why the newspaper conducted the surveys and what stories were used. They also wanted to know which readers were surveyed and whether any story had been altered as a result of reader comment.
House and Senate Republican leaders said Thursday that Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan wields too much power, denying rank and file lawmakers the opportunity to vote up or down on key issues.
In a meeting with the State Journal-Register editorial board, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont and House Minority Leader Tom Cross of Oswego said they believe the General Assembly will be able to approve a public works construction program that has eluded a compromise for years. However, neither could explain which tax or fee increases Republican lawmakers will support to pay for the program.
Cross said Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, has bottled up bills without even giving them a chance for an up-or-down vote in House committees, let alone in the full chamber. Cross said it has happened to several Republican initiatives to control state spending and restrict the ability of lawmakers to raise taxes. […]
Similar things happen in the Senate, Radogno said, where Democrats have a three-fifths super majority of seats. Lawmakers never get to vote on bills to create an open primary or put a recall amendment on the ballot.
* The governor’s reform commission recommended adoption of a rules change in both chambers allowing for full committee hearings if eight Senators or 16 House members sign on to any bill as sponsors…
The Commission believes that this will allow for consideration of all bills that have a reasonable chance of success, while preventing the waste of time that consideration of every single bill might engender.
* The Question: Is this proposed reform a good idea or a waste of time? Explain fully.
Quinn’s effectiveness as a reformer will be measured in large part by the speed and thoroughness with which he rids state government of these holdovers from his predecessor’s sorry tenure.
The tollway’s inspector general issued a report Thursday saying the agency was clear of any improprieties related to the corruption arrest of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
At the same time, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has put $1.8 billion in construction projects linked to the political scandal on hold.
That’s more than half again the size of the “mini” state capital bill announced with such fanfare a few weeks ago. If nothing was wrong, then why is a project which will create thousands of jobs on hold? Doesn’t that contradict itself? And was that investigation really thorough?
Tollway Inspector General Tracy Smith, an attorney, interviewed Chairman John Mitola, three tollway directors and staff and found no misconduct, she said. […]
Former tollway Executive Director Brian McPartlin, who was in charge of the agency during the period in question, was not interviewed, said Smith, who is a tollway employee.
So, they’re clean, but the contract is on hold and only four people were interviewed? Strange, that.
Sneed hears investigators from the Illinois inspector general’s office confiscated computers from the Healthcare and Family Services facility at the Thompson Center recently. Hmmm. Stay tuned
* And speaking of reform, whenever somebody claims they have the “support of the people” even though they’ve never been elected to anything, that person is in for at least a little ribbing…
Patrick Collins, the former federal prosecutor who was the head of the reform commission appointed by the governor, says his recommendations have the support of the people.
Collins says his 15-member commission traveled to much of the state, taking testimony from regular people on political and government reform in Southern, Central, Western and Northern Illinois, as well as Chicago and the suburbs.
He has the support of a lot of people, I’m sure, but so did Rod Blagojevich. More, even.
* But this is kinda silly. Speaker Madigan has held numerous “Committees of the Whole,” but he wont’ allow one for the reform commissions proposals? Not helpful…
“No, there’s no chance at all, for heaven’s sake,” Currie said of the prospects of a House hearing where Commission chair Patrick Collins could testify.
* Related…
* Daley mum on state reform push: “That would be up to Springfield, but I haven’t read it yet,” the mayor said. “The whole incident dealing with [former Gov. Rod] Blagojevich is, of course, alarming to everybody in regards to what has taken place. So I think they have to look at it very carefully, especially Springfield, you know, updating many of the issues concerning the ethics and concerning all of the involvement of taxpayers’ money. Taxpayers work hard and they pay their taxes and they want that money basically used wisely and efficiently and fairly all over the state.”
* It took them two months, but it does show progress…
llinois State Police released a field report detailing the drunken driving arrest of Springfield parks director Michael Stratton on Thursday, more than two months after The State Journal-Register first sought the document. Click here to see a PDF of the report.
Police initially claimed that releasing the report would be against the law. Earlier this week, acting state police director Jonathon Monken said he thought releasing the records might constitute a misdemeanor.
But in a strongly worded letter to Monken on Tuesday, Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office said the documents must be released under the state Freedom of Information Act. Failure to do so demonstrated a “continued unwillingness” by the police to comply with open-record laws, the attorney general said. Click here to see a PDF of that letter.
The attorney general’s opinion made all the difference, according to Gov. Pat Quinn’s office.
“We wanted to make sure we were doing the right thing,” said Bob Reed, spokesman for the governor. “And when the attorney general’s office sanctioned the move, we moved ahead.”
Gee, was that so hard? Also, AG Madigan sent two letters, but whatever. At least they got the message now. I’m not sure I see what the big deal is, except now Stratton has received far more publicity than he deserved for this.
Troopers seized a gleaming muscle car: a 2006 Dodge Charger, boasting a “Hemi” V-8 engine that blasts from zero to 60 in five seconds before topping out at 165 mph, with fewer than 12,000 miles.
But instead of using the car to snare lead-footed drivers or selling it to raise money for the state budget, officials assigned it to the director of the State Police Merit Board, according to interviews and a review of records by The Associated Press.
Merit Board director Ronald Cooley isn’t a cop and doesn’t chase bad guys. […]
The transfer also raises questions about how the department uses nearly two dozen other vehicles the police have seized, including a 2003 Cadillac Escalade, a 2004 Audi Quattro and a 2005 GMC Sierra. The agency refused to tell the AP who drives those vehicles, citing the possibility that it would jeopardize officer safety.
Time Magazine has chosen Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart as one of it’s 100 most influential people of 2009. The magazine applauds Dart for refusing to send his deputies on court-ordered foreclosure evictions because many of the people being turned out on the street were tenants who had faithfully paid the rent. […]
Dart’s write-up in Time appears next to that of Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman.
The Tribune, however, plays spoil sport editorializer in its news section…
But if Dart really is a kinder, gentler sheriff, he’s first an ambitious politician. And he has a handy knack for getting himself national ink, not only with his refusal to evict renters but also for his recent lawsuit against Craigslist for allegedly facilitating prostitution. Not all the coverage has been rosy. Last year, the Justice Department slammed his office for conditions at Cook County Jail. But Dart managed to deflect much of the blow, pledging to work with the courts to combat a problem he says he inherited.
* 1:50 pm - The Public Policy Polling survey we had here yesterday was of likely Democratic primary voters. But today’s PPP poll is of 991 Illinois voters. The poll was taken April 24-26 and has a margin of error of +/-3.1 percent. Crosstabs and other results can be found by clicking here.
Let’s look at the US Senate head-to heads first, since Lynn Sweet is reporting (and sources confirm) that “Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) is poised to jump in the 2010 Illinois Senate race”…
Q6 If the candidates for US Senate next year were Democrat Roland Burris and Republican Mark Kirk, who would you vote for?
19% Burris
53% Kirk
28% Undecided
Oof.
Then again, a Republican vegetable might be able to beat Burris at this point.
More realistic opponents…
33% Schakowsky
37% Kirk
30% Undecided
35% Giannoulias
35% Kirk
29% Undecided
The partisan breakdown of this poll is 45 percent Democrat, 30 percent Republican and 25 percent independent, so Kirk is doing better than the partisan benchmark and both Giannoulias and Schakowsky are under-polling.
Many Illinois voters are still unfamiliar with the leading candidates. Kirk’s favorability rating is 33 percent, with 24 percent viewing him unfavorably. A 43 percent plurality weren’t familiar with him.
And while Giannoulias holds a statewide office, he also isn’t well-known in the state – with 40 percent of voters unfamiliar with him. The state treasurer holds a 39 percent approval rating, with 21 percent viewing him unfavorably.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan does the best…
33% Kirk
49% Madigan
18% Undecided
* Now, onto the governor’s race…
Q12 If the candidates for Governor next year were Republican Bill Brady and Democrat Pat Quinn, who would you vote for?
32% Brady
39% Quinn
29% Undecided.
Man, that’s weak for Quinn.
27% Brady
46% Madigan
26% Undecided
Brady is getting 15 percent of the African-American vote in this survey, which could show weakness for Madigan, but it’s highly doubtful that Brady will get that many African-American votes come election day.
* Meanwhile, as we’ve noted before, Dan Proft is considering a run for governor, but I’m not quite sure what this press release means yet…
Cicero, Illinois… Dan Proft released the following statement today about his decision to step down as Cicero Town Spokesman effective May 1, 2009:
It is after much deliberation that I have come to the decision to leave the town. My decision is based entirely on an opportunity that has presented itself to pursue other professional endeavors. To highlight this point, I am not only leaving the town but I am also taking a leave from my firm, Urquhart Media, to take up the opportunity I referenced.
I may have more later today.
*** 3:20 pm *** Here’s your “more.” I’m hearing Proft is just about there. Decision will be announced soon.
Late last week, [WGN-AM program director Kevin Metheny] abruptly axed three programs that were part of WGN’s weekend lineup, along with the three freelance hosts who fronted the three shows. Gone are Steve Dale and his Sunday evening “Pet Central” show, as well as Bill Moller and his Saturday afternoon “Your Money” program and Alex Goldfayn and his Saturday evening tech-related program. Metheny did not return a call seeking comment.
* Who’s your favorite radio talk show host? Explain why.
*** UPDATE *** Live-blogging ain’t easy so mistakes are common. The SJ-R has corrected its story to read…
Radogno added that Quinn won’t have meetings of all four legislative leaders because Madigan would not attend. Cross would not confirm this. Quinn has said he meets weekly with Cullerton and Madigan. [emphasis added to show the change]
That’s a lot different.
* The SJ-R editorial board met with Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno and House GOP Leader Tom Cross this morning. Thanks to an alert commenter, we have this strange little snippet…
Radogno added that Speaker Madigan will not even talk to Gov. Pat Quinn. Cross would not confirm this. Quinn has said he meets weekly with Cullerton and Madigan.
Madigan was meeting with Quinn about the budget as Radogno was saying that. He also met with Quinn last week to talk about Quinn’s proposed tax hikes, among other things.
More from Cross…
Cross’s main complaint was that Madigan does not allow votes on as much legislation as Cross would like – particularly legislation that would allow Illinoisans to vote in a primary election without having to declare a party preference.
“To bottle stuff up and let one guy have all this power to not let an idea get voted on and discussed is ridiculous,” Cross said.
Almost every day, the House Repubs have asked that bills be let out of Rules Committee, even though the passage deadline expired weeks ago and some of the bills were only just recently introduced. The Dems routinely refuse, the Repubs demand a roll call, the Dems vote with their party and the Republican political organization then blasts robocalls into targeted districts. It’s quite a fun little game, but it means almost nothing, except politically.
Legislative Republicans want to change the Illinois Constitution to give them some say in any decision to increase taxes.
But that and other GOP-sponsored plans are bottled up in the General Assembly so Republicans, who hold scant power in state government, roared in a protest that included a fleeting expletive and walked off the House floor Wednesday to protest their treatment at the hands of Democrats. […]
“If he wants have more opportunities on the floor of the Illinois House,” [Majority Leader Currie] said, “he better do a better job of electing Republicans.”
* Meanwhile, I think this problem may be resolved…
About $1 billion worth of mass transit improvements recently approved under the state’s mini-capital bill may be in jeopardy, but Chicago-area transit agencies are not yet shelving projects, officials said Wednesday.
Gov. Pat Quinn put a freeze on the transit projects — but not on road and bridge repairs — by holding back on the bonding necessary to finance the transit piece, said state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Sandoval had some unkind words for the governor, however…
“We had a major signing ceremony for the mini-capital bill a few weeks ago with the governor — and now he’s doing a head fake,” Sandoval said, adding that Senate Democrats agreed to support the mini-capital bill based in part on the transit element. “This tells me Gov. Quinn still has his running mate’s playbook that he has dusted off the shelf.”
Ouch.
And…
The Senate president also put Quinn on notice Wednesday. Any backpedaling on the mini-capital bill will “breed some distrust as we move forward” on longer-term capital-funding legislation and passage of a new state budget, said Rikeesha Phelon, spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago).
That would be a warning shot across the bow, if it wasn’t already clear to you.
* And speaking of the capital plan, organized labor and construction groups are plunking down big bucks to run this TV ad across the state…
* Republicans and taxes: somehow don’t recall Rep. Black pushing this more-votes-for-tax-hike plan when he was co-sponsoring Republican Gov. Jim Edgar’s tax increase to fund schools back in the late 1990s.
* I thought secret police arrest reports were only for dictatorships.
Who woulda thunk that Gov. Pat Quinn’s handpicked State Police Director would want to continue this goofy policy…
Turn the records over. That’s what Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office has told Acting Illinois State Police director Jonathon Monken, who has refused to release reports chronicling the drunken driving arrest of Springfield parks director Michael Stratton.
Monken on Tuesday morning told The State Journal-Register, which asked for the reports, that he believes releasing the documents might even be a crime.
But a senior aide to Madigan late in the day informed Monken via letter that the reports are public records that must be released. And in an interview, another Madigan aide characterized the state police’s position as “absurd.” Click here to see a PDF of the letter.
Releasing police reports is a crime? Strange. The last time I checked, Stratton wasn’t a candidate for rendition. Besides, those days are supposed to be over.
Jay Stewart, senior counsel to the governor, who called for open government while director of the Better Government Association, has not responded to interview requests. Katherine Ridgway, Quinn spokesman, has not responded to several requests asking whether the governor believes the records should be released.
On Tuesday, Ridgway said the governor’s office would have more information “later” regarding the record request and the attorney general’s opinion that the documents must be released.
On Wednesday, Ridgway did not respond to queries about what the governor’s staff has told Monken, including the question of whether the governor’s staff believes the records should be released.
Ridgway said she would get back to a reporter, but did not call back before close of business Wednesday.
Stewart was at the forefront of pushing for open records for years. And now he’s mum? Jay… buddy… what the heck are you doing?
* The SJ-R grazed the heart of the problem in its editorial today…
In the case of a public records request for Springfield Park District director Mike Stratton’s arrest report, we fear Monken is being led astray by the old bulls at the agency who want to defend the status quo at any cost. It’s time for Gov. Pat Quinn, a longtime proponent of open government, to step in and remind the ISP who is in charge.
This is what happens when you appoint a 29-year-old with zero experience to run the Illinois State Police. He has to go out of his way not to offend the old bulls. And this records thing won’t be the end of it, either. They’re obviously leading him around by the nose.
Heckuva job, Patty.
* Semi-related…
* IEA all for due process, but only for teachers: Former history teacher and state Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, called the union”s stand hypocritical. “The great thing that the IEA has done for teachers is bring in due process. When I became a teacher in 1963, you could be fired for any reason. The IEA changed that by advocating for members. I guess they are all for due process when it involves one of their members — but not when it is someone like Mr. Bauman,” he said.
The head of a panel charged with suggesting ways to stop state government corruption challenged rank-and-file lawmakers Wednesday to stop seeking political cover from powerful legislative leaders and instead answer to those who elected them. […]
“There’s 177 legislators in the House and Senate,” Collins told the City Club of Chicago. “They should not be able to say, ‘Oh, I was for it, but the speaker wouldn’t put it to a vote.’ That’s what they say. We shouldn’t let them say that anymore.
“We should get people in there who will take a position and vote, or we should shrink the legislature even further,” he added.
Sure, Collins has a valid point about the power of the leaders - and not just the Democratic leaders. All leaders. If you didn’t know any better when reading his commission report, you’d almost think that it was a legislative leader who was arrested and indicted by the feds and not the governor. It’s obvious the commission targeted the leaders, and Madigan in particular.
But what’s with this John Wayne swagger stuff?
Collins did back off that last point, however…
Reached for comment later, Collins said he made an “unfortunate sarcastic comment” in jest and does not believe in cutting back the legislature, but stands by his comments about a need for accountability from all lawmakers.
Cutting back the legislature would just make it easier to control.
* Speaking of the Speaker, Gatehouse runs a story today that I’ve been following since January. Speaker Madigan has yet to reappoint former Blagojevich allies Rep. Jay Hoffman and Rep. Ken Dunkin to their committee chairmanships…
[Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville)] said it is no secret that Madigan is punishing Hoffman for siding with Blagojevich.
“That’s one way Speaker Madigan sends a message,” Black said.
But my all-time favorite quote comes from Rep. Dunkin’s mouth…
“Why has he not promoted Ken Dunkin, who is such the tourism authority in this chamber, who has promoted tourism throughout the centuries and the decades in the history of the state of Illinois? Why? Why, Mr. Speaker?” asked Dunkin.
Maybe Collins can intervene on his behalf.
* Related…
* Ethics advocate urges Illinoisans to back reform: “What this state needs a little bit more of is people who aren’t cowering in their shadow because they’re afraid of how somebody is going to react to the truth,” Patrick M. Collins told the City Club of Chicago on Wednesday.
* A post-Blago `witchhunt’? No, says rep.: Jerry Stermer, Quinn’s chief of staff, addressed the committee about why any of Blagojevich’s cabinet members are still employed… He responded that Quinn’s program of “reform, responsibility and recovery'’ required experienced people. and that the performance of those directors is under continual evaluation.]
The 2009 report on Illinois Poverty released Thursday reveals signs of increasing poverty throughout the state. Poverty worsened in more than half of the state’s 102 counties even before the recession began in December 2007.
The most current poverty data from 2007, therefore, does not capture economic realities, the report’s authors wrote.
As many as 405,000 more Illinoisans are likely to have been pushed into poverty as a result of the recession.
The union, which represents nearly 2,500 workers at Chrysler’s assembly plant in Belvidere, held informational meetings and voting at the Coronado Performing Arts Center all day Wednesday.
The largest is a $21.1-million endeavor to repair and stabilize the main structure protecting Chicago Harbor. Another $1.6 million will be used to complete a levee on the Des Plaines River, and $1.1 million will go toward increasing dredging capacity in the Calumet Harbor and Calumet River.
School Wind/ Solar Generation Act (SB1570): Creates a School Wind and Solar Generation Revolving Loan Fund to begin awarding loans or grants to public schools and community colleges to study and build wind or solar power projects. The intent is to “directly or indirectly reduce energy or other operating costs,” to free up more money for classrooms.
Enterprise Zone Wind Farms (SB1923): Streamlines permitting and tax exemptions for large-scale wind farms under the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act, while requiring the projects meet the state’s prevailing wage standards.
Green Jobs Training Fund (HB4186): In establishing a Green Jobs Training Fund, the state would agree to set aside up to $500,000 over the next two years to train mostly low-income adults to staff renewable energy projects.
Joyce Pierce, 52, of Chicago pleaded guilty to one count of theft of more than $100,000 before Circuit Judge Clayton Crane. Prosecutors alleged that over a four-year period, Pierce pilfered funds from the office’s Freedom of Information Department to pay for purchases at upscale stores such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Macy’s.
A total of 15 EPA agents, state police investigators and members of the U.S. Coast Guard’s investigative service unit arrived at 9 a.m. and combed village offices for records until sometime about 5 p.m.
Speaking in the vestibule of village hall, EPA Special Agent in Charge Randall Ashe said the agents were searching for “any evidence of crimes that may have occurred.”
Village hall remained open, and village officials and employees reportedly attempted to go about their duties. But the day was anything but normal, as agents came and went continuously.
Mayor Robert Stranczek briefly emerged from his office to say that the village was “fully cooperating” with the EPA. He did not take questions.
A memo obtained by The Associated Press to staff members alerts them to possible credit fraud concerns because a spreadsheet with worker names and Social Security numbers was found on the Internet.
It says attorney general’s investigators believe the data, prepared for an outside auditing firm, was released to a so-called peer-to-peer network during a music transfer to an agency laptop.
Gov. Pat Quinn made a move similar to the federal declaration with a gubernatorial proclamation that allows him to access state resources to address any needs that may arise. U.S. Health and Homeland Security officials released stockpiled medical supplies and anti-viral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, to the states, and the Illinois Department of Public Health expects the state to receive a shipment this week.
