“Mr. Governor,” said Mulvey, pointing his camera at Blagojevich and getting his question in despite the competition from older reporters, “I’m a junior at Rochester High School and I’m still wondering — three years ago, you came to our school and told us we were going to get our money. I was just wondering where it is. We’re still on the top of that list.”
Mulvey was referring to the March 2006 visit Blagojevich made to Rochester High. At that time, Blagojevich traveled to the school as part of his public relations attempt to get the General Assembly to approve a $3.2 billion construction plan — which seemed like a lot at the time. He entered the school gymnasium through a column of cheerleaders and urged students to contact their legislators, particularly GOP lawmakers. Senate Republican Leader FRANK WATSON hadn’t had any contact from the governor in more than a month, a spokeswoman said at the time.
And — surprise, surprise — the program did not pass.
“Um, yes, yeah, look, I want to work with you,” Blagojevich said Wednesday after Mulvey’s question. “We got to call those legislators and free up that money. I’m dying to do it.”
