* From the Rauner campaign. Sorry for the length. Blame them. But there is some interesting stuff here…

Over the last week, Pat Quinn has led voters to believe he took decisive action to end patronage hiring at the Illinois Department of Transportation by laying off those who were illegally hired. The State Journal-Register published the list of people who Pat Quinn claims he laid off.

But a review of last week’s Inspector General report, the State Comptroller’s website and state hiring records reveals that dozens of people who were illegally hired by IDOT as “staff assistants” are still working at IDOT and were not part of Quinn’s announced lay-offs.

“This already looks like another broken promise from Pat Quinn,” Bruce Rauner said. “You’ve got to wonder if this is just another charade. Instead of throwing people under the bus, we need a new driver.”

Here’s a look at just three of the dozens of examples:
Employee 201

“Employee 201” Is Identified In The Illinois Executive Inspector General’s Report As The Daughter Of Chicago Alderman Gene Schulter. (“In re: Ann Schneider, Gary Hannig, Matthew Hughes and Michael Woods, Jr – OEIG Final Report, Office Of The Executive Inspector General, 8/22/14, p. 143)

Monica Schulter, Gene Schulter’s Daughter, Is Identified In Press Accounts As Having Been Hired As A “Staff Assistant” At IDOT. “The hires made under the questionable ‘staff assistant’ process include Monica Schulter, daughter of former Chicago Ald. Eugene Schulter (47th). She was hired as a staff assistant in 2010, and now makes $58,000 as an assistant to IDOT’s top administrator, Ann Schneider. When reached by phone, Monica Schulter declined to answer questions, however Eugene Schulter did.” (Patrick McCraney, “Clout Hiring Persists Under Quinn,” Better Government Association, 8/14/13)

Schulter Does Not Appear On The List Of Illegal Hires Being Fired By IDOT As A Result Of The Inspector General Report. (IDOT Layoffs List, State Journal-Register, 8/27/14)
Schulter Is Still Listed As Being Employed By IDOT. (Employee Salary Database, Illinois Comptroller, Accessed 8/28/14)

Employee 140
“Employee 140” Is Identified In The Illinois Executive Inspector General’s Report As A Former District Scheduler For Congressman Phil Hare Who Left Hare’s Office In March Of 2010. “In addition to the examples discussed above, the OEIG investigation uncovered another Rutan-exempt Staff Assistant, Employee 140, who worked for Congressman Hare immediately prior to joining IDOT. Employee 140 began employment with Mr. Hare in 2007 as a District Scheduler and held that position until March 2010.” (“In re: Ann Schneider, Gary Hannig, Matthew Hughes and Michael Woods, Jr – OEIG Final Report, Office Of The Executive Inspector General, 8/22/14, p. 75)

Employee 140’s Duties Included Producing Spreadsheets And Planting Trees. “Employee 16 told the OEIG that as a Staff Assistant, Employee 140’s duties included producing spreadsheets and other computer-generated documents and assisting in the Services Development area. In that capacity, Employee 140 planted trees and performed other preventative maintenance tasks.” (“In re: Ann Schneider, Gary Hannig, Matthew Hughes and Michael Woods, Jr – OEIG Final Report, Office Of The Executive Inspector General, 8/22/14, p. 75)

IDOT Employee Andrew Waeyaert Was Employed By Phil Hare Until March 12, 2010, And Was The Only Hare Employee To Leave In March Of 2010. (Statement Of Disbursements Of The House – January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010, U.S. House Of Representatives, p. 1266)
Waeyaert Does Not Appear On The List Of Illegal Hires Being Fired By IDOT As A Result Of The Inspector General Report. (IDOT Layoffs List, State Journal-Register, 8/27/14)
Andrew Waeyaert Is Still Listed As Being Employed By IDOT. (Employee Salary Database, Illinois Comptroller, Accessed 8/28/14)

Employee 139
“Employee 139” Was A Former Phil Hare District Scheduler, Hired In March OF 2010, And Was Hired By IDOT Following Hare’s 2010 Loss. “Employee 139’s employment application indicates he began work for Congressman Hare as a District Scheduler in March 2010 and left that position because of Mr. Hare’s 2010 election loss. Employee 139 began employment with IDOT in the Bureau of Personnel Management, but transferred to District 2 of the Division of Highways on March 28, 2011. The Internal Personnel Request authorizing his hire into the Staff Assistant position was signed by former Director of Finance and Administration Matt Hughes and former Bureau Chief of Personnel Management Mike Woods, Jr.” (“In re: Ann Schneider, Gary Hannig, Matthew Hughes and Michael Woods, Jr – OEIG Final Report, Office Of The Executive Inspector General, 8/22/14, p. 74)

Employee 139 Developed And Implemented Training Classes, And Did Not Perform Duties Listed In The Staff Assistant Position Description. “Investigators questioned Administrative Services Manager for District 2 Employee 16 about the duties Employee 139 performed in Safety and Training after his transfer. Employee 16 stated Employee 139’s duties included developing and implementing training classes. According to Employee 16, Employee 139 did not perform duties reflected on the Staff Assistant position description.” (“In re: Ann Schneider, Gary Hannig, Matthew Hughes and Michael Woods, Jr – OEIG Final Report, Office Of The Executive Inspector General, 8/22/14, p. 74)

IDOT Employee Derek Jones Began Working For Hare On March 15, 2010, And Was The Only Hare Employee To Be Hired In March Of 2010. (Statement Of Disbursements Of The House – January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010, U.S. House Of Representatives, p. 1265)
Jones Does Not Appear On The List Of Illegal Hires Being Fired By IDOT As A Result Of The Inspector General Report. (IDOT Layoffs List, State Journal-Register, 8/27/14)
Derek Jones Is Still Listed As Being Employed By The Illinois Department Of Transportation. (State Employee Salary Database, Illinois Comptroller, Accessed 8/28/14)