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More trouble for Blagojevich

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Illinois

On the day that the governor begins running his first TV ad of the season, he’s hit with two potentially troubling stories in the Chicago Tribune.

The first is a potentially ominous tollway contract piece.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has fired a computer software company that won a contract to track construction projects three months after it contributed money to Gov. Rod Blagojevich–even though the firm initially was not a finalist in the bidding process. […]

The company, Cantillon said, failed to design the system needed to responsibly manage its ambitious $5.3 billion road reconstruction plan. “We just didn’t get off to a good start,” she said. “CapitalSoft’s product wasn’t delivering the features we needed.” […]

But documents the Tribune obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that CapitalSoft finished fourth behind three other companies seeking the contract.

The criteria for submitting bids said “no more than three (3) bidders with the highest overall score” would be invited to give a presentation.

But an exception was made for CapitalSoft, which donated $5,000 to the Blagojevich campaign while the tollway was evaluating proposals for the contract.

And the second is about a grand jury investigation that nobody had heard about until now.

A Cook County grand jury is investigating whether Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration improperly used its power to shut down a suburban landfill run by a relative of his estranged father-in-law, sources said Thursday.

One of the officials for the state Environmental Protection Agency involved in shutting down the Joliet dump acknowledged Thursday that he and another EPA administrator had recently testified before the grand jury.

But William Child, bureau chief for the EPA’s bureau of land management, declined to say what he was asked.

A law enforcement source confirmed the investigation centers on the EPA’s decision to close the landfill in January 2005 and whether the governor’s office engaged in official misconduct or abuse of power in calling for the EPA to look into the landfill.

Sources said the questioning has centered on whether the EPA was pressured by officials in the governor’s office to deviate from standard procedures on the case.

Uh-oh.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 7:10 am

Comments

Oh yea!!! Also I thought that someone was quoted as saying”that so it would not look like a conflict of interest Doug Schofield would step down.This bunch really think they are untouchable.I still think the governor looks like a clone to Alvin the chipmunk.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 7:24 am
You’re right Rich, the story from the Tollway is ominous, until you actually read it and remember that the Tollway Authority is an independent agency and the Governor’s had nothing to do with selection of the contractor.

I’m glad that the Tribune ran out to Staples to replace all of the P’s on their keyboards, though, because for 26 years of GOP control of the administration, they couldn’t even spell “Pay-to-Play”.

The Governor, for his part, has done nothing to help his image problem. I’ve often said that the problem with some folks coming out of Chicago politics is they act as though it doesn’t matter what people think about you or accuse you of, it only matters what they can prove in a court of law. Well, in Springfield, image matters, and the Governor’s image is undeniably tarnished.

If, as he claims in his ad, he’s learned alot over the last three years, he needs to make a real effort to reform politics in Illinois.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 7:29 am
Blago has plenty of problems, but these two stories won’t add much to them. If anything, the Mell relative story helps him–it shows him standing up to his old line pol father-in-law. The Illinois Tollway is too technical with lots of wiggle room on scoring systems and numbers to have any legs for the moment. Maybe after a two year investigation-who knows.

Comment by Anon Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 7:36 am
Oh wake up, YDD- the Governor appoints various people to the Tollway- and they make the decisions. Even in your closed liberal mind, you must understand that a simple phone call from one of his *advisors* to his *contact person* at the Tollway is how it gets done. It happens so often, with such disdain to what is good for the state, I am suprised that we have had only 13 seperate investigations into these clowns. Or is it up to 14 now?

Comment by roy slade Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 8:30 am
Ah Blago what a crazy kid, What kind of trouble will he get into next! muwahahahaha. In all seriousness though, I don’t think anyone is surprised by this which is a comment on the sad state of politics in Illinois when it comes to no surprise when our government is corrupt. Just another notch in the post for Blago and his “reforming ways”

Comment by ISU REP Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 8:48 am
I agree with Roy Slade! Yellow Dog…you usually seem pretty intelligent but you are sooooo wrong on this one, the governor appointed “his” people to the tollway…check it out!

Comment by Lori Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 9:05 am
I managed a $120 million budget for one of the State departments from 1995 to 2000. When Ryan gave his first budget address, I called my staff together and told them that we, as a state, were in big trouble. His Illinois First plan was overreaching and rife with political plums. During the speech, you could literally see him holding out these irresistible apples by the stems and the legislators were unable to turn them down.

All of that is nothing compared to what we have now in our current governor. Not only does he still do the pay-for-play that he campaigned against, he has made it an art form. His anti-business policies are hard on the state and hard to expose because, although we rank among the lowest in job growth, he continues to point to that minute job growth as a victory. I’m very concerned about the future of our State - short and long.

I pray that if Topinka can’t beat him straight up that these reports will expose him to the voters and bring him down.

Comment by Spiro T Agnew Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 9:06 am
Only $5000 for a megabucks contract. What could I get for $500? How about a six figure state job in one of the human service agencies (DHS, DCFS, or equivalent), management of course, pension and health care, and not much to do, no performance appraisals or anybody checking, come and go when I want.

And if the government starts selling these contracts and jobs directly, far better, at least the money won’t go into some sleazy politico’s campaign fund. Think of the luxurious life Blago is going to have on that $15 million when he leaves politics. Since he’s funding his campaign with our taxpayer money via “projects” he’ll have most of the $15 million when he quits politics.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 9:09 am
[…] Capitol Fax also points to two Blagojevich scandals, including a previously unnoticed grand jury, and a story about Blagojevich trading tax dollars for votes: “Jones said a member of Gov. Rod Blagojevichâ€™s staff approached him on the Senate floor Wednesday to say a $400,000 grant for the Women In Need Growing Stronger shelter would be released if Jones supports the governorâ€™s plans.” Blagojevich has a very impressive campaign operation, and despite terrible poll numbers should still be considered the favorite to be re-elected, but if any of these many scandals gets legs, I think he’s doomed. […]

Pingback by IlliniPundit.com » Blog Archive » Blog Roundup Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 9:53 am
I think that tollway contract business is nonsense. With a warchest of $15 million, what’s 5k to the gov.? Certainly not enough to warrant the trouble his involvement would bring.

Comment by Tom K. Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 10:15 am
More on the way folks, and they’re bigger than either of these two. Take it to the bank.

Comment by Wigand Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 10:20 am
Wigand we keep hearing uuuuurrrr I mean hoping.If you are right get my a picture of him in handcuffs and I will try you to a burger and curly fries.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 11:29 am
Hey Yellow Dog, if the Tollway really is an independent agency whose actions do not reflect on the Governor, why is his name featured so prominently on the new I-Pass lanes, or all the Oasis rebuild project signs? Blago is just as bad as Daley when it comes to wanting to take credit for everything positive that an agency or department does but then pretend like he has no control when they f-up and do something stupid or corrupt!

Comment by gopartisan Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 12:38 pm
Concerning the grand jury on the landfill, I hear from a very reliable source close to some of Blago’s family who say there is going to be a major indictment coming down on this case. I don’t know what all the feds have but my understanding from my source says this case will have criminal indictments forthcoming. We will see just how accurate the source is. It could get interesting if indictments come down. Does anyone know if Alderman Mell is going to support Blago this time around? I keep hearing that he is not doing anything. Any truth to that?

Comment by Paul Powell Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 11:07 pm
Folks, still much more on the tollway story to come out……….more contributions……more rules bent.

Still waiting for H-Rod to “rock the system”. Maybe he can work on that bill from his prison cell.

Comment by KenoMan Saturday, Feb 18, 06 @ 11:21 am
Like the State Board of Education, the Tollway Authority is only independent on paper. Gopartisan, you may have been a little more colorful in the description than I, but you hit the nail on the head.

Comment by Norseman Saturday, Feb 18, 06 @ 2:41 pm