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UPDATE: Topinka’s office claims they send the complete list to the governor’s office every month.
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From the Blagojevich campaign:
One day after Judy Baar Topinka said state government should be more open and transparent, Lt Governor Pat Quinn today called on Treasure Judy Baar Topinka to immediately release the list of banks that have state deposits.“Just yesterday Treasurer Topinka called for ‘more openness in the budget process’ and yet she still refuses to release the list of financial institutions that hold the state’s deposits. It’s not Judy Baar Topinka’s money – it’s our money. Taxpayers deserve to know where their money is deposited,†Quinn said.
While Topinka lectured Governor Blagojevich and other Democratic leaders about meeting behind closed doors regarding the state budget, as State Treasurer she has not followed the lead of other states – and her predecessor – in making information about state banking deposits accessible.
“In this day and age of internet and technology, I find it hard to believe that Treasurer Topinka does not make this information public. The question is simple: Where is our money? The answer should be just as simple and immediate,†Quinn said. When Quinn served as State Treasurer, the information regarding state deposits was available to the public.
Quinn pointed out that many other states, including neighbors Indiana and Iowa, make this information public on their websites.
“If you live in Davenport, you find out where your money is with one click of your mouse. If you live in Moline, you need to make a team of detectives to find out what banks are holding your money. Across the Mississippi River, you don’t need to wonder what banks get state business, you shouldn’t need to wonder here in Illinois,†Quinn said.
Previous published reports in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times have detailed Topinka’s more than $600,000 in extensive campaign contributions from banks and financial institutions. Her most recent campaign disclosure reports show that she accepted tens of thousands of dollars from banks in the final days of her closely contested primary election. The Treasurer’s primary responsibility is to deposit state money in banks.
“Unfortunately, there may be a simple reason Judy Baar Topinka doesn’t want Illinois taxpayers to know where their money is – because she takes significant campaign contributions from every bank she can. It’s time for Treasurer Topinka to come clean, tell us where our money is and tell us how much in campaign contributions she’s taking from the banks she does business with,†Quinn said.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 11:55 am
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Is it possible that there is more to this story?
Otherwise, I can’t see why she hasn’t published the info either. If such is the case.
It is our money. And a lot of it is being misspent. Knowing where it is may not help with the misspending part but it addresses the critical need for overall transparency in government in Illinois–transparency that the combine fights tooth and nail whenever they can.
If it’s legal, JBT should have published this info already. And definitely at the beginning of her governor run. In other words, she should have seen this coming. As the challenger, she, far more than Blago, can’t afford to look like an old fashioned backroom pol.
Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 12:07 pm
What they will do is match that information with donors to JBT’s campaign.This could backfire because Blago’s money is tied to no bid contracts and job appointments.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 12:15 pm
Out of both punches thrown I think JBT got the best hit.This Quinn asking for the Blago backroom boys was a payback for JBT asking the Gov. how many days he was in Springfield.I never thought I would see Quinn play puppet boy for Blago.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 12:51 pm
“How many days have I been in Springfield since the Budget Address?…….um, well….HEY, look over there!”
Seriously though, Topinka’s been Treasurer for 12 years……Pat just realized TODAY that the info wasn’t posted, and that it is a serious threat to government transparency?
I don’t remember any of Judy’s Dem challengers for the post in ‘98 and ‘02 making a fuss about this and promising to open the books.
If it means that much to him, why hasn’t he asked Rod to request that she do this years ago?
Comment by grand old partisan Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 12:51 pm
who has over $15 million in campaign contributions?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:01 pm
This is bad for Blago. If he wants to call her to the carpet for misdealings he should do so, not have his underling call for information the governor has access to and ability to publish himself. Judy needs to put a shot accross the bow for Quinn that auditioning for the Gov spot before Blago wins and is indicted is a little pre-mature.
Comment by the Patriot Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:06 pm
For those of you with short memories, Pat Quinn was the Treasurer once upon a time. What did HE do? How does that differ from what Judy has done? And surely the names of banks wherein she deposits the state’s funds isn’t a secret. Maybe it isn’t posted on aol.com, but I’m sure any good reporter could find out. And if it Does turn out that she routinely informs the Guv’s office and yet they don’t ‘know,’ what a backfire. More slime politics. What a surprise.
Comment by Dem Voting R Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:16 pm
Isn’t it interesting that Quinn has to ask for this information and not GRod…if GRod went for this information some of those ugly questions about pay to play with he and his friends just might surface…wonder why Quinn doesn’t ask about those ties…
Comment by SalukiDog Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:18 pm
GOMB receives the report monthly.
Comment by Shallow Pharnyx Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:20 pm
Hypocrite Quinn used to take money not from banks but from their executives.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:31 pm
what difference does it make if she received campaing contributions, as long as the banks and financial institutions are paying market rates for deposits. the information should be made public. this could backfire on the dems, if the report shows rates are bing paid that are above th market. that would demonstrate she is doing the best with the states deposits.
Comment by ron Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:35 pm
“Out of both punches thrown I think JBT got the best hit.”
Really, DOWNSTATE. I thought THIS time surely you’d support the Democratic argument…
And folks - Quinn asked for it because QUINN USED TO BE TREASURER. Duh.
Read the release: “When Quinn served as State Treasurer, the information regarding state deposits was available to the public.”
Comment by SenorAnon Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:38 pm
Wouldn’t it be sweet if some of the money were deposited in Giannoulias’ bank?
Comment by RFK fan Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:40 pm
Sorry SenorAnon but your party dropped the ball on this one another foolish move by Blago.Plus you see it yourself.Quinn asked because the puppet master pulled his string.All the years JBT has held office and he is just now asking.We do have Freedom Of Information if you want to know things like that .DUH.Let’s see Judy 1 AROD 0.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:46 pm
This is one of the reasons Topinka will not win…she has a great deal of her own “ethical” issues and the more she talks about the Governor’s the more hers are put into play.
Comment by The Hankster Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:47 pm
meh, Topinka’s folks will put the list out late this Friday or Saturday when the news is really dead because of the holidays, the wonks and reporters will glance over it, the citizenry will barely register anything about it and likely there will be nothing mortally wounding to be found. If there is significant dirt there, I’d be disappointed in Judy and her staff’s competence.
Camp out on the state’s procurement web site, however, and see how the governor’s friends at R.J. Dale and other ad agencies like Ashley are getting their no-bid contracts for lottery and Dan Ryan “outreach” work quietly extended and upgraded. Standard magician’s trick; misdirection. What next, Rod, white tigers?
Also, just saw a new poster for ‘all kids’, his name is in TWO places on it. Just so you don’t miss it.
Comment by Gregor Samsa Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 2:08 pm
Is this what Quinn is looking for? It’s the link to the approved financial institutions and approved brokers for the State’s Portfolio. Just go to her homepage and click on Portfolio Information: http://www.state.il.us/treas/
Comment by Katie Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 2:11 pm
I think this shows some insight into the Blago camp strategy. While in the past they have wanted to keep a lid on Quinn, this time they want him to step up and talk more to try and engage Birkett who has negative poll numbers. The more Birkett talks, the faster it will drive Blago’s straying base voters home. This new Quinn is purely the test-drive model.
Comment by Goodbye Napoleon Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 2:21 pm
Ron @ 1:35 is exactly right. As long as the banks are providing the market rate on interest, who cares if they gave JBT money? Would people on this blog and interested in government rather have her doling out the cash on non-bid contracts to power-wash salt domes? What a non-issue.
Comment by Papa Legba Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 2:29 pm
Hey Pat, you might want to look at Judy’s website…
http://www.state.il.us/treas/Banking/Banking_Financial.asp
Comment by Jim in Accounting Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 2:30 pm
“Sorry SenorAnon but your party dropped the ball on this one another foolish move by Blago.”
Yes…I’m sure they are kicking themselves because a partisan post a rambling response on a blog.
I mean…I’m sure no one working on Blagojevich’s campaign staff has ever worked on a campaign, so their experience can’t match an anonymous Republican on a blog. What WERE THEY THINKING!?!?!?!
Comment by SenorAnon Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 2:57 pm
Senor,
this whole thing is one big attempt at distraction. Why do we know? Beacuse the info is already out, and has been out. The Sun-Times has run pieces on it, with details. I have found one from thirteen months ago, March 24, 2005. That’s no typo, 2005.
So, c’mon now, really, how many days has Rod spent working (not campaigning, doing interviews or fundraising) in Springfield, anyway?
Comment by Bubs Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 3:14 pm
As you can see by most of the postings on here that this is a another knee jerk by desperate Blago people i. e. people see no problem for JBT.Jump up to JimInAccounting’s posting and send that website to Quinn so he can get the information he is asking for.It’s even has some pretty colored charts.Yep they went all out on this one I guess we have to change the score JBT 2 AROD 0.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 3:14 pm
“Yep they went all out on this one I guess we have to change the score JBT 2 AROD 0.”
DOWNSTATE…you slay me. If the day is dull, I know you’ll be there to make me chuckle.
By your hilarious rationale, buried somewhere in your scarcely coherent rants, is that with all the machinations of government at their disposal, and a full staff, Blagojevich somehow missed that all banks with state deposits are readily available, thus giving JBT the arbitrary score you’ve assigned to her.
And THEN, after neither campaign did anything else, some time between 1:46 and 3:14, she gets an extra point in your arbitrary scorecard…just because.
Man, what color is the sky in your world?
Let me add to bubs…if that info is already out, don’t you think Blagojevich will get called on it? It isn’t as if the media are fawning over him and throwing roses at his feet. I’m going to go ahead and bet that all of the info people are referencing in the posts is not what Quinn’s asking for.
Comment by SenorAnon Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 4:01 pm
I want to know when the last “Audit” on the Secretary of Treasurer’s office was completed and what were the findings. How much $$$$ was made from the interest on the “Pay todays price for college later program?” I would bet that Topinka has made poor choices investing that money.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 4:03 pm
BTW…JimInAccounting links to the “approved financial institutions.” That doesn’t answer the question. That just lets us know who is…you know…approved.
Comment by SenorAnon Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 4:06 pm
The governor has the list. Perhaps he should release it.
Meanwhile, I have called twice today and sent an e-mail about the days he spent in Springfield. No luck.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 4:10 pm
Link to the Auditor General’s synopsis on Treasurer audits:
http://www.state.il.us/auditor/agencies.htm
Comment by Shallow Pharnyx Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 4:13 pm
Anon, I’ll take Quinn’s own words: “the list of financial institutions that hold the state’s deposits.” You tell me.
Comment by Bubs Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 4:18 pm
SenorAnon if Rich is right and he normally is why don’t the gov. release this info unless it is one of their attemped election tricks.Now that we know the gov. already has it and he is holding back over JBT hitting him on not being in Springfield we need to reset the score. JBT 3 AROD 0.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 4:57 pm
What a load on nonsense over nothing. Guess there are no certified audits in the last year that list where the state has invested it’s money. Those charts on the Treasurers website must be made up numbers. Am I supposed to lose sleep because I do not know what specific bank account my 2005 state taxes are in? On the conspiracy scale, JBT supposedly gets contributions from banks because she put state money there, but RB has never gotten any bank contributions because he is Gov. And the people claiming this stuff are supposed to be skilled, professionals? I have whatever they are drinking.
Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 5:29 pm
That Bill Holland has some interesting audits on his Website. Didn’t see much amiss with the Treasurer’s Office according to the last independent audits posted there with no findings. On the other hand, the Governor’s Office and GOMB can’t keep track of copiers, don’t do personnel evaluations (Probably because everyone is above average), let questionable no-bid contracts (to Filan’s pal Ron “The Nose” Pickure) and don’t follow travel policies. JBT wins the accountants’ prizefight too!
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 6:15 pm
Pat Quinn running for SOS held a news conference to blast George Ryan for awarding low digit plates…and then was asked why his chief of staff had a low digit plate. This seems very similar. He needs to do some homework before he calls a newsconference
Comment by Remember when.... Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 10:15 pm