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Quinn administration blasted for “alarming Nixonian” excess

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Illinois

* The State Journal-Register throws a much-needed jab at Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration for its recent excesses…

Unfortunately, his staff has began retaliating against those who criticize or ask questions about the administration’s decisions, an alarming, Nixonian display of pettiness. For example:

* The pattern started in June when the executive inspector general’s office went after two former parole agents who it believed leaked information to an Associated Press reporter who blew open the MGT-Push story. Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office found the inspector general’s conclusion that the whistleblowers weren’t truthful was baseless. Quinn’s office wouldn’t say whether someone in the governor’s office initiated the ethics complaint, but it certainly had the most interest in rooting out the identities of the now-retired whistleblowers who nearly cost Quinn his political career.

* At the end of June, the Belleville News Democrat began publishing an explosive series about how the Department of Human Services’ inspector general didn’t bother to investigate the deaths of physically and mentally disabled people who live outside state facilities, even after hospitals complained about their conditions. A DHS spokeswoman accused Belleville reporters of breaking state and federal privacy laws after they obtained private case files.

* Then last week, the Lee Enterprises Statehouse bureau reported the names of Department of Corrections inmates who are going to be moved out of state as a part of an interstate compact. That prompted a corrections official to write the reporter saying that if the names were disclosed, “the department will view your actions as attempting to promote disorder within the prison system.”

* And on Tuesday, the AP revealed that corrections officials ordered a “shakedown” of prison employees within minutes of union members from various state prisons holding a news conference to oppose Quinn’s shuttering of two prisons and two juvenile detention facilities because of safety concerns. The union said the unusual but legal searches of employees were a retaliation for the employees’ vocal opposition to Quinn’s plans, a charge denied by the governor’s office.

Perhaps these are coincidences and not an effort by the administration to clamp down on dissent and discourage those who would shed light on problems in state government from doing so.

But a pattern has emerged and a governor who is not shy about proclaiming his honesty, transparency and general goodness should be wary of it. Quinn should encourage his underlings to be more concerned about solving problems than burying them.

It’s also no coincidence that two of these cases involved inspectors general who abused or misused their powers of office. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, these tinhorn Barney Fife goofballs need to be reined in hard, legislatively if possible.

Either way, it’s time that the governor was pressed hard on these issues in public.

* Related…

* Voice of The Southern: Quinn — Gov. Transparency now Gov. Tough Guy?

* Bloomington Pantagraph: Quinn needs to be more transparent about prison plan

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 9:56 am

Comments

My understanding of State law is that you cannot divulge “confidential” information to the press, even if you’re a whistleblower. If you want whistleblower protection, it has to be to a manager or law enforcement. If these employees are giving confidential information to the press, then they’re breaking the law. Maybe the legislature needs to redefine protected activity by employees in divulging confidential information, but that makes it not so much confidential anymore.

Comment by Original Rambler Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 10:05 am
Seems mighty Orwellian to me. Much like State law which allows the recording of private individuals, but the recording of police is verboten.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 10:17 am
How long is it going to take the media to realize the retaliatory acts include closiures in Southern Illinois, and withholding pay raises from departments that nearly cost Quinn the election, undoubtedly with his implementation of bungled policy and social justice philosophy? Punishment, retribution, deterrence, incapacitation are all parts of the criminal justice system, which is for the convicted felons, not those who serve and protect justice.

Comment by Panopticon Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 10:20 am
“Quinn should encourage his underlings to be more concerned about solving problems than burying them.”

Nonsense. He should demand it or never use the word, “leader” in a sentence.

And to OR’s point, what is “confidential” about anything describe above?

Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 10:25 am
So, who is responsible for giving Quinn advice on these issues, both from a management perspective and a political perspective? Who is Quinn’s sounding board? It seems like that those people are not doing their jobs, or Quinn’s just not listening.

Comment by Foxfire Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 10:49 am
I’m going to go with “. . .Quinn’s just not listening.”

Comment by Way Way Down Here Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 10:56 am
“tinhorn Barney Fife goofballs” — perfect.

Rules and laws only work with reasonable enforcers. It’s never perfect.

Comment by walkinfool Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 10:57 am
Foxfire,

It is obvious to me that the guy who came in a couple of months ago to advise Quinn went on vacation this week somewhere without cell reception or internet access.

Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 11:00 am
I am considering filing an ethics complaint with DHS Office of the Inspector General regarding a DCFS investigator committing perjury under oath (obviously), which I can clearly prove based on transcripts of the investigator’s testimony about what they were allegedly told by a physician compared to the physician’s actual testimony that they never spoke with the investigator. I was preparing my complaint until this series of topics began, as well as a prior discussion.

I am wondering how real the possibility of retribution by the administration is if I do not make my complaint public, but limit the complaint to the DHS Office of the Inspector General?

Comment by StayFree75 Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 11:02 am
I think the guv would be in a lot of trouble if the media or AG’s office ever looked into the new computer system that DOC is forcing on its people. Junk, junk, junk … All brought on by the last failed MGT Push a few years back. That was blamed on the current computer system, but actually was caused by DOC and GOV honchos. That has now allowed them to push for a new Microsoft system that should make somebody high up plenty of cash.

Comment by HQ Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 11:28 am
I too love the sentence, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, these tinhorn Barney Fife goofballs need to be reined in hard, legislatively if possible.”

Comment by Just a Citizen Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 11:40 am
I don’t think so.

When Quinn uses the state police to cover up a break in at the Ill GOP headquarters, orders a fire bombing of the Illinois Policy Institute, conducts secret terror bombing of Kentucky civilians and actively obstructs justice, you can put “Nixonian” on it.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 12:43 pm
@ StayFree75 - Do what you think is right, but brace yourself. This administration is infested with Blago loyalists and Quinn functionaries who use retaliation (up to and including discharge) when an employee raises issues about unsafe and unethical behavior at the Director and Deputy Director levels of his agencies. Further, the OEIG has a policy of not investigating wrongdoing when laws outside of ethics rules are violated, including retaliatory discharge. Thus the OEIG policy effectively denies whistle blower protection for practically everyone. Finally, Attorney General Lisa Madigan defends and supports the perpetrators at the agencies, not the whistle blower. There are recent examples of cases at DCEO and IDOT.
At the rate the Quinn administration is going, it could turn out to be worse than Blago or Ryan.
If you want to do the right thing during the Quinn administration, I wish you the best. However be ready to spend heavily on your legal expenses against the IL Attorney General while you are unemployed.

Comment by Crime Fighter Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 1:07 pm
Thank you Crime Fighter, I appreciate it.

Comment by StayFree75 Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 1:22 pm
Crime Fighter and StayFree — Your posts demonstrate why people go to the press instead of keeping their concerns inside the fence. Going public can offer you a bit of protection; at least it means that they can’t get rid of our quietly once you speak out.

Comment by Friend of the First Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 2:36 pm
While disturbing, retaliation within the system and spying on people who might not support the administration’s goals is nothing new. I personally saw it done under more than one adminstration. “Anonymous surveys coded with secret id numbers hidden under the return mailing labels on the return envelopes was one popular method of identifying the troublemakers to management. There were others; it was almost SOP in some agencies … but it was usually done very quietly.

What’s most disturbing to me is how public all this is. If it is this public now when it used to be kept quiet, there almost has to be a huge pile of ’stuff’ under the rug.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 3:44 pm
Original Rambler,

When improprieties are turned over to the OEIG they cover them up. The OEIG will however investigate lower ranking people and hammer them. The OEIG is a joke. The news media is the only way to expose these people. They cover up misconduct when a politically connected person is involved. The OEIG is way too secretive.

When public safety is at stake or there is corruption involved a person has a constitutional right to go to the media. Especially when a person does his or her fiduciary duty and nothing is done with it.

Comment by Blah Blah Blah Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 5:11 pm
To original rambler ~ when it comes to the deaths of the disabled or anyone for that matter, I am all for disclosure at any cost. To cover it up using “confidental” is disgusting.

To Crime Fighter ~ YOUR RIGHT ON!

To the OIG ~ you need to be put independently under the Auditor General. You are more corrupt than any low life politicians!

To Rich ~ Many people thank you for keeping these issues in the lime light. THANK YOU.

Comment by sick and tired Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 5:18 pm
Crime Fighter, You speak from experience. You’re right on the money with your statement.

Comment by Blah Blah Blah Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 6:17 pm