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Former Rock Island County Democratic Chairman Doug House has been hired by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker as deputy secretary of transportation. […]
House said his main responsibilities will be dealing with state and federal legislation and communications. […]
“I’ll be overseeing any legislation dealing with transportation issues,” House said. “And I’ll work to gain support for important legislation, including a capital bill. It’s a really exciting and important time to be coming on in that capacity.
House chaired the Democratic county chairs’ organization until shortly after the election. He played a significant role in Gov. Pritzker’s campaign, and helped build up local party operations. Doing legislation and communications means he’ll have more of a political role at IDOT, so he should be fine.
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Springfield Ward 5 Ald. ANDREW PROCTOR won a second four-year term on the City Council on April 2, but eight days later, he lost his state job as chief legislative liaison for the Illinois Department of Labor.
The $80,000-a-year position is at-will, Proctor is a Republican and new Gov. J.B. PRITZKER is a Democrat.
“It was somewhat expected,” Proctor said. “But then, being held on for so long, almost three months, it was kind of a surprise.”
In his position lobbying for the agency, Proctor had worked for passage of a bill the governor has now signed to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025.
“I think it was needed,” Proctor said. “And I’m glad there were some tax breaks for businesses.” He said he was “happy to work on it,” and he and others at the department also have been working on other things for the governor’s office.
Proctor is a former advocacy director for the Illinois Chamber (that TrackBill program I’m involved with is a direct result of his time at the Chamber), and he had some labor support during his aldermanic reelection campaign.
By all accounts he did fine at IDOL under Pritzker, but having Bruce Rauner’s Labor liaison on staff rubbed some folks the wrong way. It wasn’t an ideal look.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:41 am
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A pro minimum wage Republican that has labor support (meaning he wasn’t rabidly antilabor). It’s too bad Pritzker didn’t keep him in some position.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:46 am
–By all accounts he did fine at IDOL under Pritzker–
Liaison phone # would literally go unanswered. Ring, ring, ring, ring - no voice mail, no assistant to answer. Ring, die… Emails unanswered.
Comment by King Louis XVI Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:54 am
Kudos to JB for doing right by House. He’s been in the public sector transportation sector for 30 years. He’ll do great and maybe bring some municipal level responsiveness to an agency which could definitely use it.
Comment by FarandWide Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:55 am
While I’m a partisan Dem, I like Proctor a lot.
But, y’know, this is the way it goes. The Gov has a right to get his people in place, especially working on flashpoint issues like labor.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:01 am
==Liaison phone # would literally go unanswered. Ring, ring, ring, ring - no voice mail, no assistant to answer. Ring, die… Emails unanswered.==
Considering Rauner’s feelings on Labor, silence was probably preferable to what they’d actually have to say.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:01 am
What sort of pension plan does the Democratic County Chairs Association offer?
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:06 am
Maybe some of the howling we’ve been hearing here from some obviously frustrated Dems waiting on jobs in the administration will calm down.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:22 am
===Bruce Rauner’s Labor liaison on staff rubbed some folks the wrong way. It wasn’t an ideal look.===
Vae victus.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:30 am
Any truth to the rumor it’s Sam Cahnman’s job to lose?
Comment by Leon Durham Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:32 am
“having Bruce Rauner’s Labor liaison on staff rubbed some folks the wrong way”
Which begs the question as to why there are still, what?, half a dozen Rauner liaisons still lingering on staff.
Wendy Butler?
Bueller? Bueller?
Comment by Josh Lyman Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:47 am
Leon- You’re a savage. lol
Comment by Les Nesman Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:47 am
Ds should be wishing Proctor well because he has kept Sam Cahnman out of office TWICE and for a GOPie he is not a bad guy.
House is a great pick at IDOT
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 10:48 am
==Which begs the question as to why there are still, what?, half a dozen Rauner liaisons still lingering on staff.==
Perhaps at other agencies, “folks” aren’t rubbed the wrong way enough to fire someone who actually is serving the Governor well and without a replacement ready. Or perhaps they are yet additional examples of the admin’s inability over the past 6 months (longer than that really) to fill key positions.
Also that’s not what begging the question means.
Comment by The Big Salad Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:09 am
I get not wanting a Republican as a liaison at Labor. Heck even Proctor knew he was a short timer. But, the Governor would do well to find a sitting Alderman in Springfield a job. Especially someone like Proctor who knows government and is not a partisan hack.
Comment by Nagidam Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:13 am
Busy day in transportation the tollway just hired Jose Alvarez as the new ED. Rahm guy from CHA is the COO
Comment by Hard D Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:22 am
@The Big Salad
“Also that’s not what begging the question means.”
Um… not to quibble, but:
“1. (of a fact or action) raise a question or point that has not been dealt with; invite an obvious question.”
Comment by Josh Lyman Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:24 am
Congrats to Doug on getting a patronage job.
Comment by Stagman Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:37 am
-Maybe some of the howling we’ve been hearing here from some obviously frustrated Dems waiting on jobs in the administration will calm down.-
What because ONE Raunerite was removed? Seriously?
There are very senior Raunerites in senior positions at agencies TOTALLY central to the agenda items Gov. Pritzker has set forth.
This is not just whining, jealousy or vendettas.
This is justifiable concern that either
Gov. Pritzker is unable to manage his personnel to manage those lower down. (already evidenced by the discrimination lawsuit) Inattention is not a good look and is infuriating to his fans and followers who want to serve.
OR
More frightening to me, that those Raunerites have been left in power and position
Intentionally
for a purpose
Which I can absolutely guarantee
is not going to be popular with DEMS
If they knew what the real function of those individuals is.
I am convinced that
perfidy is afoot
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 11:56 am
House is a great choice and as a 150 guy I guess those trying to gin up a problem between the powerful union and JB should lose some steam after this wise choice. Great for J.B., Illinois & 150!
Comment by City Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 12:28 pm
–Or perhaps they are yet additional examples of the admin’s inability over the past 6 months (longer than that really) to fill key positions.–
Or you working on a modified Mayan calendar or something?
Pritzker took office on Jan. 14, a little more than three months ago.
What key positions in the administration was he supposed to be filling more than six months ago — before the election even?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 12:55 pm
If you want to know one of the reasons hiring is so slow, it’s thanks to Rauner’s January 7 going away present for JB via the Federal Court.
Comment by Original Rambler Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 1:16 pm
So House gets hired as Assistant Secretary of Transportation. What about the other 16 bureau chief and above positions that are vacant? The vacancies have left IDOT with a serious leadership vacuum.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 1:31 pm
Original Rambler- No that absolutely didn’t hamper JB from making hires OR more importantly retaining and repositioning key Raunerites.
The fact remains that Rauner had his people. Almost all his people in place the week after Thanksgiving.
I can only surmise that this is either
gross incompetence
or
intentional perfidy
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:19 pm
Proctor is not a Raunerite by any measure of the imagination. Further on in the sampled column…
= Interestingly, Proctor got significant union support during his recent aldermanic campaign, including receiving $2,500 from the Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, and $1,500 from Laborers’ Local 477. =
Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:52 pm
==What key positions in the administration was he supposed to be filling more than six months ago — before the election even?==
I guess I mistakenly assumed that a campaign with unlimited funding and consistently up 20 in the polls wouldn’t wait until election day, let alone inauguration day, to begin prep for appointments to key positions.
Maybe some of that East Jackson Cash could have been spread out a little more to attract top talent (or…anyone) to some of these other positions.
Comment by The Big Salad Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:59 pm
HB, I agree that the failure of JB to have his hires ready to go from day one is puzzling. I can also state that the days of the governor being able to appoint to exempt positions in an unfettered manner ended on 1/7.
Comment by Original Rambler Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 3:17 pm
I get that what you’re saying and would agree if appointment were the ONLY method of putting someone into place. There is a hiring process it can be cumbersome and in some cases can take a while…..AND that in a lot of cases I know
is just now starting.
Also
There is a BLATANT disregard and frankly disrespect
of anyone within state government
who survived the Rauner horror
and would be a great fit, qualified
with institutional knowledge.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 3:40 pm
This is an excellent fit for Doug. I wish him all the best (banned punctuation)
Comment by Proud Sucker Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 5:09 pm
Proctor? The guy that sat in Department of Labor staff meetings with other Illinois Policy Institute minions and tried to undermine the Prevailing Wage Act while workers were cheated out of money? Yeah he is not a nice guy.
Comment by Gotta say it Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 5:38 pm
Not every republican is a Raunerite, readers of this blog know that
Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 9:16 am
–Not every republican is a Raunerite, readers of this blog know that–
Not anymore. He burned every bridge during his term with his lies and backstabbing.
The problem was those who stuck with him when he was willfully doing all that damage to extort obeisance to his personal agenda.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 9:24 am
Proctor has no underling ideology other than GREEN. He advocated Rauner’s anti-labor agenda when paid to do so. He voted how labor told him on the City Council to get their campaign contributions, as revealed in the SJ-R article. Hard to trust him. Good move by JB to get rid of him
Comment by Traditionlist Friday, Apr 19, 19 @ 10:05 am