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* Illinois among several states suing Bush to block SCHIP growth

* Illinois in bind on health care

In Illinois, the issue is hitting home this week: On Monday, a federal agreement allowing the state to enroll adults in SCHIP expired. Most of these adults are parents who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid — the government’s health program for the very poor — but too little to buy insurance on their own or through employers.

Illinois has been more aggressive than any other state in signing up low-income parents for SCHIP. The program has become a crucial component of Family Care, Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s initiative to extend medical care to needy families. But this arrangement, which has pulled extra federal funds into the state, doesn’t look like it will continue.

* Rep. Rush’s son fired in IL prison sex scandal

Disclosure of Jeffrey Rush’s termination is prompting a call for Blagojevich to explain the circumstances behind his hiring. Federal authorities have been investigating Blagojevich’s hiring practices since 2005.

“This is unacceptable, especially in a position like this. Any time you’re dealing with a public-trust position or a more sensitive position like the Department of Corrections, you have to have people with the highest integrity,” said Sen. John Millner (R-Carol Stream). “There should be an investigation into the hiring of this individual.”

The Corrections Department vetted Jeffrey Rush the same as other hires, Schnapp said. All prison employees undergo criminal background checks.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff confirmed Rep. Rush persuaded the administration to hire his son, who had “both law enforcement and supervisory experience.”

Ottenhoff said the governor’s office gave Rep. Rush “a courtesy call to notify him that Jeffrey was being terminated” after an internal Corrections Department probe yielded its findings.

* Editorial: Illinois River, it’s sink or swim time

* GPS plan has some officers griping

Every Chicago police officer could have their movements electronically tracked by global positioning systems if a program being tested in the Chicago Lawn District wins approval.

The program, which requires officers to wear department-issued GPS cell phones on their belts while on duty, is intended as an officer-safety measure, bosses say, but also could be used to discipline officers.

Many officers are unhappy at what they see as an excessive intrusion upon their freedom to do their job. They say they already carry too much equipment, and they worry overzealous supervisors will use evidence from the phones to hound them.

* When and Where to watch the Cubs v. Dbacks

posted by Paul Richardson
Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 9:05 am

Comments

The GPS system for cops seems like a great idea. It is a bit alarming to see them so opposed to having their whereabouts known. Things that make you go hmmmm

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 9:13 am
RE: Jeffrey Rush

Yet another fine story brought to you by the Blagojevich Administration.

RE: The GPS Phones

Maybe now they’ll spend more time patrolling areas that need it, rather than the Gold Coast and Wrigleyville.

Comment by Super Mega Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 9:19 am
Was Rush’s position Rutan exempt?

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 9:21 am
Had to love the smattering of loud boos when Blago took the stage at yesterday’s Cubs rally in Daley Plaza…and even more the huge cheers when Da Mayor suggested sending Lou down to Springfield to solve all of Blago’s problems. Finally, Wayne Messmer, the MC, threw in a funny line too. After Blago spoke, Messmer said after Blago leaves office, he his sure Blago has a bright future. The crowd laughed, with many thinking jail bars might be involved.

Comment by Niles Township Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 9:28 am
Of course, you would not HAVE prison sex scandals if you could limit prison workers and guards to those of the same sex.

Yet another problem caused by rampant feminism. And, of course, poor women pay the price.

Comment by Pat collins Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 9:41 am
What are his qualifications for the job? How did Rush land the job, degree’s, expereince?

Could Cassandra be right, there is patronage?

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 9:42 am
Good point, OneMan.

But I thought those occupying Rutan-exempt positions worked at the pleasure of the guv, meaning they could be let go at any time. If Rush was Rutan-exempt, wonder how long it took the guv’s office to approve his discharge after these allegations were made and determined not to be frivolous. Quite a while, I would guess. Time is money for the employee, after all. Blago is always about the corruption of the civil service, as are most Illinois politicians.

Remember the fire chief who drove drunk in a state vehicle. I think he got a couple of week suspension and only after his trial. Another political appointment who got the minimum punishment for bad–not just bad, criminal—behavior under the Dems, even though they could have simply got rid of him if he was Rutan-exempt. Or even if he wasn’t. Driving drunk in the state car should be a fireable offense–but not under Blago, I guess. Guy must have a lotta clout.

State employees–patronage, civil service, union ….under Blago and the Dems, you can’t get rid of them no way no how.

That’s why the GPS is such a great idea, especially for those who spend their work days in the “field.” It might be harder to explain state employee afternoons drinking, shopping, or doing campaign work against a GPS printout. But many will try, no doubt.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 9:52 am
I think the more interesting story is the Federal government sueing the state of Illinois for Blagojevich signing an executive order in the middle of the night barring employers from checking the immigration status of possible employees.
The legal citizens of Illinois should be outraged that we are going to pay the court expenses for this boneheaded move by Blago.
And shame on the press for not staying on this story.

Comment by Lula May Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 10:18 am
The story on the Illinois River was also an interesting tale of style over substance when it comes to the Governor’s leadership. If I recall he filmed a campaign commercial in Peoria, again claiming to be concerned about downstate issues and economic development. Maybe the folks putting on the conference could connect the urgency of the river’s needs to health care. Those are the only two syllables on the Governor’s talking points these days. Maybe if there were some proposed rules on cleaning up the River before JCAR the Governor would be slightly more interested in showing leadership.

Since we’re getting close to Christmas, I suggest the folks planning the conference chip in some money and buy the Governor one of those “Sit and Spin” toys. It would be an appropriate symbol of his commitment to downstate.

Comment by DC Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 10:29 am
And isn’t it a CRIME to have sex with inmates? Something about abusing authority?

Comment by Pat collins Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 10:46 am
OneMan, they give his job title, but that may not be his payroll title. He could be a PSA or SPSA. His job title does not show up on the official payroll list of titles http://www.cms.illinois.gov/cms/2_servicese_per/search.asp but it is not uncommon for a job title to differ from a payroll title. I could not find either at CMS or the Civil Service Commission a list of rutan exempt positions. As Assistant to security I would wager he is a PSA, and not rutan exempt. Also, while the State can attempt to label a position as Rutan exempt (a refernce to the Supreme Court Rutan case), this does not make it Rutan exempt per se. Rutan prohibits infringing on freedom of association by making jobs dependent upon supporting a political party. There is an exception for certain high level policy making positions. The question of whetehr political patronage is allowed turns on the law, not the label applied by the State. I highly doubt and assitant security supervisor at a facility with 128 people is a policymaker.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 10:47 am
It would be interesting to see a list of all relatives of legislators currently holding high dollar state jobs. Put Jones at the top of the list…

Comment by Sharky Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 10:51 am
Pat collins - you’re kidding about the same-sex issue, right?

Comment by Ken in Aurora Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 11:59 am
No, I am not. And I meant less between GUARDS and inmates. Not between inmates I also think not as much is being done to prevent that as could be.

Comment by Pat Collins Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 12:24 pm
For Pat Collins:

From the bureau of Justice Statistics, July 2005, NCJ 210333 Sexual Violence Reported by Correctional Authorities, 2004

In state prisons, 69% of Victims were male, 67% of perpetrators were female. Of note, 2% were same gender, so a single gender solution would is not complete. But, if you fired all women DOC employees from male prisons, allowing them to work at only all female facilities, you would be disenfranchising a lot of women.

More importantly, if you have only female employees ate a female facility, who handles Males who need to be security screened etc.

Setting aside that the greates problem with employee inmate sexual misconduct is caused by women, perhaps a better system is one that does not discrminate against individuals based on gender, but instead lets the quality of each persons character control.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 12:38 pm
Adeline Geo-Karis was an advocate of same sex guards in the IL. prisons. Most of these women have been abused by men all of their lives and they don’t know how to set boundaries.

There is no excuse for the type of behavior this guard is accused of.

As far as whether female guards in female prisons reduces abuse, I don’t know. What do other states do?

Comment by Shelbyville Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 2:37 pm
well there you have it…yet another political hack getting in trouble & losing his job. it’s true they screen these folks before being hired or accepted into DOc but somehow they maybe used the short form on this guy. qualifications?…wait a minute ….i’m sorry this is the Blago admin. there is simply too much of this type activity in DOC & noticably increased over the past several years. there’s one joint alone more than 20 have lost jobs since 2000 & scores others walked outfor other violations. something needs to done…..but by whom??

Comment by annon Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 7:33 pm
I just hope Jeffrey Rush can find some kind of temporary sanity in this…..conundrum…on his hands.

Comment by Frank Sobotka Tuesday, Oct 2, 07 @ 10:50 pm