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Reform and Renewal - Quinn demands action as Rome burns * Updated x1 *

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*** UPDATE *** Quinn’s website is now up. Go check it out.

* Timing is everything. On the same day of Gov. Blagojevich’s annual megabucks fundraiser, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is demanding movement on a bill to end “pay to play” state contracts. From a press release…

With $25 billion in taxpayer funds at stake in the state’s proposed capital plan, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn on Thursday sent a public letter to Governor Rod R. Blagojevich asking him to call for an immediate vote in the Illinois Senate on House Bill 1, to outlaw pay-to-play state contracts in Illinois.

“The bill to end pay-to-play state contracts passed the Illinois House 116-0, and 46 out of 59 state senators have co-sponsored it as well,” Quinn said. “Before our state considers spending $25 billion in taxpayer funds on construction contracts, we need a tough new ethics law in place to make sure the people of Illinois get full value for their money.”

Quinn called on Governor Blagojevich to urge his legislative ally, Senate President Emil Jones, to call HB1 for an immediate vote by the members of the State Senate. If Jones refuses, Quinn said, Governor Blagojevich should institute the provisions of HB1 by executive order. […]

To demonstrate the widespread support for HB1, Quinn invited Illinois taxpayers to use his website, StandingUpForIllinois.org, to send an e-mail to Governor Blagojevich urging immediate passage of the bill. Quinn also unveiled a new feature on his website, — an animated cartoon showing vested interests being showered with billions of taxpayer dollars.

House Bill 1, introduced by State Rep. John A. Fritchey (D-Chicago), would require all bidders on state contracts of more than $10,000 to disclose any campaign contributions they have made to the elected official in charge of that contract. It also would prohibit any businesses holding more than $25,000 in state contracts from making campaign contributions to the officeholder in charge of those contracts.

* Meanwhile…

A state employee whom Gov. Blagojevich once outed as a subject of a federal probe into his administration’s hiring practices is now being promoted to a top job within the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Robin Staggers once was accused by a subordinate of creating “a culture of intimidation” within DCFS’ human resources department, according to an internal state report disclosed in January by the Associated Press.

But DCFS Acting Director Erwin McEwen said in a message Wednesday to the agency’s 3,000-plus employees that Staggers is being named chief of staff as part of a series of management changes.

* And…

A high-level official in an agency under Gov. Rod Blagojevich has resigned during a review of his ties to a company doing business with the state.
Mark Kolaz will leave his post as chief of staff for the Department of Central Management Services on Monday, Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said Wednesday.

Kolaz will take a private-sector job in a move that has been “planned for some time,” although he officially submitted his resignation Friday, Rausch said. She would not elaborate and said she did not know what the new job would be.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 9:33 am

Comments

The link to Quinn’s site is missing the www

Comment by Napoleon has left the building Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 9:51 am
And the Quinn press release may have been premature. There is no email button on there and there is no cartoon there either. Despite those gaps, he still got me to click on his site.

Comment by Napoleon has left the building Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 9:53 am
Way to jump on the bandwagon at the 11th hour

Comment by better late than never Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 9:59 am
In poiltbureau speak, Kolaz has been “de-selected.” Goodbye to one of the greatest public servants Illinois has ever known.

Comment by anon2 Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 10:08 am
Anon2 got it VERY right
Let’s prepare now for next year’s state fair to be a total disaster.
I’m betting Yokel & Dokel will be top headliners at the Grandstand
Hope the SpinSisters hae their “waiver file” up to date when every drops their FOIs.

Comment by GettingJonesed Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 10:15 am
How long has McEwen been “Acting.” A year? Is this normal. I suppose “actings” are more malleable regarding whatever political priorities the guv’s office may have for DCFS. Like Staggers’ elevation
to COS.

One hopes it works. Lately, we have had a string
of cases in the Chicago press about children who died (or almost died) despite being involved with the agency’s child protection division. Some of the details are pretty bad. Wonder how the newest version of DCFS is planning to fix things. It’s a little late to blame it on the Republicans.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 10:16 am
hey anon 2 and GJ: Kolaz hasn’t run the fair for a couple of years and it has been well managed by Ag and DNR personnel…what’s the big deal?

Comment by irked irene Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 10:32 am
With regards to Quinn’s release it brings to mind the following quote by Ronald Reagan:

“It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.”

- Ronald Reagan

Comment by TMH Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 11:03 am
Well, I guess it’s all the media’s fault.

They find out that a high-level Blago executive also owns a company that is getting a hefty state contract and they actually REPORT on it.

Jeez. What next. Maybe we need a gag rule. Oh wait, the Bush administration is already working on that.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 11:44 am
hey rich, Quinn has the “pay to play” clip and email up on the website now you gotta link it again…its hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 11:47 am
AND DONT FORGET TO TURN THE AUDIO UP!!!!!!!!

Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 11:51 am
What on Earth is wrong with DHS? Are the inmates running the asylum? It sure looks like that.

I’m sure Kolaz was a good guy at CMS, but the Modern Mailing contracts sure look fishy.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 11:59 am
…Goodbye to one of the greatest public servants Illinois has ever known…

Anon2 must be one of Kolaz’ partners at the mail and messenger business. What did Kolaz do that was so noble? He illigally enriched himself and his business partners due solely to his position of responsibility. He also tried to shoehorn relatives into jobs they are not qualified for. The union put a stop to some of that.

Yep, Kolaz is the epiome of Blagojevich ethics.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 12:09 pm
Kolaz one of the good guys - Huh? In my opinion, anyone who steals from family (you can’t tell me that he didn’t know his accounts were growing with over a million dollars) would not hesitate to steal from anyone.

Comment by Herself Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 12:17 pm
Cassandra your comment created a coffee nose misdirection due to uncontrolled laughter. I have contacted an attorney to see if I can sue for the burns to my nasal cavitity.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 12:47 pm
For whatever it’s worth, Kolaz really was planning to leave the administration anyway - he DID have it planned before the Modern Mailing story. . . but of course people find that hard to believe now. . .

Comment by Col. Kurtz Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 1:44 pm
And Blagojevich is the supreme emperor.
Nothing will ever change.
Get use to it!

Comment by It's ILLINOIS Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 1:47 pm
“It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.”
All you have to do is look at the inner workings of I.D.O.T. and the Illinois Tollway.
Judgement Day is coming!

Comment by I.D.O.T. Bleachers Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 1:52 pm
Corrupto Democrats and Republicans should be heartened by the news that Pat Fitzgerald is getting married. When the patter of little feet begins in the new Fitzgerald household, perhaps Pat will be lured away to what for him will likely be VERY lucrative possibilities in the private sector. Our loss. But not Blago’s loss. Sighs of relief all over, no doubt.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 2:03 pm
Herself, and others ragging on Kolaz: I’m no relation, never worked for him (or Blago), and never been in business with him–but know Mark to be a really decent guy. Unfortunately, most folks are quick to beleive the worst about anyone in government. Even more unfortunate, Kolaz works for Blagojevich, which makes him automatically highly suspect of being . . . ah. . . ethically challenged. But for the record, what I know of this guy, he is a class act, a tremendously hard worker, and the kind of guy that tries to do things right. Ask any political figure in or around Springfield–or Illinois, for that matter–and you’ll find practically all of them (as well as countless associations and like-groups) have for years (well before Kolaz had an interest) and still do use “Modern Mailing.” I’m not naive in the slightest, but in this one case (and it may be the ONLY case in the Blago administration) I truly believe Mark had nothing to do with steering the CMS business. I also know (for a FACT) that he’s been looking around for a job outside the administration for over a year. So, the lesson to learn here–sure, it’s wise to be skeptical, but sometimes. . . rarely, but sometimes, where there’s smoke there’s no fire. Just smoke. Kolaz most egregious fault is that he worked for Blago. He’s correcting that. Best to him wherever he ends up!

Comment by Ivote Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 2:05 pm
Kolaz obviously has his issues, but he’s a smart, capable guy.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 2:09 pm
Oh! I’m sorry, Quinn was told to do this for affect!

Comment by Sasha Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 3:19 pm
I too wish Mr Kolaz the best but if he owned that mailing company and steered business to it he should leave and pay up, com on springfield whats wrong is wrong no matter who is involved youve got to quit thinking that since its one of us its ok, its not an it is wrong

Comment by Anon Again Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 4:25 pm
Quinn is and always has been a spineless weenie.

Comment by Flounder Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 7:03 pm
C’mon, children, read the news before you blog on it. Mark Kolaz was not accused of “steering” any state business to the mailing company. The issue was completely unrelated to that.

I don’t understand why he just didn’t apply for the waiver. A number of “political” folks or their spouses have had to get them and you would think that the Blago folks would have signed off on it.

In any case, good luck to Mark in your future endeavors.

Comment by Hypocrisy Police Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 9:07 pm
Quinn took Blago’s dirty money to get re-elected and THEN spoke up. Courage.

Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 18, 07 @ 10:52 pm
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn just woke up from a 5 year long nap.
Illinois’s advice is go back to sleep. You’re a loser.

Comment by B.T. Friday, Oct 19, 07 @ 7:36 am
hey flounder, quinn has spoken up against the governor many times and it has cost him…a spineless person would be NOT speaking up against your running mate when you disagree

Comment by to flounder Friday, Oct 19, 07 @ 7:43 am
Quinn has spoken up when Blagojevich tells him too. Everything the Blagojevich administration does, is well choreographed.
It’s all an illusion to make the people of Illinois feel warm and fuzzy.

Comment by Flounder Friday, Oct 19, 07 @ 8:24 am
Quinn was never Blago’s “running mate”. They are more like a very bad date.

Comment by Pollster Friday, Oct 19, 07 @ 8:28 am
Hypocrisy police do the feds investigate a family feud i think thats what this is but they do look into state contracts and one thing we all might have over looked did they pay income tax on this $1.3 million, bet not

Comment by anon again Friday, Oct 19, 07 @ 8:36 am
If Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn is serious, you can contact Patrick Fitzgerald at the offices listed below.

United States Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division
219 S. Dearborn St., 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: (312) 353-5300

United States Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Illinos, Western Division
308 W. States St., Ste 300
Rockford, IL 61101
Phone: (815) 987-4444

And don’t forget Mr. Quinn to tell Mr. Fiztgerald ALL YOU KNOW.

Comment by Put Up or Shut Up Friday, Oct 19, 07 @ 8:45 am
Ending pay to play for the governor and state executives is fine. But I’m more worried about pay to play with the legislature. Let’s ban legislators from taking money from those who they regulate or dispense favors too through legislation.

If only Speaker Madigan and Senate President Jones are allowed to collect millions from special interests, then we will have given new meaning to the old maxim that no man’s life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session.

Comment by North by Northwest Friday, Oct 19, 07 @ 8:50 am