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* After Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad invited her boss, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, to speak in front of her fellow commissioners of a panel on Discrimination and Hate Crimes several of its members resigned citing disparaging remarks that were made about Jews and gays.
Lonnie Nasatir, one of the former commissioners recently said “It’s difficult for me to see how you could be eradicating hate when your primary boss is the one that spews it out.”
So after the controversy lawmakers decided to create a new version of the Governor’s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes, designed to promote tolerance within the state’s diverse population. The problem is seven months later Gov. Blagojevich hasn’t appointed a single person to the overhauled commission, and it will fail to accomplish its first major goal, presenting a report by March 30.
* What’s even more striking is that the old version of the commission hasn’t met in two years, but its executive director, Kimberly M. White, continues to draw her $96,000 annual salary.
The administration wouldn’t explain why the governor hasn’t named anyone to the commission but did say they are reviewing candidates recommended by the state.
Spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff also said the Democratic governor is following through on his promise to hold private discussions meant to help bridge the state’s racial and religious differences, although she would provide no details.
“The issues won’t be resolved overnight, but the governor is focused on maintaining dialogue and doing what he can as the chief executive of the state to foster diversity and support people who have traditionally been left behind,” she said in a statement.
Sen. Ira Silverstein, who sponsored the original legislation to establish the new commission, had the following to say:
“There’s plenty of competent people in the state of Illinois that could serve on this commission. It’s something, unfortunately, in society that we have to deal with.”
posted by Kevin Fanning
Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 10:07 am
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Rich,
Was it reported that Tony Rezko was the Sisters sponser for the commission ? Another example of his influence with this administration ?
Comment by Maggie Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 10:13 am
Further examples of Rod’s ignorance. Rod’s more focused on keeping his butt out of prison.
Comment by Cash is King in Illinois Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 10:18 am
The Governor’s failure to appoint members to this commission is, unfortunately, typical for this lazy Governor. If an interested legislator or media outlet were to check on the hundreds of advisory committees, commissions and boards in the state, it would become evident that there are hundreds of appointments that are required by law but not made. I know at least one — and I’ll bet there are many many more — to which no one–not a single person–has been appointed since Blago became Governor. When it someone going to call this guy on failure to do his job???
Comment by Ivote Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 10:20 am
How can the State justify paying someone almost a hundred thousand dollars to oversee a commission that hasn’t met in two years? Who’s her political sponsor?
Comment by ChampaignDweller Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 10:23 am
Maggie, Rich is on vacation, but there was this post a few weeks ago about the governor offering to help a supportive rabbi on the commission with state money to help finance a community center that he wanted to build, and then stiffed him on it. It adds nice context to the story.
https://capitolfax.com/2008/03/12/broken-promises-plus-old-news-at-rezko-trial/
Comment by Kevin Fanning Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 10:24 am
is’nt it obvious, Tony Rezko is too busy to make recommendations/appointments to this commission.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 10:39 am
this is the real story === What’s even more striking is that the old version of the commission hasn’t met in two years, but its executive director, Kimberly M. White, continues to draw her $96,000 annual salary. ====
100k for a ghost payroller.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 10:47 am
All these commissions are political sops. The fact anyone is paid anything to “administer” them is a boondoggle. We have a legislature to enact laws, an executive branch to carry out and enforce and a judiciary to interpret and adjudicate.
I’ve never understood Hate Crimes, either. It’s a crime to hit someone in the head with a hammer. It’s a worse crime to hit someone in the head with a hammer because you don’t like them? Is that equal protection under the law?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 10:53 am
Ghost, a ghost payroller is someone who gets paid but doesn’t even report for work. The news accounts seem to indicate that Ms. White may be dutifully coming to work, but has nothing of value to do. (Anyone know where I can get a job like that?)
Seriously, the Governor’s clear and continued failure to perform his statutory duties is certainly grounds for initiating Impeachment hearings against him. The general Assembly should not have to wait for Patrick Fitzgerald to clean up this mess for the peopl of Illinois!
Comment by fedup dem Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 11:31 am
To all of you who say, why are we paying Ms. White $100K/year for a non-existent commission, I say she has a very demanding, difficult job. Imagine coming up with explanations of what you do all day when you don’t do anything? That’s demanding and difficult work!
Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 11:33 am
lol
Comment by Kevin Fanning Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 11:36 am
More evidence that his emperial highness, the governor, decides which laws he will follow and which ones he will ignore. Such arrogance should not be tolerated by the voters.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 12:01 pm
Lets stay focused.
A Commission seat is a political appointment for friends. The problem arose when we discovered that one of the political friends sitting on the Commission is from the Nation of Hate. It is a token NOI seat from a governor who enjoyed their support. The fact that it is hypocritical is secondary to the political need behind the appointment.
Blagojevich’s failure with the original Commission means that he and anyone offered a seat could be burned again. Blagojevich is expected to make appointments at a time when he is finding fewer friends.
The Commission is supposed to be cake for a successful governor. Unfortunately for Blagojevich it isn’t cake, and he isn’t successful.
So there.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 12:24 pm
Inept or incompetent - Which is it?
Comment by Leave a light on George Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 12:25 pm
empty boards or empty seats on boards is nothing new nor very surprising remember the gaming board and how long it had openings or the health facilities board?
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 12:30 pm
I’ll do Kim White’s job for $80,000 while keeping my current one. Saves the state 20% off the top and requires me to pay a larger tax bill which means more money to the state. I will also buy a new car to stimulate the economy. I can start tomorrow. Such a deal.
Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 2:34 pm
I’ll lowball zatoichi, I’ll do the job for $75,000, keep my current job, buy a car, and make campaign donations where appropriate. LOL
Comment by concerned voter Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 3:38 pm
This can all be cleared up in no time. The Goddess of Public Trust, Lisa Madigan, can see that a FOIA request for Ms. White’s timesheets is promptly responded to and you all can see exactly what she has been up to in the name of Hate and Discrimination Commissioning.
If you don’t like the answer, well, unfortunately, that’s something in society we have to deal with.
But, then again you could call Bill Holland…or better yet, Jesus Christ in a bad suit, Patrick J. Fitzgerald. He’ll find a Federal crime in there somewhere..hey, wait a minute, isn’t not doing squat for two years “theft of honest services?”
Comment by Fox Mulder Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 9:27 pm
Maybe her time sheets would reveal something but maybe not.
But more likely Ms. White is going to the office, going to meetings and conferences, doing something to pass the boring hours when she is on the state
clocks. Her salary, by the way, is more like $125,000 when you include pension credits and almost-free state employee health care plus other perks provided by Illinois taxpayers to state employees.
And thereby lies the problem with government employees, an expensive group. Most of them are doing something with their time, however unhurriedly or ineptly. But it is not necessarily work that needs to be done, or “work” that Illinois’ overburdened taxpayers should be paying for. State government should not be a sheltered workshop for those unemployable in the private sector and/or the politically connected looking for an easy gig.
Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 3:49 am
I don’t see the use for a Hate Crime Commission. If there is going to be one, though, Louis Farrakhan has no business addressing it whatsoever. He will never be a part of bridging racial differences in Illinois nor anywhere else.
Committees or Commissions like this Hate Crimes thing are often a sham. When they do work they are usually hijacked by someone with an agenda - like promoting Louis Farrakhan. And paying someone $96K per year for 2 years to direct one that is not even up and running only enforces people’s suspicion about these commissions.
Comment by Lyn Thursday, Mar 27, 08 @ 2:04 pm