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* The administration was doing so well today. No slip-ups, and some praise for the ‘deadbeat’ parent program. Then I came across this little diddy:
The Illinois auditor general says the state Public Health Department overpaid seven grants for stem-cell research by $863,000.
Auditor William Holland claims that more than half of the grants given by the administration were for more than originally agreed. Additionally, He says Public Health officials have no documentation explaining the overpayment.
The seven grants were supposed to amount to about $6.4 million. Instead, the recipients got $7.3 million. It gets better:
Holland also says there’s nothing to indicate the method used to determine how much Public Health would pay toward the governor’s failed court defense of restrictions on violent video games.
Public Health paid 14 percent of the total bill, plus some attorney fees. Administration spokeswomen haven’t returned calls for comment.
* In 2005 the governor made the controversial move of inserting millions of dollars into the state budget for stem cell research without telling lawmakers in advance.
Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold says that the state doesn’t currently have a budget for stem cell research, but doesn’t know what the next year could bring. Arnold and a spokesman for state Auditor General Bill Holland’s office both agree that the appearance of being over budget is a paperwork error:
“It is simply a difference in documentation,” Arnold said.
For lawmakers’ part, they’ve in past years considered various proposals concerning stem cell research, but Blagojevich moved largely on his own to begin awarding grants for such work.
That doesn’t sit well with some.
“Taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for private medical research,” said Dave Smith, director of the Illinois Family Institute.
* It’s a shame too, I had my fingers crossed that we could go 24 hours.
posted by Kevin Fanning
Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 11:43 am
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DPH never wrote any rules for the program and if I’m not mistaken claimed they weren’t necessary. Where have we heard that before?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 11:50 am
Let me get this straight…
1) someone unknown in IL govt overpaid $863,000 for stem cell research that was never authorized by the legislature and we have NO record of why/where/who?
2) someone unknown om IL govt sent $1 million to the wrong place/person/school instead of going to the church that burned down?
3) there are some IL State Police districts that do NOT patrol 24 hours due to insufficient manpower?
4) we are inching closer to tax increases in IL…
Does anyone else think that there is something seriously wrong with how & where these people are throwing our tax $$$ around?
Comment by North of I-80 Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 11:58 am
Kevin, you are young and apparently still a bit idealistic. Unfortunately, Gov. Sleazy will surely destroy that idealism even as he plays havoc to the rest of the state until such time as either Patrick Fitzgerald nails him in court or our General Assembly impeaches him.
Comment by fedup dem Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 12:12 pm
Its nice to know that the state keep track of it’s funds so well, isn’t it? I am sure all of my fellow tax payers will be resting easy.
Comment by RMW Stanford Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 12:23 pm
I would also like to know who in the state had the credentials to select the best possible candidates for the money. This is cutting edge science.
How about a public list of the proposals that were funded and who selected the winners?
Does anyone else smell bacon?
Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 12:37 pm
To plutocrato3:
I am going to make a wild guess here and say that the smell of bacon is probably right or the smell of trying to grab votes by backing something that might be politically popular.
Comment by RMW Stanford Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 12:43 pm
The Department of Public Health as slush fund?
The report states that IDPH awarded $159 million in grants with no “written procedures established to guide its administration of the awards and grants programs tested.”
Furthermore,
” The Department did not ensure it adequately monitored and reviewed programmatic and financial reports for 47 of 157 (29.9%) grants tested totaling $47,149,085. The Department did not follow up on missing reports, nor did the files contain documentation of any other monitoring activities. Auditors noted one grant where a $14,000 refund was due from the grantee but the Department did not seek collection.”
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 12:49 pm
As opposed to a few uncovered screw-ups, I suspect this is part and parcel of the general starving and dumbing-down of state government, removing professionals from and putting unqualified and indifferent people into jobs that matter. The true extent of this would be scary.
Comment by Sir Reel Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 1:31 pm
You know how to tell if Blago is making a blunder? His lips are moving.
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 1:48 pm
A governor sets the tone for their administration. Blagojevich is no exception. The fact that these kinds of expensive errors are occuring reflects directly on Rod Blagojevich.
No paperwork? Nothing written down? Our money just being wasted? These are not isolated errors. This is a pattern of expensive recklessness that would be prosecuted if uncovered within private industry.
When we refuse to hold Blagojevich accountable for his mistakes, we set ourselves up for even more disasterous ones.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 3:02 pm
One might call Springfield a FUBAR Chinese Fire Drill, but the Chinese would feel insulted. Rightly so, I might add.
Now aren’t we all glad we have a veto proof Democrat legislature which exercises no control over a Democrat Governor who the living example of the Peter Principle
Comment by Truthful James Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 3:10 pm
—a FUBAR Chinese Fire Drill—
That’s awesome, I’m gonna have to use that sometime.
Comment by Kevin Fanning Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 3:20 pm
Our gov should not have the authority to dispurse millions without it being an emergency. Bring on Con Con.
Comment by Hickory Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 4:11 pm
How many millions of $ must be wasted, how many laws must be broken, how much B.S. must we put up with before impeachment is justified?
Comment by TimB Wednesday, Mar 26, 08 @ 8:50 pm
Truthful James, don’t blame Springfield. Remeber The Gov works from Chicago, the “Spin Sisters” said so.
Comment by Dan S, a Voter Thursday, Mar 27, 08 @ 7:06 am
Fedup Dem — Let’s remember the words of Rich — take it easy on Kevin!!
He’s doing all of us Capfaxblog addicts a favor by sticking with us during the spring break!
I’m sure you didn’t mean it, but the tone sounded kinda condescending.
You’re doing a great job Kevin!!!!!!!
Thank you for keeping the blog going & good find on the DPH blunder. (Rich should give you a raise!!)
:)
Comment by dupage progressive Thursday, Mar 27, 08 @ 11:05 am