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They’ll get letters…

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Illinois

Another PR offense on the way.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY’-uh-vitch) is turning to state employees again to generate publicity for his policies.

His administration is asking top staffers at the Department of Central Management Services to recruit friends and relatives to write to newspapers in support of Blagojevich’s new plan to fund education. […]

The e-mail includes sample letters and tells recipients to report to the C-M-S director on their progress. Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch says the effort is voluntary.

Blagojevich last month ordered state agencies to vigorously promote his cut-rate prescription-drug program.

This was the AP version of Bernie Schoenburg’s SJ-R column today.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 3:17 pm

Comments

Is that an appropriate use of CMS employee’s time?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 4:25 pm
it is not an appropriate use of state employee’s time…ethics, shmethics…

Comment by Mongo Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 4:37 pm
This is phase two Rich. Some agencies issued “press releases” two weeks ago. Read this from the Board of Higher Education for a good laugh, talk about being scared of their own shadows:

“IBHE Supports Better Schools Plan” - oooh what a bold statement
http://www.ibhe.state.il.us/Media%20Center/2005/HTM/0401_support.htm

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 4:49 pm
At the very least, this is a great way to determine who’s with ya and who ain’t holding up to their end of the patronage bargain.

That being said, a lot of state jobs are positions that spend money - or determine how tax dollars are wasted. And, since it’s all being spent on contractors who come with ‘ideas’, this probably gives these state hacks something to do besides reading the Capitol Fax blog.

Thank God I don’t have any worthwhile connections.

Oh, and the ethics concern… Blago is WAY over his head. But, the GOP or ANY state politician in Illinois for that matter, ain’t gonna convince me that they are ethical.

As Blago should have learned by now, “Better check the bedrock before you climb on that pedestal.”

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 4:53 pm
So will the guv’s office get an efficiency initiative billing from CMS for propoganda consolidation?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 4:57 pm
Folks, those tax-funded state employees are just getting warmed-up.

Supposedly the governor’s next two astro-turf campaigns are the “Convince taxpayers there is not a budget defiict problem” followed by yeoman’s effort to implement “The Earth is Flat” campaign…

I’d like to know who’s writing the surrogate letters for those coerced into submitting them…on who’s dime? Rod’s PAC or the taxes I pay to the state?

Comment by Tom DeLay's Mom Thursday, Apr 14, 05 @ 10:25 pm
This sounds illegal or at least unethical to me.

Maybe Rod can do an executive order stating that devout religious people MUST support him despite their consciences.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 12:30 am
…if you voted for Bush, and you are bashing the Governor based on these allegations, you fall somewhere between hypocritical and delusional.

Comment by BuckTurgidson Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 11:11 am
Well, Buck, I’m proud to say I voted against Bush twice…guess that makes me neither hypocritical nor delusional.

I voted against Bush for many of the same reasons I’m considering voting against Blagojevich in 2006.

And - for the record - I voted FOR Blagojevich over Jim Ryan in 2002 (regreting that vote ever since)

Comment by Tom DeLay's Mom Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 2:23 pm
Maybe Rod can write a law to force Dick Mell to write letters to the Editor.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 5:39 pm
Maybe Rod can get senior citizens to write letters to the editor in favor of his education plan in exchange for free prescription drugs ?

Comment by Dirk Digler Friday, Apr 15, 05 @ 5:47 pm