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* 12:47 pm - House Speaker Michael Madigan just told reporters that he’s introduced a bill that will wipe out all Rod Blagojevich [and George Ryan] appointees to all state boards and commissions and state jobs. We’re talking hundreds and hundreds of people [actually, about 3,000 state employees and 90 boards and commissions] here.

Madigan said he was acting because he didn’t think Gov. Pat Quinn was moving fast enough on his fumigation pledge. More in a bit.

Madigan also said he would support an income tax increase as long as it doesn’t grow the size of government. Paying existing bills, he said, was the top priority.

* 1:19 pm - More…

House Speaker Michael Madigan says he has no objections from other top Democratic leaders to his idea to fire 3,000 state workers appointed and hired by two ex-governors.

Madigan says he’s discussed House Bill 4450 with Gov. Pat Quinn and Senate President John Cullerton. Madigan says Quinn did not object to the idea, and Cullerton favors it.

From the bill’s synopsis…

The designated officials and employees are (i) the heads, assistant heads, and deputy heads of executive State agencies who were nominated by the Governor between January 11, 1999 and January 29, 2009 for a position that requires the advice and consent of the Senate,

(ii) members of executive boards or commissions who were nominated by the Governor between those dates for a position that requires the advice and consent of the Senate,

(iii) employees of executive State agencies or executive boards or commissions, whose employment in a exempt position began between those dates,

(iv) employees of executive State agencies or executive boards or commissions, appointed to a term appointment between those dates, and

(v) any other official or employee who was nominated by the Governor between those dates for a position that requires the advice and consent of the Senate. Executive State agencies and executive boards or commissions are those of the executive branch not under the jurisdiction and control of the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, or Comptroller.

There’s a 60-day transition process in the bill.

Click here for a list of the agencies, boards and commissions impacted by this legislation.

More…

“I’m not satisfied by the pace of change, and I want to accelerate the pace of change,” Madigan told reporters.

[Let’s close this one out and move comments to a fresh post. Thanks.]

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:47 pm

Comments

Well the Speaker certainly is no shrinking violet. Fumigation on steroids, indeed!

Comment by A Citizen Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:53 pm
Madigan’s bill takes it back to Ryan appointees too, whoever is left anyway. He also said 3,000 give or take.

Comment by RobRoy Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:57 pm
Wow…..

I applaud Speaker Madigan for his effort in restoring integrity on these boards. I think it is the best move to wipe the slate clean and get new people or even the same people (as long as they vetted in regards to experience, etc.) in those positions.

Comment by South Side Pride Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:59 pm
Some cards are finally being played.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:00 pm
Wow,
So where do I send a resume for an appointment as a Republican to something

Comment by OneMan Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:01 pm
Good luck getting DeLeo to agree to let this bill out of Rules committee. He has run the Exec Appointments Commmittee for years and has many of his guys in these positions.

Comment by Tom Joad Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:03 pm
I applaud the effort, and at first glance consider this to be good legislation, but can’t help but feel like it’s a diversionary tactic from more meaningful reform efforts, the most important of which is the redistricting process.

Comment by The Doc Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:03 pm
I don’t agree with the Ryan part…doesn’t that just open up the ability for Dems to appoint more Dems?

Comment by Concerned Observer Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:05 pm
Kind of wondering how the 30 or so people fired by Governor Blagojevich and sued in court feel about this? Is turnabout fair play here?

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:05 pm
That means Carol Adams would go and she would take her chauffeur and personal assistant Teyonda Wirtz with her.

Under a different administrator (and why is this job called “Secretary” instead of “Director”?) DHS would hopefully return to a higher standard of professionalism, better training methods and exhibit greater responsibility in spending taxpayers’ dollars.

Comment by Marianne North Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:06 pm
So is the implication that everyone Rod appointed is corrupt? WOW!

Comment by wndycty Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:06 pm
Fitting quote from “Apollo 13″:

Gene Kranz: Let’s look at this thing from a… um, from a standpoint of status. What do we got on the spacecraft that’s good??

[long pause]

Sy Liebergot: I’ll get back to you, Gene.

Comment by Anonymous Coward Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:09 pm
As an appointee to a State Board (an unpaid position), I think it is nuts.

Since State Boards require a quorum of “seats” (instead of appointees) it is hard enough to get the state’s business done. As things stand we need most of our appointees to be present to barely have a quorum.

The regulatory process is slow enough as it is. This would only make it worse.

Comment by The Horse Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:10 pm
One good, solid flush and the air will freshen… til the next batch of hacks comes along (sooner or later)

Comment by You Go Boy Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:12 pm
It is the Governor’s responsibility! Either he does it or he doesn’t. So is there going to be a bill to override everything the legislature wants that they can’t get by asking? More so, this is a Constitutional Officer’s responsibility. So if the Secretary of State, Comptroller or Treasurer isn’t in agreement, they’ll just create a bill to override them? How childish. Make the public/people make the Officer responsible.

Comment by first hand Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:14 pm
VETO.

Comment by thursdays are cool Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:15 pm
Daddy is trying to make Quinn look bad, which makes Lisa look good.

Comment by aqui, alli, alla Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:17 pm
This is really just a shot fired across the bow of Pat Quinn to help in the upcoming reform commission fight. His best hope is that she becomes one of the Supremes because she will be formidable to say the least. Between her and her father, it is a devistating one-two punch.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:18 pm
Great news. Of course not all of these appointees are corrupt, but the operation of these boards has either been unsupervised, or intentionally designed to overreach with political influence. We need a refreshing change from the manner in which these boards operate, and there is no better way than to change membership. Take the U of I for example. That board has become micro-managing, and has inserted itself politically into university operations far beyond anything seen before. Just take a look at the answers of that institution in reply to Rose’s approps questions.

Comment by Chad Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:20 pm
The Madigan Machine is in full swing.

Comment by Boscobud Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:21 pm
get real. throwing the baby out with the bath water is never a good idea. Have a problem with corruption or overreaching … than relieve them. Otherwise lets move forward.

years of board & commission appointments span administrations for a purpose. Firing / Relieving all who have been appointed in the past 16 years just creates a clean slate for lisa and her dad to fill

Comment by The Horse Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:24 pm
This is a corruption buster that will help reduce the budget deficit by millions.

Comment by Joe the Barber Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:25 pm
The only problem is that it doesn’t go far enough. They also need to target Chief of Staffs and people in charge of Personnel/Human Resources. That’s where a lot of the true patronage bosses made their home.

Comment by Blah, blah, blah Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:26 pm
===They also need to target===

Check the synopsis. I think those people are in there.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:29 pm
I agree we need change, but we need to hold the Officer accountable to make the change. Starting bills like this is one is like child’s play/small threat. It’s either do what I say or else. It’s not always about what one person wants to see happen right away or else. The better thing to do would be to take it to the public. Already we are seeing the effects of one family possibly having way too much power!

Comment by first hand Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:30 pm
Chad, where could one find those answers to Rose’s approps quesions?

Comment by Illini Alum Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:30 pm
Blah, blah, blah

Read the bill. It covers all of them and more.

Essentially, every SPSA and quite a few PSAs will lose their jobs

Comment by ILPundit Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:32 pm
I get why he is doing this and agree in spirit, but dump 3,000 people in two months? The logistics of rehiring all those positions that need people in them makes my head hurt. Plus, as someone else mentioned, the work of many commissions would come to a screeching halt. I completely agree that Quinn should be moving faster on cleaning house, but there needs to be a happy medium between Quinn’s pace and Madigan’s. Let’s hope this is just a tool to get Quinn to reach that happy medium.

Comment by montrose Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:32 pm
The blanket inclusion of term and exempt positions could cut pretty deep into some agencies. A number of agencies could be effectively paralyzed while leadership down to the bureau level is sorted out. Yes, cleansing needs to be done, but this might be a bit too severe.

Comment by El Conquistador Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:33 pm
RICH

Help us out with this issue. The way I read it, the Gov. has the right to re-appoint any or all of the people affected by this proposal so long as they are approved by the Senate, when needed, is that correct?

Comment by MOON Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:33 pm
With state appointees, just as with any occupation, there are some good ones and some bad ones. Each appointee should be evaluated on his or her own individual merits. I understand the desire to wipe the slate clean but that is no more fair then it was when Blago fired the 35 on January 13, 2003.

Comment by One of the 35 Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:33 pm
This could actually increase the deficit since no one will be in charge of anything for a long time. Imagine how long it will take to fully vet and replace 3000 positions, many of which are supervisory. In the meantime, who runs the show? None of the interims will have any real authority.

I appreciate the sentiment, but this is surgery with a chainsaw.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:34 pm
Wow, Speaker Dadigan is not messing around with 2010.

:D

Comment by Anonymiss Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:37 pm
I notice the Illinois Arts Council isn’t listed…or did I miss it?

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:38 pm
If the Speaker really has the Governor and the Senate President aboard this really is a stunner. All I can say is, Wow!

“There’s a 60-day transition process in the bill”

Is this the period where people could plead their case. There has to be some good apples.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:38 pm
Chief of Staff and Personnel directors are usually Rutan Exempt - but I say we should go even further and get rid of all employees with excessive disciplinary action and all employees with bad evaluations.

Heck let just fire all the state employees. Tell them they have to switch jobs with the Wal-mart workers. Give the Wal-mart workers a chance to earn a good wage and get benefits and make the state employees see what real crap work is like!

Keep it coming baby!

Comment by sick Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:41 pm
and the Illinois Humanities Council. ’cause it’s not a board or commission but a council???

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:41 pm
I’m screwed. My employement didn’t begin between those two dates (iii), but my term appointment was renewed between those two dates (iv). So professional term appointments (iv), and yes there’s a few of us around, are fired, but professional double-exempt employees (iii), appointed but not a 4-year term, aren’t.

Comment by Sir Reel Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:42 pm
What is double-exempt? Is it like double secret probation at Animal House

Comment by Confused Citizen Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:49 pm
Who will run the show!You ask. The same people that’s been running it.The regular employees.Most of the appointed ones are golfing or out to lunch.

Comment by Mike an Ike Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:51 pm
This is disasterously bad public policy.

Regardless of reappointment ability, every board appointee and Rutan exempt hire in state government would have to have termination paperwork processed and filed. And reappointment paperwork (applications, CMS grading, EPARs, etc) re-completed, in under 60 days.

This legislation will essentially make firing and hiring the sole activity of state government agencies for two months minimum — and they probably still won’t be able to make it. Literally every available resource will be tasked to the effort.

This is the perfect example of policy driven by press strategy. It was bad enough when it was Blago’s strategy. It’s really disappointing to see the Speaker playing the same sick game.

Comment by ILPundit Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:53 pm
“Wow, Speaker Dadigan is not messing around with 2010.”

Maybe it is just me, but the default setting of attributing all every move by Madigan as designed to help Lisa is a getting to be a bit much. At the end of the day, he cares about his power, not Lisa’s. Her ambitions may be factoring into some decisions, but I think we need to take a deep breath on this blanket theory.

Comment by montrose Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:53 pm
This is truly a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater and a stupid waste of time.

This will effectively shut down government for an extended period of time. If I understand it correctly, state government will effectively be without executives and key HR staff until the Gov appoints them and the Senate confirms them. How long will that take? And remember that the people who know how to do the paperwork to make this happen won’t be there.

I’m disappointed in Madigan. I always thought of him as a chess player. This is the same as threatening to knock over all the pieces.

Comment by Objective Dem Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:55 pm
A waste. Folks will be rehired within the two months. Isn’t this simply to make Quinn accountable? If he rehires, they’re his appointees — not Blagojevich.

It’s election commercial fodder.

Disappointing, and a waste of state resources.

Comment by Macbeth Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:56 pm
PSA’s are not appointed to terms. Basically the way I read it is all SPSA’s, At Will and Dept directors, deputy Dir and Assist Directors/Assoc Directors.

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:01 pm
Believe it when it happens. The dome is filled with fodder for newsies but little or zero ACTION.

Comment by Yeah Riiiight Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:04 pm
Mr. Madigan does it again…he has changed the subject. His bill is now the “reform” piece of conversation on the news, and lo and behold Mikey gets his say who gets a number of those spots.

Comment by Niles Township Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:06 pm
Many of these appointees are a waste of state resources.

Comment by Jerry Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:07 pm
I don’t think this is throwing the baby out with the bathwater, nor would it slow down all the work of these bodies. Many Boards/Commissions include appointments from the Speaker, Senate President and both minority leaders. There would be enough people still in place to keep the ball rolling.

Comment by tubbfan Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:11 pm
Great idea. But why didn’t Quinn have the guts to do it himself. How many of these folks require legislative action to be fired. Don’t our fearless legislators have enough to do trying to figure out a budget. Now they will have to deal with a deluge of calls and campaign contributions from former Blago hires trying to keep their cushy state jobs.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:11 pm
madigan is usually crafty. this looks reckless.
he doesn’t want to accelerate the pace of change, he wants his daughter as governor. this is transparent. does LIsa have ex Blago people on her payroll?

Comment by Amy Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:12 pm
Kind of an extreme step just to get rid of Filan.

Comment by phocion Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:12 pm
Illini Alum: Check out the reporting in the News-Gazette from last week.

Comment by Chad Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:13 pm
Is it practical for Quinn to vet enough appointees to fill the positions?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:15 pm
It is about time. There may have been a few worth while appointees from the Blag administration, but I never had any dealings with any of them while I was in state government. If there are good ones swept out by this housecleaning, they can be re-hired.

Comment by Skirmisher Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:17 pm
If thats what it takes to giet rid of Mike stout i am in

Comment by Anon Again Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:17 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Quinn keep Filan. As dumb as that may seem.

Comment by Yeah Riiiight Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:17 pm
Confused: As I understand it, “double-exempt” means the position is exempt from Rutan protections for two reasons. One reason being that it’s a high-level policy-making position; I forget what the other reason is.

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:20 pm
I missed the statement about a 60 day transition, so it won’t shut down government as I projected.

I don’t think Boards and Commissions can or should take action if the Governor’s appointees are not present. There is a reason to have the checks and balances in many cases.

Comment by Objective Dem Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:26 pm
Quinn won’t vet every position. This is a quick — and effective — way to get rid of a select few. The rest will be rehired back.

It also offers cover, I assume. If everybody political is subjected to the rule, then no one political can claim the process was unfair.

Comment by Macbeth Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:27 pm
YEAH RIIIGHT

Filan is a gone. He will never be confirmed by the senate!

Comment by MOON Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:34 pm
=The rest will be rehired back.=

Do you really think so? If Quinn is serious about running for reelection, then replacing a lot of Rod’s appointees might be “political suicide”. Obviously some of these people will be brought back. But if Quinn is serious, he might have to replace a whole lot of them or he might have to reap the political consequences… This is unfortunate because a lot of good, qualified people are going to be hurt… not to mention, that’s around 3,000 people to add to the unemployed statistics….

Comment by TT Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:37 pm
I think Macbeth is right. It doesn’t mean they’ll all stay gone. They would probably have to go through some kind of process to justify their rehiring but is wrong with that. And significant number probably don’t need to be replaced, meaning agencies interested in cutting costs a chance to actually do that, with cover.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:38 pm
Niles Township is right. This is a distraction. Talk of limiting terms on state leadership is ignored, possible problems with Madigans Army are forgotten, the list is long.

This kind of action smacks of the out of the ball park stuff RodB did. Like demanding free rides for seniors during the transit “crisis”. No one was asking for it and it becomes the only thing talked about.

Maybe the wrong Chicago Dem was removed. Maybe we shouldn’t stop w/RB.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:50 pm
Think about this for a second…

Madigan doesn’t want much to do with the Collins Report, which targets the Legislative branch, but wants to clear out the Executive branch?

OH! COME ON!

And the reason he is doing it is because Quinn isn’t moving fast enough in Michael J. Madigan’s opinion?

YEAH, RIGHT!

I have a better idea! How about letting the guy in charge of the Executive branch fumigate his area, and the guy in charge of the Legislative branch fumigate his area?

Do we need another civil war? Quinn followed the reform track as it has been practiced in the past. He created a blue ribbon committee and then used it’s report to browbeat Madigan. Now Madigan is returning the favor with this step.

While it may be a good idea, (that’s debatable), it is Draconian, (not good), in it’s “off with their heads” approach, and it is being proposed by the wrong person, (very bad).

What is Madigan going to do next? Fill all the slots with people he now approves of? How much campaign contributions will they get with this new “gold rush” of political appointees?

Before we allow another political seat to go on the bidding process in Illinois - how about reforming the corrupted process as it now exists? How about passing some ethics reform to prevent Madigan’s plan from becoming a new scandal?

How about focusing on one thing at a time, in order to do this right?

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:53 pm
I think the one fly in the ointment is the 60 day period is too short. 3000 people are not all reviewed at once by one central place and hired at once. In the first wave, you hire the Directors, then they hire their senior staff, then they hire their subordinates. Getting all the waves done within 60 days is darn near impossible. And since its the staffs who actually work with the boards who usually know where the expertise out their to serve is, they may be needed/useful to the GO in filling the boards. And the boards themselves often need training regarding the work of the board. If the staff to the board isn’t in place until 60 days, who is going to train the boards. Love it or hate it, you must acknowledge that the bureaucracy of state government is not simple, so simple solutions are seldom good policy.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:56 pm
Ouch how’s it feel Gov Quinn you will be the next victim of the madigans good luck running in 2010

Comment by Anon Again Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:02 pm
This is the article discussing UI administrators appearing before the House committee:

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2009/05/03/university_administrators_field_questions_from_state_lawmakers

Comment by Fire Ron Guenther Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:06 pm
How come he didn’t present a reform bill as fast as this one? I agree Vanilla, don’t mess with the Legislative Branch, just the Executive. Typical Madigans.

Comment by first hand Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:06 pm
I wonder if this will get bottled up in Rules, or get assigned to Transportation and Motor Vehicles?

Comment by Captain Flume Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:09 pm
Anon 2:56:

You fail to realize a few key issues here. One, the governor has been in office for over three months, more than enough time to get his bearings on who should stay and who should go. Second, 60 days may be a short time but it’s a little shy of the time a governor-elect would get to clean out the same directors and such appointed by a predecessor, especially an opposing party governor-elect. They would clear out the previous admin’s staff right quick. Lastly, many of these board appointees are at the centerpoint of the “Blagojevich Enterprise”, read: pay to play. With terms that run multiple years, this is the best way to clear our the deadwood and stain of the previous administration. This is not to say all the appointees were up to no good, it just gives the governor the power to move quickly on their replacement. Quinn himself has said that sunshine is the best disinfectant. Well, let’s just say that the Speaker opened the drapes a bit.

Comment by Joe in the Know Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:10 pm
This state is beginning to resemble The Second Coming Coming by WB Yeats.

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:15 pm
There are 2 types of “Rutan-exempt” positions. This legislation terminates both.

The vast majority of Rutan-exempt positions are also subject to the Illinois Personnel Code (the single-exempt positions). These positions are subject to absolute Veterans Preference in hiring.

What this means is that roughly 2/3 of the people who stand to lose their jobs under this legislation have no realistic point of a re-appointment unless they also happen to be a veteran.

The policy/management implications of forcibly removing that much institutional experience by fiat is unbelievable.

Comment by ILPundit Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:15 pm
I understand getting rid of Filan and the like but all Rutan exempt is extreme. There are many hard-working people who have been promoted into SPSA’s after years of good work at the state and now they have to get fired and hope to be rehired even if they legitimately earned there job? Not right every Rutan exmept position is a political hire. Sure there are some that should go but many honest hard-working people get hurt with this “nuke’em all” approach.

Comment by Hoping For Rational Thought Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:17 pm
I could be wrong, but sheesh, the criminal court system would be hopelessly backed up… every state’s attorney hired since 1999? WOW.

Comment by Mike Ins Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:18 pm
Just so you know how dumb this is, all Crime Lab Directors and all of their Springfield upper administration would be terminated. Nothing will be done while people look for jobs while they are on the button. This is a really really stupid waste of resources since most will be rehired but nothing will get done. These are not political hires but professional forensic scientists. Dumb

Comment by vitaman Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:21 pm
Fire Away!!!!!!

Comment by scoot Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:27 pm
Heck why not remove the board appointees allowed/made by the Speaker and the President of the Senate I mean after all they had to be willing partners to go along with the Gov appointees on these boards.

Comment by Why Stop There Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:33 pm
=== every state’s attorney hired since 1999?===

State’s attorneys are elected.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:34 pm
Separation of powers, anyone? anyone?

Comment by Jake from Bellwood Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:34 pm
===Separation of powers, anyone?===

Quinn would have to sign the bill. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:36 pm
Rich - I am sorry, I meant assistant state’s attorneys, public defenders, etc. I did not mean the top level, I meant the men and women 2 years out of law school prosecuting the traffic and drug and all those types of offenses. I may still be incorrect about their status but I know they are not union and did not take the CMS exam for job, so exempt I believe?

Comment by Mike Ins Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:36 pm
This is so much like ALL legislators. See a problem and throw a bill at it.
Didn’t President Cullerton in committee keep the Repubs from getting a chance to a special election for Burris on the argument that this would be unconstitutional?
Any support from the Senate on this?
My recollection is that there was some reference to court decisions that would protect the term appoitnees and even members of the cabinet.
Where are the lawyers going to be on this? All over it dragging this out throught the courts for a year or so I would guess.
Just my humble opinion.

What we need to see is real leadership with people willing to do the right thing. That starts with Quinn, Madigan, Cullerton and others showing a rational change from power brokering.

I do not see such leadership with this. Just another new political fight.

Comment by Rush to Judgment (legislation) Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:39 pm
This is a bit of a blunt instrument, eh? Sort of like the early days of Stalin’s purges, except that we don’t really have anywhere to exile them within our borders.

Seriously, Speaker Madigan, this is a stunt, and you know it. Focus on actual wrongdoing, and get rid of those. Let’s have some due process.

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:41 pm
Brilliant. Quinn dragged his feet right in to this one.

Quinn can re-appoint or hire any or all of these people so why are so many people up in arms? Maybe he can even do it at a reduced salary so the State can save some money. Quinn now will actually have to govern not just make pronouncements as they occur to him.

This is not ‘baby with the bathwater’ as some have said. This is removing a cancerous growth. You have to get rid of some good tissue to make sure you get rid of all of the bad.

Comment by Cosmic Charlie Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:41 pm
Maybe he and Cross should talk more, because Cross was trying to fumigate yesterday but madigan wouldn’t call his bill for a vote.

Comment by Easy Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:43 pm
The bill just got out of House Rules and sent to Executive comm.

Comment by WOW Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:47 pm
I find it very suspect that the Speaker’s bill to fire everyone does not include his wife’s Illinois Arts Council??????

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:49 pm
Mike, assistant state’s attorneys work for the County, not the State.

vita, are you saying the Crime Lab Directors would be included here because they are double exempt, term or what? (oardon my lousy grammar.)

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:49 pm
He’ll try to ram this through quickly, but this goes beyond a blunt instrument. More like a hydrogen bomb.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:50 pm
Arthur Andersen:

Thanks for the obvious clarification!

Anonymous @ 3:49:

In the text of the bill itself I dont see the list of affected agencies (I did see the link to it above, obviously). So where is that coming from anyway?

Comment by Mike Ins Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:51 pm
To continue with Anon 3:15’s thought: “And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Springfield to be born?”

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:00 pm
Mr. Madigan,

Thanks so much for this. You’ve just threatened the well-being and in the process, nearly crushed the psyche of countless hard-working State employees and their families. Just because you’re Rutan exempt doesn’t mean you’re an unfit employee, sir. This is outrageous and I speak for many, many others when I say that you are wrong for proposing such a callous, thoughtless piece of legislation. Shame on you. The fact that you’re making Governor Quinn the fall guy in the process so you can make Lisa and the ‘Madigan Brand’ look good before the next gubernatorial election makes me sick to my stomach. You are an absolute disgrace to your state and your country. Just so you know I will continue to work hard every day sir, regardless of this now gripping fear I have that my employment may be coming to an abrupt and unwarranted end in the next few months. Your wicked ways and political games will not deter me from my duties of bettering the State of Illinois. If I’m going down, I’m going down working hard - just like I have the entire time I’ve been with the State. So, if you don’t mind sir, I’m going to try and focus now after this kick in the shins you just gave me and so many other qualified, dedicated employees. Have a wonderful evening.

Comment by Affected Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:01 pm
Lets organize the affected to support the rublicans

Comment by Anon Again Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:04 pm
this likely includes all attorneys working for state agencies.

basically, your state will be run by a union.

Comment by crazy Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:04 pm
There are too many low-IQ managers in the agencies serving the taxpayers quite poorly. This cannot be a bad thing.

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:04 pm
This is a lesson for Governor Quinn. This is how the big boys play. If you want to fumigate…fumigate. The Speaker took your reform and said..reform this.

And as far as VanillaMan’s point goes about the Collins report targeting the legislative branch-last time I checked, it was the executive branch that just gave us 14 years of corrupt Governor’s appointing corrupt lackey’s which is where the reform needs to start. So your right, one thing at a time and this is the one thing.

If Quinn can’t take care of business then somebody’s got to.

Comment by Need I say more Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:07 pm
So everyone above whom this axe blade now hangs will contact a Dem legislator and plead for his or her job. They will pledge alot to avoid this loss. DEM legislators will then claim credit for derailing this bill or helping people keep their jobs if it goes through. All that is left is their friendship. Same old, same old…. Dont you just love Illinois politics –that is when you are not wretching your guts out from the odor and slime.

Comment by Cousin Ralph Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:08 pm
It’s a great way to clean house and terminate those whose employment was quid pro quo. Ethics reform has to start somewhere and since the feds are investigating the state’s hiring practices, why not start here? It’s the end of FY 09 anyways.

Comment by Marianne North Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:09 pm
Art.
I am a retired Crime Lab Director and we were SPSA’s. Term Appointments. Rehired every four years. No double exemption.

Comment by vitaman Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:12 pm
Once again, Lisa’s dad comes to her rescue. It’s scary how much the Madigans run the state and the general public has NOOOO idea.

Comment by Puhlease Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:16 pm
Look, over there, it’s a distraction!

It’s working.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:17 pm
Rich is right - the hydrogen bomb of distractions.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:18 pm
This is all so that MJM and the democrats can finally put their friends in these positions. Blago froze them out, maybe in favor of EJ. Someone should propose an amendment to require that all recommendations or transmittals must be in writing(or transcribed if done orally) and those documents subject to FOIA.

Comment by Concerned Citizen Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:19 pm
Rich, I would e affected by this bill. I would be terminated under the present language. I work extremely hard each and every day and this proposed legislation appears unconstitutional, arbitrary, and capricious.

I value your opinion,Rich. Cna you provide your thoughts on this move?

Comment by Black Ivy Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:21 pm
==I am a retired Crime Lab Director and we were SPSA’s. Term Appointments. ==

How long ago did you retire? Blago converted a lot of term appointment positions to double-exempt. Initially, it was going to be all term appointments, but they got bored or maybe a kitty wandered through the room.

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:25 pm
If you think that any grants are going to be written for the Obama Stimulus for Illinois over the next couple of months plus - guess again. It is the SPSA’s who ride herd on that. The law of unintended consequences…………….

Comment by vitaman Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:25 pm
My guess is that if the legislation passes, the Governor does an amendatory veto that extends the termination date for the folks that are term appointments. That allows everyone to claim that they are “fumigating” things, but at the same time ensuring that all work at the state doesn’t grind to a halt in the interim.

Or in the alternative, the legislation is amended in the Senate to that effect.

Comment by Just the Facts Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:27 pm
Anon Don’t know. Retired with the class of 2002. I keep fairly close contacts but never asked that question.

Comment by vitaman Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:28 pm
this affects people in positions less than PSAs and SPSAs… it could affect any legal non-unionized Tech IIs and Tech IIIs, who are hardly the politically-connected folk.

Comment by crazy Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:28 pm
Some of those HR people were appointed by Ryan and reappointed by Blago. A 2fer!

Comment by Belle Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:35 pm
So I think Dadigan should do a bill that mandates fumigation of all legislative leaders. New language would provide that legislative leaders would have to run as a statewide candidate for their posts. That way we can all decide if Dadigan should rule the world!

Comment by lady Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:36 pm
Maybe it is a distraction from the Reform Commission report. So what? That doesn’t make it a bad idea. Blago was so thoroughly corrupt that it is difficult, if not impossible, to cherry pick the good employees/appointees from the bad. Look at some of the hacks that Blago put in place. Filan and Lavin get held out as if they are the only examples of Blago’s corruption, indifference, arrogance, cynicism OR ineptitude. The reality is that there are layers upon layers of these people that must go. If you are one of the honest public servants that might be affected I hope Quinn will actually put in place a team of competent administrators that can bring you back on with a process that has integrity. If he does not then you know who to blame.

Governor Quinn has been running the state like it is the Lt. Gov’s office where he can manage everything personally. The State of Illinois is too big and our problems too severe for that to be the case. Any one of us, if we accidentally became the governor, would have made a wholesale housecleaning by now. You know it is true. Quinn for whatever reason has been unwilling or unable to do so.

Time to govern governor.

Comment by Cosmic Charlie Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:37 pm
Joe in the Know -

This is NOT like a change in administrations. Terms do not end, then; every double exempt does not lose their job. Even when Blagojevich came in after years of Republican control, in our agency, only a handful of positions were changed right away. Many were never changed, some changed over the first year or two. Wiping EVERYONE out in the first 60 days and making “stay-don’t stay” decisions on all of them at once will be chaos.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:43 pm
3,000 people get axed because Quinn won’t get rid of Filan and Ginger. As a bonus, MJM gets to clear the decks for Lisa and force the R’s to vote on getting rid of not just D’s but also the large number of R’s still employed in these positions. And hey Governor - if you’re smart you’ll keep the roll call on this vote handy when every single one of these legislators comes to your door after the fact asking you to keep or re-hire their brother/sister/cousin/girlfriend, etc.

Comment by Justice Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:43 pm
Whoever, came up with the term Dadigan in referring to the Speaker should go back to the drawing board because it stinks. Why do I get the feeling this is what Quinn’s people have been brainstorming with instead of figuring out how to govern.

Comment by Ad man Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:49 pm
===because it stinks. ===

I kinda like it.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:53 pm
Rich, see ISPeeved.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:55 pm
ad man, whoever came up with the term Dadigan is thinking in the right direction. and maybe they are not a Quinn person. maybe some of us are just angry at the way Madigan plays games with the process, controls so much, and as Puhlease points out, the public has no clue about how much power Madigan has. it is scary.

Comment by Amy Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:58 pm
My prayers have been answered on Prayer day. Woo Hoo. (Not that I think it will actualy happen)

Comment by Dudeman Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:00 pm
Nah, it’s not mean. It says nothing. It needs, “Father Knows Best” or “Father of the wanna be bride” or “Daddy’s little wanna be” or “Daddy Speakerbucks”

Something that conveys a negative.

Comment by Ad man Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:00 pm
This effectively removes all non-union employees. Thus, it punishes the few holdouts who did not unionize or join uions, and will put the unions in complete operational control of the State. Even if you bring in new outsiders, they will lack the institutional knowledge to deal with the union or know when they are being sold a bill of goods.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:06 pm
As the Former Gov. Said

You ain’t seen nothing YET!!!!!

THANK YOU BIG MIKE !!!!!!

YOU WILL BE DECLARED THE WINNER !!!!

So many useless appointments !!!!

Comment by grategul Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:07 pm
Great!
Start with the Illinois Tollway then IDOT. CMS is going to get a huge order for disinfectants.

Comment by Northside Bunker Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:09 pm
Let’s close this one out and move comments to this fresh post. Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:23 pm