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* Sorry, but a $20,000 “no-bid” employment contract that led to a part-time job for a “criminal” who “stole” $350 when he was 19 years old does not equal out the corruption factor in the governor’s race.
* Tribune: The Carpentersville Village Board postponed discussion Tuesday night of a proposed ordinance that targets illegal immigrants after a crowd estimated at 3,000 people arrived for the meeting.
* Steinberg: If your congressman quit, would you notice?
* Richards: Why this election doesn’t Bear watching
* Democrats seek an opening - Party hopes to crack GOP’s monopoly on DuPage board
* Republicans may win, even if they lose
* Forest district funds going to Republicans
* AP: The 26-year-old son of Madison County’s treasurer has been arrested after police say he punched an Edwardsville businessman in a scuffle over a political sign.
*** UPDATE *** The I-Team’s latest report:
There is more controversy over a major political endorsement for Governor Rod Blagojevich. It concerns the recent endorsement by the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, the state’s largest law enforcement union. In this Intelligence Report: why state prison guards are crying foul.Some Fraternal Order of Police members are questioning how the state organization could vote to endorse the governor for re-election, when several major bargaining units, known as lodges, are against him.
Last month the I-Team revealed that the members of the lodge representing Illinois State Police officers had voted not to endorse Blagojevich. Now we’ve learned that the lodge representing Illinois correctional officers in state prisons also gave the governor the thumbs down.
* Tribune: A Lake County judge ruled Tuesday that commanding officers from the Illinois State Police may not use a union official’s letter in pursuing their claim that their vacation benefits were cut because they did not endorse Gov. Rod Blagojevich in the last election.
* And I forgot to put this up earlier from Eric Zorn: Assessing the assessment scandal
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 8:48 am
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Im sorry Rich but when your girlfriend puts herself out there as the anti corruption Goddess then everything she has done within Illinois culture of corruptuion matters. Like it or not. Does it “equal” what she is accusing Blagojevuch of? WHO CARES!
Comment by HANKSTER Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 8:56 am
No contract bids are not necessarily the problem. It is donors who get no bids as a result of their donations.
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 8:56 am
No, the Goodrich story isn’t a pimple on the rear of Blago’s apparent corruption, but it does show that Judy isn’t telling the truth when she flaps on and on about never awarding a no-bid contract. It also allows the Trib to pretend that it’s even handed in its coverage.
Comment by DeepFriedOnAStick Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 8:58 am
Neil Steinberg, a disciple of the best political writer in the canon of American Literature, H.L. Mencken, has learned much at the Master’s feet.
There are many empty suits occupying overstuffed chairs; there are some toxic human beings like Foley making public service their stalking grounds; but there are many more hard working patriots of both Parties: my Representative is Dan Lipinski we’re watching Professor.
Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:00 am
Exactly the comment I was going to make, Hankster, minus the girlfriend part. Sorry, it might not be “equal” but it’s awfully hypocritical.
Comment by Ellinoyed Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:04 am
I did not mean his girlfriend in a bad sense, I have seen worse!
Comment by HANKSTER Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:05 am
Hmm…$350…at age 19? One time? Probably an immature motivation behind it (been there).
Not defending anyone here, just saying that no one is perfect. If policy is not to screen based on misdemeanor offenses, then that is policy and people should just deal.
If people want policy changed, they should go about it properly, unlike the seemingly off-the-cuff, on-the-fly — and in some cases, highly illegal — ways in which Blagojevich is suggested to have been handling matters.
Comment by This Guy Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:06 am
It may not be corruption…but the contract stinks, and it shows how the Topinka team has operated…and could operate if they win in November.
No one is perfect This guy? Speeding, sure…drinking underage, been there…stealing $350 from a place I worked…NEVER.
Comment by Sol Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:11 am
“We don’t do no-bid contracts.”
Hi liar.
Comment by Snark Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:33 am
The problem is that Topinka said that they “DO NOT DO NO BIG CONTRACTS. AT ALL”
Who cares about the amount? If she is lying about this then what else is she lying about?
The fact that the no-bid contract went to a republican party official who used to be executive director the IL Repbublican party before he was fired and also was found guilty of stealing money from the Moultrie County Republicans makes it that much more unethical.
Those in glass houses should not throw stones.
Comment by Roomie Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:38 am
Rich you forgot to put anything about the Cardinals win in your morning shorts. On to the World Series. Go Cardinals!!!
Comment by (618) Democrat Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:43 am
What a hypocrite. She is so fond of saying we do everything by the books, yet we all know of example after example where this is not the case. First she says she does not do any no bid contracts and then all of a sudden a list of 300 are found. Yes, 300!
Topinkas office had its own investigation by the FBI back in the day. Now we find out she issues no-bid contracts. What else is she lying to us on? I bet there is a ton out there. The public loves to see people called out on their hypocrisy!
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:44 am
Looks like the Milorad supporters are pulling out all stops. 300 no bid contracts? That’s not quite right. Those were not contracts they were deposit agreements with banks and there is no bidding process for this. The banks with the better rates receive the funds as it should be.
FBI investigation? Notice that investigation is the singular form not plural as in the numerous investigations going on with the current governor. Hmmm one investigation over 3 years ago based on the allegations of a single ex-employee that were discovered to be unfounded. Feds found no wrongdoing and closed the case.
Now we have the shocking news that someone who had stolen $350 dollars in their youth received a contract with the state. Maybe the Democrats shouldn’t really dwell on that too much considering the Democratic Party in Sangamon County had a twice convicted felon as their number two man up until about a week ago when he finally resigned before going off to serve his latest prison sentence.
Its kind of funny when the Milorad supporters, knowing that he’s guilty of millions upon millions of dollars in the ‘pay for play’ game, finally jump up and go ‘see she’s guilty too because here is a $20,000 dollar example.
Comment by Poor Milorad Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 10:19 am
All these comments about how Topinka is technically wrong, so that means she lied.
If these Blagojevich bloggers gave as much thought to what their guy has done, they would have buried him during the primary. It is obvious you people don’t care what laws were broken, what unethical behavior has occured, as long as a Democrat wins the election. Your narrow-minded partisanship is dangerous for everyone.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 10:26 am
Why did that guy who got the no bid contract leave the State GOP when Topinka was there? She clearly thought well enough of him to give him a contract…but he left? I’m confused by this.
Comment by Curt Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 12:26 pm
The thing that just ruins Rod is that Judy may have been around during the whole Ryan mess, but she survived it. In fact, she was one of the few in the Illinois GOP left standing when the dust cleared. That’s why I think she’s proven she has come out unscathed.
Rod, on the other hand, seems to have come up with a very clever ploy to explain the nonsense in his administration. He comes out and tells the press that hey, we came into power on the heels of the last administration, so don’t blame us when you see the roaches getting exposed.
Nice ploy. Run for office right on the heels of a huge scandal so you can then turn around, pull off whatever you want (the Rezko stuff, the checks closely tied to state jobs stuff, and so forth), and then when the Feds come crawling all over you, just say that you’re doing your best to clean house, but it isn’t your fault.
Rod is like one of the Know Nothings for a new generation, or so it seems.
I’m not buying this this-is-a-mess-we’re-gonna-see-some-corruption-uncovered spin and baloney. Not buying it at all.
Comment by Angie Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 2:03 pm
Let’s compare this “no bid” issue.
A $20,000 no bid EMPLOYMENT contract parlays into a permanent part-time job.
vs.
$20,000,000 in contributions turns into God knows how many no bid construction contracts, concession contracts, etc, etc. In addition I wonder how many employment positions resulted from those $20,000,000 in contributions? I am aware of more than one.
Or…
Another example. A $1,500 check for a $46,800 full time position where it may be likely that the employed person was “ghost” pay-rolled for the first month. A position the person wasn’t even qualified for.
I don’t see where this new revelation cancels out what has been going on in the Blago administration for the past few years.
Comment by Buck Flagojevich Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 2:35 pm
I guess everyone is changing their stories from corruption is bad to its only bad if Blagojevich does it and its over a certain amount of money.
Comment by HANKSTER Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 2:49 pm
The way I understood it a standard employment contract didn’t need to go through a “bidding” process. It is more or less a situation where “Here’s a job for $xx. Sign the contract or move on”.
Comment by Buck Flagojevich Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 3:00 pm
It almost seems that Hankster is now admiting that Blagojevich is corruopt based on his last post.
Comment by Poor Milorad Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 3:18 pm
What I am saying is that there are a bunch of people who have been critical of Blagojevich over “corruption” but become very hypocritical when they try to defend Topinka on the same issues and thus they look like nothing more than political partisans.
Comment by HANKSTER Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 3:32 pm
I can’t stand the fact that Blagojevich continues to blame George Ryan for the state’s budget mess. It’s almost four years later…this excuse is getting old. The state is in worst shape now that it was four years ago. Illinois is going broke - read the Comptroller’s report. This is a big Red Flag.
Comment by Rex Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 6:21 pm
Another big print job, 250,000, “has to go out by November 3rd”, again to seniors. The people of Illinois will pass out when the cost of the campaign mailings paid with state printing and postage funds comes out. We could make a major dent in the unpaid Medicaid bills if it had been applied to that. Biggest bunch of schisters in Illiois history.
Comment by Martha Mitchell Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 6:47 pm
These political part-time partisian hacks, who do little or no work under contract are a relic. Times have changed. This is a big deal and these parasites need to go. If this guy has any skills or work ethic what-so-ever, then he could find a part-time job in the private sector.
Comment by Fire the hack Thursday, Oct 5, 06 @ 8:04 am