DISQUS

Maggie · 1 year ago

Rich,
Was it reported that Tony Rezko was the Sisters sponser for the commission ? Another example of his influence with this administration ?

Cash is King in Illinois · 1 year ago

Further examples of Rod's ignorance. Rod's more focused on keeping his butt out of prison.

Ivote · 1 year ago

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???

ChampaignDweller · 1 year ago

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?

Kevin Fanning · 1 year ago

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.

http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/2008/03/12/broken-...

anon · 1 year ago

is'nt it obvious, Tony Rezko is too busy to make recommendations/appointments to this commission.

Ghost · 1 year ago

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.

wordslinger · 1 year ago

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?

fedup dem · 1 year ago

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!

Sir Reel · 1 year ago

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!

Kevin Fanning · 1 year ago

lol

Anonymous · 1 year ago

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.

VanillaMan · 1 year ago

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.

Leave a light on George · 1 year ago

Inept or incompetent - Which is it?

OneMan · 1 year ago

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?

zatoichi · 1 year ago

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.

concerned voter · 1 year ago

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

Fox Mulder · 1 year ago

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?"

Cassandra · 1 year ago

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.

Lyn · 1 year ago

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.