CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in This just in…

Re: This just in…

half pint — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:14:17 -0000

We can hope, I too have heard rumors that Filan and Greg Wass, both Blago people, are both heavily involved in financial matters.

Re: This just in…

We Can Hope — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:02:43 -0000

Kettle -
Rich interviewed Quinn the week of impeachment where he said (some paraphrase of something not in quotes) that "Filan was happy where he was." Can't google it - must be for suscribers only.

Re: This just in…

Kettle — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:42:32 -0000

Ironically, Obama could never get away with hiring Jerry to be his chief of staff because he is a registered lobbyist -- which just shows how ludicrous it is to set a "holier than thou" standard on these things.

And Filan and Quinn are thisclose, dating back to those Walker days. Get used to some budget redux.

Re: This just in…

More of Same — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:27:07 -0000

Robroy - are you sitting in Quinn's office reading and answering the blogs? Answer the question, will the latest two appointees fly to Springfield or live there?

Re: This just in…

Robroy — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:18:07 -0000

Gov. Quinn is showing mature, thoughtful leadership. Not just with these choices but in nearly every other public decision he has made thus far. The contrast between Quinn and Blago (in just a short time I realize) is startling. I am empressed by this guy. The citizens of Illinois desperately need real leadership.

Re: This just in…

We Can Hope — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:12:47 -0000

More of the Same -
On the rank and file ISP blog, http://ispeeved.blogspot.com , there is a poster, Numbersguy, who talks about Filan pulling many of the same shenanigans under Walker.

Re: This just in…

More of Same — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:04:01 -0000

John Filan, Blago's finance director, is the one who constantly took DNR's money from day one to fund the Governor's pet projects. When will Quinn show him the door? With all Blago's Chicago/Springfield flying trips, will his latest two Chicago appointees Stermer & Chung also make the trip daily or actually move to Springfield where the Governor plans to live.

Re: This just in…

We Can Hope — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:48:09 -0000

Any reported sightings of John Filan? Have picked up rumors he is involved in financial matters at this time.

Re: This just in…

Mark — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:26:36 -0000

We need an honest accountant like Enron whistle blower Sherron Watkins to be the state's chief financial officer.

Re: This just in…

Dave — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:04:18 -0000

Objective Dem,

Brian Hamer's reputation took a big hit with the ABC News I Team report "Dire Consequences". Hamer and other agency leaders must be vetted again by Governor Quinn. Unfortunately, for Governor Quinn he may not know all of the things some of his new colleagues were up to in supporting former Governor Blagojevich. The people of Illinois want change. Hamer should be one of those people fumigated from government no matter who their friends are.

Re: This just in…

Yellow Dog Democrat — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:56:08 -0000

=== â€¦And Quinnâ€™s appointment of Chung may signal that heâ€™s more concerned with ethics issues than running day to day operations. ===

If anything, I'd say Quinn's pick of Stermer shows that he thinks ethics are INSEPARABLE from day-to-day operations.

Whether you agree or disagree with Stermer on policy issues, everyone I know who's dealt with Stermer will tell you his starting point in the discussion is always "What's the moral/ethical thing to do?"

Stermer's moral compass points unerringly Due North.

Re: This just in…

STATE WORKER — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:31:49 -0000

Bravo! don't stop there Governor. Review all these non-productive union bashin' agency directors and deputy directors. They are costing the state millions in wrongful lockouts and discharges. Not to mention backpay when the employee get his job back. Just start with DHS, Corrections and Juvenile justice. It's time to establish some sort of respect for these workers.

Re: This just in…

Larry Mullholland — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:46:36 -0000

Encouraging news. I have not heard of either appointee. I was afraid of the rumored Jack Lavin as Chief of Staff. A quick look at the weak management (or lack there of) team at DCEO could tell you that Lavin was a poor choice. Good News. Looking forward to more appointments and terminations.

Is Governor Quinn the real reform and renewal that was promise 6 years ago?

Good start Governor Quinn!

Re: This just in…

Objective Dem — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:28:14 -0000

How about Brian Hammer for Budget Director? He has good ties with Quinn, has a great reputation, and knows the numbers.

Re: This just in…

Niles Township — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:45:12 -0000

BTW, I am told that Quinn has its first fundraiser since becoming governor tonight in Chicago. It was scheduled while he was still Lite Guv. It will be interesting to see how much bigger this event is than the old typical Quinn events, and even more interesting to see who it is that might show up.

Re: This just in…

Niles Township — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:30:41 -0000

Should say..since a few have asked... Sorry for not proofing.

Re: This just in…

Niles Township — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:30:02 -0000

Rich:

Same a few have asked, are you hearing any scuttle on who budget director might be. Other than an initial mentioned of John Filan, which I assume cannot be true, I have not heard a word.

Re: This just in…

Anonymous45 — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:12:07 -0000

great question OD! Rich, care to throw a name or two out there?

Re: This just in…

publius — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:11:03 -0000

the commentator who warns us that everyone will have to make sacrifices hasn't been payinf attention---every one has made sacrifices---even healthcare which blago claimed to support is in a crisis---asked to do more and more with less and less---it is true all across the budget---we are out of gimmicks and past bare bones---we will be 9 billion bucks in the hole and that means tax increases folks

Re: This just in…

Objective Dem — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:54:39 -0000

I don't know anything other than what I read about Stermer, but his resume looks good to me. This is the type of job no one is really prepared for, particularly with the current fiscal crisis.

I know people who have worked with Ted Chung. I have heard nothing but positive comments. He is smart and has integrity.

The next question is who will be the Budget Director? That has to be the hardest job and one that will require some inside knowledge with an outsider perspective.

Re: This just in…

Say WHAT? — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:51:58 -0000

Belle, The State did run itself without a governor the past several years and trust me it was not a good thing.

Re: This just in…

Rich Miller — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:47:23 -0000

Belle, I didn't say "you" were dangerous. I said your assumption was.

Re: This just in…

Belle — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:46:03 -0000

==That is a very dangerous and erroneous assumption during a fiscal crisis. Sure, itâ€™ll run itselfâ€¦ right into banruptcy.== Gee Rich, nobody ever called me dangerous before. Opinionated but harmless. I put the blame for the current mess squarely at the top. The decisions made by, and culture cultivated by, both political parties got us here. To get out of this fiscal melt down there is only one thing I know for sure. Nobody is going to be happy. And I still like Quinn's picks. I hope this is just the first of the good decisions, been awhile since there were any coming out the gov office :)

Re: This just in…

Rich Miller — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:43:02 -0000

===Iâ€™d prefer someone with more recent and relevant experience. ===

That would mean a high-level former Blagoejvich aide.

Sure you want that?

Just sayin...

Re: This just in…

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:41:11 -0000

Ok, obviously some very happy people here. But I'm not sure I get how Stermer is the right pick for these very tough and very dangerous times. I'd prefer someone with more recent and relevant experience.