http://capitolfaxcom.disqus.com/NoneenFri, 08 May 2009 09:27:14 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226053<p>What about Lavin?</p>Just BecauseFri, 08 May 2009 09:27:14 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226052<p>Wordslinger is on it. The only thing I would caution the leg staff and the Governor's office is to vet the information they are given closely. Blago's folks still control CMS and most of the personnel offices in the agencies--and they have a tendency to be selective about providing information (<i>"Oops, kinda forgot Jay's uncle,"</i> you know).</p><p>This needs to be done. There's a hundred little kingdoms out there with a lot of operators doing their own thing, telling Quinn's people one thing and doing another. It doesn't matter who does it. The madness needs to end, though.</p>NarcolepticFri, 08 May 2009 09:20:22 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226051<p>--Not only does it discourage people from wanting to move into upper management positions,--</p><p>I seriously doubt that.</p><p>-- it probably also gives young people pause about working in state government.--</p><p>In this economy? You've got to be kidding.</p><p>It sure did get everyone's attention though, didn't it?</p>wordslingerFri, 08 May 2009 07:31:11 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226050<p>Rich -- I'm glad to hear that changes to this legislation are on the way.</p><p>I stepped down from 4 year term appointment into PSA for exactly this reason -- I was tired of my ability to continue my 20+ year career as a public servant being jeopardized by political whims that had nothing to do with merit.</p><p>What is truly unfortunate is that -- once again -- hard working state employees (yes, there are many out there) and their families are being put through the emotional wringer until (hoping?) sanity and common sense prevail.</p><p>This is yet another blow to the morale of devoted public servants and adds unnecessary uncertainty for their staff and the programs they oversee. Not only does it discourage people from wanting to move into upper management positions, it probably also gives young people pause about working in state government.</p>TiparoostepFri, 08 May 2009 05:06:27 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226049<p>it was a nice thought</p>ObserverFri, 08 May 2009 00:48:42 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226048<p>What's amazing here is two things. One, I am supporting my bosses and I am an AFSCME member. My bosses are hard working and give all of us a fair shake. Under this bill they are gone. Second, all the while, Madigan has ma<br>de millions of of being a PUBLIC SERVANT. Talk about a criminal enterprise! My boss makes a small fraction of a fortune like that. Lisa had my vote til now! Now it ALL makes sense!</p>state union workerFri, 08 May 2009 00:32:53 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226047<p>=== but we could all go work against cullerton next election 500 workers in one district could probably really help the Rs===</p><p>LOL. Yeah, I'm sure a Republican could win that seat with 500 unemployed state workers going door to door. You'd be better off going after one of his vulnerable targets.</p><p>Also, from what I'm getting, this bill will probably be changed soon. I don't think it'll be as massive as it currently appears. Everybody, calm down.</p>Rich MillerFri, 08 May 2009 00:29:28 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226046<p>Are there really that many Ryan appointees left? Wouldn't they have to have been reappointed by Blago anyway? It seems like overkill to me to go all the way back to Ryan appointees. Did MJM do that just so the bill would appear to be "bipartisan" and not single out a corrupt Democratic governor over a corrupt Republican?</p>BookwormFri, 08 May 2009 00:03:53 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226045<p>It is my understanding that Walker at IDOC got his walking papers and Sergio is in charge</p>Grasso1Thu, 07 May 2009 23:32:08 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226044<p>Patrick Collins was over the top. Madigan goes over over the top. Weren't we just talking about term limits for leaders? "He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. That's the Chicago way"</p><p>Sorry, what were we talking about again?</p>47th WardThu, 07 May 2009 23:30:04 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226043<p>Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.</p><p>Madigan just swung the reform club and hit Quinn right between the eyes. When his eyes stop rolling around and the animated birds circling his head stop chirping, Quinn's going to figure out his least bad course of action is to go along with it.</p><p>In the wake of the Ryan and Blago scandals, The Great Reformer, Pat Collins (the public says... who?), set his sights directly on Madigan, talking about relative arcania like legislative leader terms and discharging bills from committee (the public says.... huh?).</p><p>To the public, the big problems were former governors Ryan and Blago, back to back. You want reform? MJM asks a couple simple questions:</p><p>Did you know 3,000 George Ryan and Blago appointees are still running a big part of your government, spending your tax dollars and collecting salaries and benefits? Don't you think we should throw them all out and start fresh?</p><p>The public says... yes!</p><p>What's Quinn going to do? Fight for 3,000 people he doesn't know? How many time bombs are there in that lot? Explain that he's still working on it? Not good enough.</p><p>The only thing keeping this from being a grand slam for Madigan, up north anyway, is Drew Peterson got arrested tonight for killing Wife #3. Without that, MJMs proposal is the top news all day Friday. With Drew's arrest, it might just get a mention.</p><p>But he sure got a very targeted market's attention.</p>wordslingerThu, 07 May 2009 23:29:54 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226042<p>we couldnt be so lucky diane but we could all go work against cullerton next election 500 workers in one district could probably really help the Rs</p>ObserverThu, 07 May 2009 23:20:49 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226041<p>I hope this is the beginning of the end of Mike (I care about nothing but power) Madigan. Why isn't anyone asking why the IL Arts Council is being spared? I'd like to see Shirley Madigan get fumigated. It's funny how we were to be upset about Tim Mapes wife losing her job. Now this? It's really sad how many people go through this latest Madigan power play. I thought killing the capital bill was enough.</p>dianeThu, 07 May 2009 23:12:19 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226040<p>ten years of problems maybe the speaker is the common denominator</p>ObserverThu, 07 May 2009 22:58:51 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226039<p>Blago's transfers of State government functions and personnel away from Springfield has already brought much economic harm to our city. But most of State government still resides in Springfield. Also, remember that this bill affects individuals appointed since the beginning of the Ryan administration (January 1999).</p>State WorkerThu, 07 May 2009 22:37:25 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226038<p>Blago filled most of these jobs with people from Chicago. How will this be a devastating impact on the Springfield economy?</p>Fed Up State EmployeeThu, 07 May 2009 22:15:23 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226037<p>According to the Speaker's statements, John Filan, the most notorious holdover from the Blagojevich administration, will not be covered by this outrageous mass firing. Also, has the Speaker considered the devastating impact this mass firing will have on the economy of Springfield?</p>State WorkerThu, 07 May 2009 22:12:54 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226036<p>The Speaker has been on a mission to improve and clean up the Exec Branch for over two years now. Remember the memo he created and circulated on Blago's possibly impeachable offenses? That initiative was given quite some time to take root - and with the Fed's arrest, complaint and eventual indictment and charges - it bore fruit and we are rid of the primary culprit. Now, with Quinn not moving even at a snails pace on follow through MJM has again made the appropriate decisive move to force improvement. Once the hysteria subsides and cooler heads prevail, the quality decisions on retention of many of the 3000 will be made. The Speaker and most of us on this forum have been calling for this recasting of a quality workforce for years now. MJM simply had the guts and wisdom to finally pull the cord and fire the cannon. This action is long overdue and we all know it.</p>A CitizenThu, 07 May 2009 22:02:03 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226035<p>most of those single exempt positions are union...i think they may be obliged to step in...</p>federal government not a good Thu, 07 May 2009 21:58:55 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226034<p>There are many, many unforeseen consequences going to pop up because of this. Crime Lab Tech - if you were single exempt that means Rutan exempt and means you're included! Now all terms are staggered; with necessary reappointments, they'll all be coming up within the same 60 day period 4 years from passage. And if a non-Veteran term appointee is not "reappointed" (as the bill language uses that word) within the 60 day period, he/she will have to first compete with all "A" veterans on the hiring list who have absolute preference. I'm guessing there are countless more land-mine like scenarios that would arise if this gets passed. Also, it looks like David Ellis appears to be the architect of the bill - does he have State personnel practices experience?</p>RamblerThu, 07 May 2009 21:56:30 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226033<p>give me a break everyone, not everyone ever hired or promoted is bad, but to terminate these 30 year vets and make them reinterview for this position is wrong...if someone in the private sector worked for a corrupt business are they too tainted, no...all those poor people who worked for enron are quilty too?</p>federal government not a good Thu, 07 May 2009 21:47:40 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226032<p>Firing all 3000 senior management staff may sound extreme, but guess what. GPQ ain't getting it done. What is his problem? As Madigan stated, he is not happy with the speed or progress of the fumigation. There may be some good qualified people that would be fired in this group. If so, Quinn can hire them back immediately.</p><p>Let's be realistic. This is a blatant political move by MM to make PQ look foolish. And it is working because it doesn't take much effort. Quinn is all talk and no show.</p>southern illinoisanThu, 07 May 2009 21:42:31 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226031<p>Before today it was:<br>Hey hey, ho ho, John Filan has to go.</p><p>After today it is;<br>Hey hey, ho ho, Dadigan says he will go.</p>We Can HopeThu, 07 May 2009 21:39:56 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226030<p>I thought we were done with the Ready, Fire, Aim form of leadership in this state---I was wrong. The Speaker is using a baseball bat to kill a fly and not putting much foresight into its use.</p><p>He's putting 3,000 employees (a large number of which are career professionals; not hacks) and their families through hell to get to what, a few hundred of Blago's enablers? How much will this experiment cost the state at a time when we have neither the resources or funds to deal with it.</p><p>Governor Quinn has the ability to get rid of most of the enablers DIRECTLY, why put everybody else through it? Give him a "hit" list or god forbid, sit down and discuss what you want. Hand him a flyswatter and see if he uses it.</p><p>We wonder why the "best &amp; brightest" don't wind up in leadership positions in state government. Its BS like this that keeps the good ones from wanting to move up--why put up with the hassle? First 6 years of Blago: non raises, term renewal "games", etc. If you really are a capable and competent leader, what is the rationale to move up after this?</p><p>The Speaker's reactionary measures have the potential to keep the career "A" players on the sidelines and out of the decision making process at a time when we need them the most to help fix a lot of problems; ones that need long-term solutions.</p><p>It creates a situation where in the future where only opportunistic hacks take leadership spots and "role the dice" with our state's future.</p><p>After Blago got hauled away I hoped for an end to gamesmanship for the sake of gamesmanship. I thought Blago was the source of all the problems, now I have my doubts...</p>AnimousThu, 07 May 2009 21:22:21 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/05/07/late-afternoon-videos/#comment-18226029<p>I agree with Peppermint 5:53 pm. I retired in 2004 as a 4-year term appointment SPSA - I couldn't stand the **** anymore, so I retired with around 35 years in the system. There are a LOT of very worthwhile career employees whose career path left them no option but a SPSA and a 4-year term appointment. I never sought a SPSA - it was just the only logical progression in my career path that was available. Terminating 3,000 employees carte blanche is like throwing the baby out with the bath water. Sure, some of these appointees need to be let go; but not necessarily career employees with 30+ years of outstanding service. If you are hell-bent on getting rid of 3,000+ employees, why not offer another early retirement? Terminating all of these employees will have the similar downside that an early retirement would have. Heck, there is barely anyone left who knows what's going on inside of most State Agencies anyway - and Madigan wants to terminate them? As it stands, I think it's a bad idea.</p>JechisloThu, 07 May 2009 20:58:16 -0000