The Capitol Fax Blog

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005

In the middle of a profile of the new head of the Chicago Crime Commission, James Wagner, we get this:

Because of state budget cuts and hiring freezes under Gov. Blagojevich, the Gaming Board has gone from 18 investigators when Wagner started there to just eight at present.

“That’s just not enough to do the job over there,” Wagner told me Tuesday, admitting that frustration with the situation at the Gaming Board was a major factor in his decision to leave after he was recruited for the Crime Commission opening.

There are 10,000 casino employees in Illinois, each of whom has to undergo a background check by the investigative staff before they can be licensed. Owners and managers are supposed to get more extensive background investigations. The Gaming Board also must investigate the companies that supply gaming equipment to the casinos.

“I really was not comfortable we had enough people to do a satisfactory job. We did the best we could, but I would strongly recommend that the state increase the manpower there,” said Wagner with the understatement one would expect from a career FBI agent.

I knew the numbers had dropped. But eight? Unreal.

- posted by Rich Miller

12 Comments

- WAY DOWNSTATE - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 6:09 am:
Welcome to Blago’s grand plan or lack of for state operations.All state agencies are under staffed and under funded because he balanced the budget on the backs of state workers.Plus they appointed a bunch of people to head these agencies with a memo the have to repeat over and over.EVERYTHING IS GOING SMOOTHLY UNDER THIS GOVERNOR NO CUTBACKS WHAT SO EVER IN SERVICES.WHAT A WONDERFULL GOVERNOR WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.What a bunch of crap.The agency I work for is in a mess and now they are going to put a donation box out to take donations from visitors.A once proud and well funded state agency is reduced to begging.

- Former MC employee - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 6:51 am:
I left state government earlier this year in large part because of the chronic under-staffing problem at my agency and the fact that I knew it was going to get much worse in the coming year. The State Journal Register ran an article on Monday of this week that highlighted the potential brain drain that will occur on January 1, 2006 when information tech consultants are let go (result of the latest AFSCME agreement). Outside of state government, most people don’t have any idea how poorly managed many agencies are. I got out before it got really bad, but after Jan 1, my former agency is looking at some severe problems. These problems are real, and the under-staffing problem will almost certainly manifest itself in tangible ways in the next six months.

- Shallow Throat - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 7:04 am:
I agree with Former MC. It has gotten pretty bad. Blago runs on this sort of platform “I have reduced state waste (employees) each year of my administration”. It does not matter that effectiveness has decreased, as well.

- Tessa - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 7:07 am:
And I keep being told this is just in my head, I don’t know what I’m talking about. Understaffing is everywhere, in every agency, at every level, except at the top. Horrible working conditions, unsafe for those at the bottom. But what do we know? Way Downstate and Former MC employee, both cite examples of things.

You’d think they’d want the Gaming Board to have the most investigators so they could do a good job. How can 8 people possibly keep up with the work load of 18? It’s not humanly possible. Wonder what their overtime is like?

- Bill Baar - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 7:10 am:
You can contract out background investigation work. The Feds use contractors now for it.

Assumes you have the money in your budget of course.

- Rele Tahrd - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 7:12 am:
I wonder how many public info people he has stuffed into the JRTC?

- Tertius - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 7:23 am:
Well, I know in my agency, merit comp staff have been replaced at a ratio of 1:3, and due to early retirements and resignations it’s severely cut staff. I now have 3 out of 6 subordinate positions filled under me, and one empty slot above me, with no hope than any will be filled in 2006.

But the Director’s office almost doubled the number of ‘deputies’ since Blaog’s election. Lot’s of nice 6-figure appointees, who seem to spend most of their time wheedling at me and my staff to attend events plugging Blago on our weekends.

But you know, that 4% is gonna make it all okay…

- Former MC employee - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 8:29 am:
One last thought - short staffing the Gaming Board and other state departments doesn’t affect the daily routines and pocketbooks of regular Illinois citizens. Public transportation, gas prices, mortgage interest rates, grocery and other consumer prices are essentially unaffected by the quality of state government operations.

I truly believe the Blagojevich administration has a keen understanding that most voters don’t care much about how well government works as long as it doesn’t adversely impact their own interests. As a result, state government operations will continue to suffer until something “news-worthy”, like a prison riot, a death of a DCFS ward, or some other controversial event occurs. In the meantime, state employees who care about how their agencies work will simply have to endure the slide in operations or get out. I chose the latter. Unfortunately, many employees have roots in their communities that prevent them from moving on, so they put their heads down and move along as well as they can.

- Truthful James - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 9:41 am:
Have no fear, rehiring will start after the primary.

- zatoichi - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 10:23 am:
The state is essentially a huge corporation just like GM and Ford facing the results of years of questionable decisions, bandaids, and a changing econonmic market. I have several friends in state positions. They regularly discuss the “brain drain”, staff replacement ratios, major projects that have no behind the scene support capabilities, and consultants saying the basic systems for operations simply do not work. The surface and statements may look good, but behind the curtain, the wizard is working with steam as the world zooms by on a microchip. Like any company there are great workers and some others not so great. My friends are frustrated by the lack of reasonable, think-through-the-impact decisions and actions. A good news bite does not solve the problem.

- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 4:00 pm:
A member of the Springfield-based Utility Workers’ Union tells me that over the past 20 years, the number of emergency inspectors/repairmen at People’s Gas has dropped from 1,600 to 800. Frankly, that frightens me much more than casino background checkers.

- Brad Tusk's Ego - Wednesday, Dec 14, 05 @ 9:13 pm:
My wife works in Springfield for an agency under the Guv. It is an office that is frontline with the public every day. Two and 1/2 years ago she managed 13 people. Today she manages 4. As I said, this is an office that helps the public from 8-4:30, five days a week. They don’t even have enough workers to deal with their “clients” who walk in the door.

But things are all good according to those at the top. Hiring freeze and all, you know.

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