The Capitol Fax Blog » Question of the day

Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006

There were so many stories about yesterday’s auditor general report that I didn’t really know how to organize them. Instead, we’ll just have a contest.

Choose your favorite lede. And, please, explain why.

* Sun-Times: Gov. Blagojevich’s highly touted drug-import pharmacy is little used and illegal, the state auditor said in a blistering report Tuesday.

* AP: Gov. Rod Blagojevich agreed to buy $2.6 million worth of foreign flu vaccine even after his aides had concluded federal officials never would allow it into the country, the state auditor reported Tuesday.

* ABC7: The Illinois auditor general says importing prescription drugs from Canada is not only illegal — it doesn’t help many seniors. But Governor Rod Blagojevich announced plans Tuesday to expand the state’s prescription drug program.

* Daily Herald: Gov. Rod Blagojevichâ€™s program touted as helping seniors get discount prescriptions in other countries has cost taxpayers nearly $1 million, violated federal law and benefited few, state auditors said Tuesday.

* SJ-R: Thumbing his nose at a state audit that concludes Illinois’ program to import prescription drugs violates federal law, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Tuesday that he intends to expand it to include state employees and retirees.

* Tribune: Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration spent nearly $1 million to develop and market a plan to illegally import low-cost drugs that ended up serving fewer than 3,700 Illinois residents, Auditor General William Holland said Tuesday.

- posted by Rich Miller

33 Comments

- Mr. Holland's Opus - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 9:33 am:
S-JR. “Thumbing his nose” captures the spirit of how Rod arrogantly does what he wants regardless of the impact. Although, personally I would have changed it to “Sticking the finger…”

- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 9:36 am:
I think it’s a tie between AP and the Tribune. Hanging a price tag up front on Blagojevich’s bumbling is what connects it voters minds. The AP story is a little more damning because it makes it clear that Blagojevich knew he was wasting our money at the time, but of course the Tribune has a bigger circulation.

Of course, until these stories start appearing in New York, Iowa and California, where Blagojevich hopes to anchor his presidential ambitions, Team Rod probably won’t care.

- The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 9:44 am:
Does anyone really believe Abby Ottenhoff and Shelia Nix when they address the media?

- Wumpus - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 9:46 am:
Daily Herald for a comprehensive title and the SJ-R for someone who cannot stand Blago.
How about this one from my own newspaper: Blago give the finger to taxpayers and the feds, puts presidential aspirations over all else.

- Wumpus - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 9:52 am:
Abby “Chesshire Cat” Ottenhoff brings a whole new clarity to the phrase “lying through one’s teeth”.

- Jaded - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 10:02 am:
I think it is the AP story, because it will show up in a lot of little papers and is the one that might actually appeal to average people. Nobody in the real world would ever pay for something when they know ahead of time they can’t have it.

My favorite line is about the bullying by the FDA. You know what I agree with Rod, the FDA has no idea what they are talking about. In fact, I think Rod should have his entire staff over to his place for dinner and serve fresh spinach!

- Common Sense in Illinois - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 10:13 am:
A thought just struck me…if the administration is using our tax dollars to finance an illegal transaction (importing prescription drugs), can a RICO investigation be launched? Just asking…

One other thought though, until the feds actually take an action, the Governor will continue his actions fearlessly.

- PlayK8 - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 10:15 am:
Why don’t they go after the pharmaceutical companies and the extortionate amount of money they spend marketing prescription medication to laymen? How much would drugs cost if they didn’t spend literally billions on useless ads telling me what medication they think my doctor should prescribe?

- Skeeter - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 10:30 am:
Holland got that one right.

SJ-R is the story.

It is one thing for Blago to screw up. I’m from Illinois. Illinois govs have been doing dumb stuff my entire life.

But to have the stupidity pointed out and then to continue down that road on purpose and as a matter of policy?

Still, at least he is open with what he is doing, as opposed to Jim Edgar.

Edgar was best known for, just before the election, stating that the State was in great shape only to raise taxes right after he was elected.

At least Blago makes his bad decisions right BEFORE the election.

- David - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 11:11 am:
Edgar campaigned on a platform of making a temporary surcharge permanent… and during my time in Illinois, Edgar never raised the income tax or the sales tax. What taxes are you talking about? I agree though that Blag-yo-yo makes bad decisions. His staff make bad decisions and hopefully the voters will not make bad decisions in November.

- anon - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 11:12 am:
PlayK8

pharma companies “spend literally billions on useless ads”…yeah, they don’t put any of their profits back into research or new products. Also, since when is it a bad thing for publicly traded, sales driven organizations to invest in promotional activities designed to educate consumers?

- zatoichi - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 11:18 am:
AP and Tribune have numbers to show the low benefit. The “I do not have to follow the law” philosophy remains consistent with Rod’s recent comment of “Sue me” if you don’t like it.

- David - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 11:22 am:
zatoichi is absolutely correct. Don’t like it, sue me. Unfortunately, we’re not really suing Rod, we’re suing the state and then Rod does another quarter million dollar no-bid contract to a legal firm in Chicago to defend him using interest from campaign funds. It should really be illegal to use campaign funds for legal issues arising from official acts.

- PlayK8 - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 11:26 am:
anon 11:12
It is one thing to ‘educate me’ it’s another to constantly bombard me with useless ads. If you can’t market tobacco and alcohol to children why should you be able to tell the average Joe what drugs he needs. They are about as useful as an infomercial and a giant waste of dollars that could be used to drive down costs.

- HoosierDaddy - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 11:54 am:
No.. David.. not quite. It shouldn’t be illegal to use campaign funds to defend oneself for one’s official misconduct, but it definitely should be illegal to use state dollars (maybe it already is). The people who contributed to Blago in hopes of getting some perks from his corrupt administration deserve to have their money spent in defending the corrupt acts by which they hoped to benefit.

As for those who contributed out of an honest (and severely misled) desire to clean up government… caveat emptor…

- One Man Can Make A Difference - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 12:50 pm:
The AP story.

I agree with - Common Sense in Illinois - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 10:13 am:

“until the feds actually take an action, the Governor will continue his actions fearlessly”

The Governor and his top administrator are complete renegades however unlawful their plight may be.

- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 1:34 pm:
I’m interested in hearing which one of the articles Bill likes the best. I think they were all great - especially the one where Elvis says “I won’t be bullied by the FDA.” Now there’s a moment.

- confused - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 1:43 pm:
I think Lt Gov Quinn unintentionally summed Blago’s stance quite well.

“Back in 1773, the men and women who started this country dumped tea in Boston Harbor to let King George III know what they thought about his arrogant unfairness,” said Quinn.

Now, he was talking about the electric rate hikes. But, why the double standards? Why is it OK for the Gov to completely ignore the Constitution and the basic laws of our land almost on a daily basis and not ok for everyone else?

- anon - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 1:49 pm:
Playk8

you obviously know nothing about the pharma industry, so please shut your mouth until you have done the appropriate research….

“billions” in marketing? not quite, try 100 million or less, and the reason the drugs cost so mush is strictly R & D. period. You have no idea the “billions” put into R & D by pharmaceutical companies and how long it takes to develop a drug, test it, and get it approved for use. The average drug takes between 10-15 years from conception to approval. And for every 1 drug that gets approved, there are about 100-150 that don’t.

please refrain from ever talking about the pharmaceutical industry again, you are doing nothing but showing your blatant ignorance, and making everyone else in here dumber

- DOWNSTATE - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 1:58 pm:
little egypt I thought I saw Bill on the corner with an iron kettle ringing one of those little bells they use at Xmas with a sign that said MONEY FOR BLAGO”S BAIL

- Cassandra - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 2:08 pm:
Blago isn’t taking any risks by defying the feds on this one. Think of the headlines. Think of the stories about old people whose medicine was cut off because they couldn’t afford it unless it came from Ireland or some other exotic place. Think of the Repubs who want to hang onto the White House. This may be on a fed investator’s to do list….but I bet it’s in the low-priority section.

- anon - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 2:14 pm:
cassandra - the FDA doesn’t have much of a low-priority section. They are similar to the IRS in that they go after just about everyone with the same vengeance….

People need to realize that there is a reason foreign medications are not legal here, and it has nothing to do with Drug Company profits….

Which FYI - there are already rumblings about some drug companies closing plants & facilities in IL for greener pastures….

- Troy News Guy - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 2:16 pm:
My votes for favorites are:
1) AP for stating he knew it would not work;
2) Tribune for getting the facts out; and
3) SJ-R for knowing the GoverNOTor enough to describe what he was thinking.

- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 3:18 pm:
What tax did Edar raise right after election?

- Buck Flagojevich - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 4:11 pm:
SJ-r & AP. It shows Blago at his best. His “I’m gonna do what I wanna do” attitude and his lack of regard for the law highlights his massive ego and undersized brain.

I would like to see more on the $111,000 in overseas trips, that weren’t billed according to established state travel rules. Who went and where did they go? Did families go? How long were these people on their “business” trips? Those kinds of minor details would be juicy.

- huh? - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 5:02 pm:
How many more stories will there be like these? When will they start having an effect on polls? When will the G men show up at his house with handcuffs? Anybody want to join in on a lawsuit to stop Public Official’s illegal acts and use of state money to fund his campaign?

- BIG R.PH - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 5:20 pm:
Do you people ever go to a pharmacy (real pharmacy not Walgreen’s) and talk to a pharmacist before you go blathering away?

Point #1 What G-Rod has been doing is illegal and he can be held responsible for EVERY prescription that has been sent. What this means is that he can be charged for 3700 people times the # of Rx’s = That # of counts. For you libs that means a lot of FELONIES.

#2 The reason that the Drug companies advertise on TV is that they now can. They did not used to be able to but the pushed the FDA for a “trial run” with Clairitin. Now that Pandora’s box was opened they have ramrodded more through. Each commercial that airs is approved by FDA. Why do they continue to run them? Because they work!

#3 Why are drugs expensive? Several reasons but the biggest one is that we have a health-care system in this country that has a disconnect between what the actual charges are and what is paid by the eventual payor. i.e. If the employee only has to pay $100/month for medical and $20 co-pay per RX. Who cares if the Rx is $50 or $500 because the employee feels like the plan should pick up the rest. The system needs more personal accountability that is why HSA accounts work so well.

Lower Taxes
More personal responsibility
More reward for success
Less Government

It’s called Conservatism and it works EVERY time it is tried!!!!

- Casey Jones - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 7:17 pm:
Among the choices presented, I’m with Buck on the SJ-R and A/P. The facts are there, and Rod’s I’m-above-it-all God complex comes through loud and clear. Who cares if I know the vaccine can’t be imported? I want it and I’m gonna buy it…it’s only money and not even mine! But I do have a write-in vote for my absolute favorite - straight from no less a source than today’s IGNN: “Gov. Blagojevich urges U.S. Senate Committee to oppose bill that would undermine Illinoisâ€™ ability to ensure food safety .” The press release goes on to say “The charge of the state health department and its local partners is to ensure the safety of the food supply and protect the publicâ€™s health…In order to accomplish these goals, the state must retain its authority to respond to contaminated and adulterated products without the added burden and delay of seeking federal permission before taking action.” So the pompous, self-serving hypocrite who ignores federal law, FDA regulation and Bill Holland’s report that proper health safeguards are not in place for the cheap foriegn drugs he wants the citizens of Illinois to ingest and inject is now going to protect us from federal laxity in the food arena. Apparently the risk is fine when it’s for an illegal program that sprang from Rogaine Rod’s fertile imagination, but he calls out “Sancho, my armor” and rides out to garner headlines for his staunch defense of us when that position suits him better. Inconsistent? I think not; he’s consistently all about what serves HIM at the moment.

- roadkill - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 7:43 pm:
Dana Heupel of the SJ-R said it best. It’s what this administration excells at, thumbing its nose at the law… and at the voters who put Blago into office.

- Budget Watcher - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 7:58 pm:
ISave RX - illegal, ineffective, and poorly managed. Kind of sums up the past 3 plus years.

- Gregor Samsa - Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 9:14 pm:
It should be called I-Scam.

Watch how long before his flacks claim the program is “helping” 30 thousand people every day…
(that’s assuming every state employee and their family members would sign up. They won’t, of course, but since they are “able” to, that will be considered ‘cose enough” for their next count).

Blago makes me nauseated, which pill do I take for that?

- PlayK8 - Thursday, Sep 21, 06 @ 9:20 am:
anon 1:49
Get a name so I know which moron I’m dealing with. And if you ever come up with something useful besides personal attacks then we can at least engage in meaningful dialog.

- CrunchyCon - Thursday, Sep 21, 06 @ 10:30 am:
Sun-Times and Daily Herald get bonus points for noting that Illinois could be sued for the entire kit-n-kaboodle $8.2M. SJ-R gets the prize for this quote from Abby:

Ottenhoff said the fact that Ecosse is seeking only $2.6 million in the Court of Claims “is clear evidence that there was an understanding that each entity was only responsible for the vaccine that was being secured on its behalf.”

Is Abby now the spokesperson for the AG (the same AG who failed to put a stop to this boondoggle from the get-go)?

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