* Rep. Jack Franks’ call for an impeachment investigation yesterday was more than a little breathless and over the top, but the administration had an absolutely ridiculous response…
But the Blagojevich administration responded with a 2003 memo that Franks sent to a personnel official listing a dozen people he’d like to see get state jobs or be appointed to state boards and commissions.
The list includes family and key players within the McHenry County Democratic Party.
“This memo shows, two months into the administration, he (Franks) was playing the politics of insider baseball - the hypocrisy to go out and talk about impeachment,” said Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero.
* The governor’s office was requesting hiring lists from Democrats back then. Franks sent in his list. Pretty simple. And how did it go for him?
Franks said three of the 12 were appointed to posts or got a job, including his father, who was named to an unpaid post on the Illinois Courts Commission. Franks’ father is the former president of the Illinois State Bar Association and Rep. Franks said he’s “eminently qualified.”
* Guerrero was right on top of that Jack Franks investigation. Too bad the administration has such trouble managing non-payback items such as following the law….
The Illinois Department of Corrections missed a deadline Wednesday to outline its plan to close Pontiac Correctional Center.
The agency, which has threatened to close the maximum-security facility and move 1,600 inmates to a new, unused prison in Thomson, asked a legislative panel for a two-week extension to compile the report.
It wasn’t clear Wednesday whether lawmakers would go along with the delay, which the department blamed on the state’s lingering budget impasse.
Let’s see, they have enough staff to pull Franks’ files, but not enough to outline a plan to close a prison that was announced months ago? Priorities, people. Priorities.
* Meanwhile, the press office is confused again…
The Blagojevich administration, not known for straight answers, is at it again.
It seemed like a simple question — if the Illinois Department of Transportation’s division of traffic safety moves to Harrisburg as proposed, how many division employees will still be based in Springfield?
But a couple of people who speak for the state gave what seemed to be less-than-complete answers Wednesday.
Bernie asked whether management would be transferred with the staff. We were told weeks ago that management would stay in Springfield, but now nobody’s all that sure.
Typical.
* Related…
* New Effort To Impeach Blagojevich
* Legislative special session sparks call for study to impeach Blagojevich
* Shimkus opposed to moving IDOT jobs from Springfield
* Commission gets info on IDOT move — won’t release it yet