May 17, 2006
WHO'S YO' DADDY!?!:
Gov's clout list hundreds long (CHRIS FUSCO AND DAVE MCKINNEY, May 17, 2006, Chicago Sun-Times)
Gov. Blagojevich's office kept a clout list of hundreds of state employees recommended by lobbyists, lawmakers and major fund-raisers -- despite the governor's repeated statements that politics doesn't influence state hiring.The computerized list obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times was created and stored off state property, a source said, and the administration used it to track favors it handed out if Blagojevich needed something in return from the employees' patrons -- a charge the governor's office vehemently denied.
The political sponsors on the 2003 list include top Blagojevich fund-raisers Antoin "Tony" Rezko and Christopher G. Kelly, identified as "TR," "CK10" and "CK."
Other patrons of those hired include Al Ronan ("AR"), a lobbyist whose former firm was convicted in a bid-rigging scheme; Blagojevich's now estranged father-in-law, Chicago Ald. Richard Mell ("RFM" and "Mell"), and a host of other insiders whose spouses and children wound up on the state payroll.
Posted by Orrin Judd at May 17, 2006 2:03 PM
Yes, another brewing scandal to put in your back pocket when the Dem's start spouting about a Republican climate of corruption.
On a related note, Da Mare is conveniently in Israel and China as one his top boys is in the dock this week. Coincidence?
Posted by: Rick T. at May 17, 2006 4:10 PMNow THAT'S some great old-school ham-handed Chicago style corruption.
Posted by: Pepys at May 17, 2006 4:19 PM...and a full 50% of those names are most likely on Topinka's "Clout list," copies of which are now being shredded and deleted all over Illinois.
Late last year, Rove got a hearing for the Carlyle Group re: "consulting" for one of the State's Pensions.
Illinois - where the really big pigs come to play.
Posted by: Bruno at May 17, 2006 5:04 PMBruno - perhaps but getting hit first will hurt Blago more than Tapioca.
Posted by: AWW at May 17, 2006 9:36 PM