The Decatur Herald-Review has an in-depth article today examining the often low-work, high-paying jobs that are given largely to the politically connected here in Illinois -- many of which pay six figure salaries for not a lot of work. The article also features our own State Senator Dan Duffy, who has carved a bit of a niche for himself by calling a spade a spade whenever one of these cushy jobs gets filled by yet another political hack:
Duffy has made a habit in the past few years opposing one proposed board appointment after another while pointing out whatever political connection the appointee has.
"When I started talking about this, people told me, off the record, ‘This is what the majority party does, gives spouses and supporters these positions,' " Duffy said last week. "I'm getting flack from all sides. It makes everyone uncomfortable when I stand up and point this stuff out."
Consistently, Duffy also called out Governor Quinn for his ill-advised appointment of three-time lose Dan Seals to a six figure state job, whose job responsibilities are... shall we say... unclear. But that's OK, 'cause so are Seals' qualifications for the post.
Ah, Illinois, Illinois. When shall come the day of our deliverance from this cesspool of insider gladhanding and back-scratching? If only we had 15 more Senator Duffys in Springfield calling bullshit whenever the powerbrokers on both sides of the aisle tried this stuff, we'd be in much better shape as a state.
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9 comments:
So TA, what do you make of the house map? I find it interesting that my hometown of Wauconda will essentially be divided in half and now represented by 2 different state reps. Crazy stuff...
Would I be considered a rat deserting a sinking ship if I moved out of state?? :) (humor intended)
Just think how much money the state could save if we eliminated all these 6 figure do-nothing positions.
Trebor of Libertyville
We could set the example right here in our own county. Start with cutting back the 250K salary of the County Administrator, and those outrageous salaries paid to township officials.
It's nice to see a republican with a spleen going after something however as the earlier person noted we have to be bipartisan in going after the waste. Just as when then congressman mark kirk started the fight against earmarks by going after republican earmarks, duffy, needs to go after all of the government waste-including on our side.
FOKLAES
I also echo the statement of the earlier poster-you've been eerily silent on the topic of the day-redistricting and what it means for the area. I love the idea of jan clone robyn gabel getting wrecked having to represent winnetka.
FOKLAES
FOKLAES - we've weighed in only slightly on redistricting for a few reasons - first, the maps are not yet final, and until they are, I see little reason to get all that excited over it (it's not like anything anyone says or does is going to have any real effect) -- second, we're waiting for the Conressional maps to come out for a real drill-down -- third, it's too damn depressing.
They are doing a close look over at LakeCountyEye on the local map stuff - I recommend it. I'm sure Barney Baxter would love to have you drop a few comments over there, it looks like they could use the traffic.
Barney could use the traffic? You're joking. She had the great scoop on that goofy yahoo Cal Skinner, (who I think is really Foklaes!) and a wonderful exchange that saw Louis getting bested again. I think she's got better sources and perhaps her ear's just a little closer to the ground, TA! Do you really think the map that she already has up on the EYE is going to be any different? And, if so, isn't that just the source of another post? This professional jealousy is unmanly.
Oh, and, I hear-tell Duffy may have swooped thru another red light again! Man, his Honda's got quite a mill!
one blog is enough for me. the reality is we didn't win anything with the current map (at the state level)and democrats did everything in their power to help us win it-the corruption spending ect. my hope with the new map is that democrats will overreach as a lot of parties have in the past and give people openings. we learned last november that crazy things can and will happen.
At the congressional level, all bets are off, it sounds like north shore native judy biggert is headed to retirement, and that there will be a mega primary between hultgren and roskam. I will also be fascinated by what walsh does.
Fan of King Louis Astaves the Ellen Slayer.
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