Illinois Government Scandal

Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested for corruption charges.

Apparently, being a governor just does not pay enough, have the right amount of benefits or have a good enough retirement plan.

nice article from the Wall Street Journal. you know how i roll.

Highlights of the Blagojevich Corruption Charges

Susan Davis reports on politics.

Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested today in Chicago amid charges of political corruption. The two were charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. According to the Justice Department, the two men allegedly engaged in “ongoing criminal activity” including:

–Conspiring to obtain personal financial gain through the appointment to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat. According to the indictment, Blagojevich sought a highly paid job at either a nonprofit foundation or labor organization, as well as a job for his wife on a corporate board where she would earn at least $150,000 a year.

well i found this nice article that tells me Rod was pulling in about $155,000 in 05/07 and was ranked 7th highest paid. Arnold is #1, but he gives his check back to the state.

Govs' salaries range from $1 to $206,500
By Andrew Knapp, Special to Stateline.org

"“It’s a good political ploy to (not accept a salary),” said Thad Beyle, a University of North Carolina professor who studies U.S. governors. He said politicians run for the top state job not for the money, but sometimes to parlay the post into higher office, including the presidency. Four of the last five U.S. presidents served in the governor’s office before the Oval Office. “It’s just the next step to bigger things,” Beyle said."

this is a good article, but knowing what we know now a year later and the trouble going on.

check it out the Disgraced NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer made the article.

"A list of 2007 gubernatorial salaries compiled by the Council of State Governments shows the largest at $206,500 in California, though the governor doesn’t accept it, and the smallest at $70,000 in Maine, where the governor hasn’t gotten a raise in 20 years. At $179,000, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) draws the largest salary among governors who actually accept one."

Well, we know where some of his wages went.

All I can do is shake my head.
Live in a mansion. State pays all the household bills.
24 armored guard.
sign bills in State Law.
pardon people.
Set policy.
create jobs.
enact programs that spend millions of dollars.
command the national guard.
people listen to what you have to say.
people love you.
people hate you.

Well anyway. I can only say that Illinois has a major headache because of this.

UPDATE

The Illionis state house voted to impeach. of course he is fighting to the finish.

2-17-09

The former governor has not been heard from since...,but the governor's selection for US Senator has made some news... Apparently, Mr. Burris was not entirely truthful as to his dealings with the disgraced former governor.

Per this nice story :

Burris Admits to Fundraising Attempt
Senator Now Says He Tried to Solicit Money for Blagojevich
By Peter Slevin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 18, 2009; Page A03

said that he tried to start something, but nobody was helping so he quit helping.

"In the latest in a series of shifting accounts of his conduct, Sen. Roland W. Burris (D-Ill.) told reporters that he tried to raise money for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich at the same time he was asking Blagojevich to appoint him to the Senate.

Burris said he contacted "some people" about holding a fundraiser at the request of Blagojevich's brother, Robert, only to learn that no one was willing to help the governor. He said he later changed his mind, raised no money and contributed none.

The account to reporters in Peoria, Ill., was Burris's fifth version of his contacts with close associates of Blagojevich and the first time he acknowledged trying to raise money for the former governor, who was arrested and forced from office on corruption charges. "

Damn It!

that is all I got for now on this.