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Madigan Wants to Boot Appointees of Previous Governors
If it's a fumigation you want, it's a fumigation you'll get. Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) is sponsoring a bill to immediately remove appointees of the last two governors -- Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan.

The bill, introduced Thursday and discussed by the speaker at an afternoon Capitol news conference, would remove the heads, assistant heads, and deputy heads of executive state agencies appointed while Blagojevich and Ryan were governor. It also covers members of executive boards and commissions, employees of executive state agencies, boards, and commissions, and anybody else nominated by Blagojevich or Ryan for a position requiring Senate confirmation.

Madigan says he expects the bill to move through the House next week.

Madigan wants Governor Pat Quinn to follow through on the "fumigation" he promised, adding that he is dissatisfied with "the pace of change." Madigan says Quinn did not object to the idea when he and Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) presented it to him Thursday morning.

The people fired -- numbering about 3,000 -- would be eligible to be reappointed, and Quinn would also be able to make temporary appointments.

Madigan says state government is largely populated by good people, but he adds the citizens are demanding change and accountability. He says to some extent, the executive branch seems to have Quinn's head and Blagojevich's body -- many of the same people are still around.

According to Madigan's bill, executive agencies, boards, and commissions are those in the executive branch not under the auspices of the lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, or comptroller.

On another topic, Madigan says he would be willing to support an income tax increase "to balance the budget and pay the bills -- not to grow the government." Madigan would not get into more specifics on Thursday after his spokesman, Steve Brown, warned him, "You're about to step on your story." Quinn has suggested an increase in the income tax rate to 4.5 percent from the current 3 percent, accompanied by an increase in the personal exemption.

(Illinois Radio Network)
05 07 09 by Newsroom
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