* The governor will probably want to talk about how he’s “saving” mass transit today, but reporters will probably want to ask him about this development as well…
A state employee fired for leaking an internal investigative report critical of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration testified Tuesday that he was recently interviewed by FBI agents.
Matthew Magalis, who is trying to win his job back through a civil service proceeding, did not say what federal agents had asked. But he said an FBI investigation is exactly what he was seeking when he decided to give a copy of the report in October 2006 to Christi Parsons of the Chicago Tribune. […]
Magalis said he gave the report to the press instead of the FBI because he feared for his job if it became known that he was cooperating with outside investigators.
“People are retaliated against in my department, so I didn’t want to be part of whatever investigation there was going to be,” said Magalis, who was fired in October from his $82,000-a-year job as an agency administrator after an investigation by the state’s Office of the Executive Inspector General.
* The General Assembly could be in session two days this week. If that’s the case, then reporters will likely press the governor tomorrow about a story which will appear at 10 o’clock tonight on CBS 2. Click the pic for the station’s promo, which is running in heavy rotation…
How would you like a job which pays you $155,000? You don’t have to talk to co-workers, very much, or attend important meetings. And you don’t even have to go to your main office every day.
Sorry, job’s taken by Rod Blagojevich.
CBS2’s Mike Flannery tracked the governor to see how he’s conducting the State of Illinois’ business. And we’ve got one question: If the governor’s not governing, what’s he doing?
“Exposing Blagojevich” tonight at 10, only on CBS2 News
Oof.
I’ve been hearing about this piece for weeks. Apparently, the station staked out the governor’s home and monitored his work habits. We’ll have to wait and see if the hype matches up to the substance, but I’m sure it will be a fun viewing.
I’ve asked the station to provide me with a live link to tonight’s broadcast. So, if you’re outside the Chicago area, check back tonight and you’ll probably be able to watch it right here.
*** UPDATE *** I have the link ready to go and will post it later tonight, so check back.
* And then there’s this…
A suburban man filed the first lawsuit against Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s unilateral expansion of state-subsidized health care.
Richard Caro of Riverside charged in his complaint, which was Monday filed in Cook County, that Blagojevich’s expansion of the state’s FamilyCare program is unconstitutional because lawmakers never agreed to appropriate that spending.
- Bill - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:27 am:
Maybe Channel 2 could get Walter Jacobson to dress up like a bum and hang out around the Blago crib. Now THAT’S journalism!
I’m glad no one watches Channel 2 news.
- MOON - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:33 am:
BILL
You can only hope no one watches channel 2 news!
- Levois - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:37 am:
Well this should be fun shouldn’t it?
- He makes Ryan Look like a Saint - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:38 am:
THe Insp. Generals office is used more by the Gov’s people to “attack” the anti blago people. They launch an investigation and keep investigating until they find something small. Then they work to fire the employee. Some investigations last 3 months or more and employees get suspended for taking too long of lunch or break. It is a joke.
- Bill - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:38 am:
No it shouldn’t.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:39 am:
So he ends up looking bad…. At this point do you really think he cares….
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:39 am:
Looks like a looonnnggg day for Bill. lol. Keep a large supply of coffee handy, buddy. :)
- Bill - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:41 am:
lol
Im up for it!
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:46 am:
Bill, you rascal, this is why you earn the big bucks. You will be at your finest today.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:52 am:
Bill why do I suspect you are a Cubs fan
- Wumpus - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:53 am:
I think the CBS show will be a dud.
- Bill - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:54 am:
OneMan,
I have always respected you even though you are an “R”. Why would you insult me like that?
- What planet is he from again? - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:56 am:
Good thing they didn’t stake out the Governor’s mansion in Springfield…that would indeed make a dull story.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:57 am:
Just figured the way you stick with the gov, you had to have the paitence of a cubs fan…
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:57 am:
The Blago piece should be entertaining but it is only significant if it increases the likelihood that Blago will be challenged in the primaries. And they are a long time out, although certainly the series could be resurrected for somebody’s campaign ads.
Won’t help the Republicans, though. They are as defunct as ever.
We hired a campaigner to run Illinois (twice!) and
this will only have an impact on Blago if he thinks it will affect his next campaign.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:59 am:
Calling someone a Cub fan is perhaps the worst thing you can do on this blog. Please refrain in the future from making such a drastic accusation.
:)
- Levois - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:06 am:
Hey, that last item. The governor could have saved himself the headaches, but I wonder if he can help it.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:07 am:
On a related side note, there is an unscientific reader poll running now at the sj-r asking: “Assuming it was possible, who would get your vote for governor in a race between Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan?”
Ryan is winning with 66% of the vote!
- publius - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:32 am:
ryan is winning because he is where he is supposed to be—in the housing that the government provides for a guy in his position—he shows up for work every day—he isn’t involved in taking money from one fund and spending it where it wasn’t meant to be spent, he hasn’t defied the jcar or the legislature nor is he doing anything unconstitutional—and he isn’t even collecting a big salary or a pension—nobody wants to recall ryan
- GoBearsss - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:42 am:
Rich, don’t you think you should classify Richard Caro as “Tom Roeser’s Friend, Richard Caro”?
- GoBearsss - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:46 am:
In the preview clip, it looks like the Governor is waiving at the van. So, I am sure he and his folks knew what CBS was doing.
And the first rule of PR for people who have media outside your front door - go out the back.
I wonder if CBS will have any funny clips of Blago sneaking out the back or running away from the cameras. That would be cute.
- fed up - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:48 am:
Another Day another FBI investigation into Blago. I have come to the conclusion that either blago is smarter than we give him credit for or the FBI is really bad at there job. I hate both options.
- fed up - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:49 am:
Hey rich did Blago ever admit where the previous funds to bail out the CTA came from.
- Bill - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:53 am:
fed up
The FBI is not bad at their job. I’m glad that you finally figured out the other option. You also left off the option that the governor has done nothing wrong and that there is nothing to investigate him for.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:56 am:
“GoBearsss,” take it up with Chambers.
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:08 am:
On days like this, Bill doth protest too much. A lot of us have had 5 rotton years of non-governing with Elvis. Bill can stand a bad press day once in a while. I do wonder though with Bill’s protests and always protective comments about Elvis, if he is wondering if Channel 2 has caught him going in and out of Chicago’s Executive Mansion? I’ll be watching the live feed Rich.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:10 am:
Fed up the FBI is very very thorough. They investigated Ryan for roughly 12 years. Ryan to this day maintains his innocence.
- GoBearsss - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:15 am:
I guess doing google searches is asking too much sometimes.
- Bill - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:17 am:
LE,
I always use the secret cellar entrance.
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:24 am:
Bill, Blago will never admit he has done anything wrong. Ryan didn’t either. But with the vast political corruption in Illinois at all governmental levels, I do believe the FBI would rather put its manpower on other corrupted officials who they know they can convict rather than chasing after your boy Blago IF he has not done anything wrong. I believe it was Patrick Fitzgerald who made a comment about the corrupted political hiring in State government, the FBI has subpoenaed Blago’s campaign records, it has been said that one of Blago’s employees has worn a wire, Rezko, Levine, and who knows what other information the FBI or Fitzgerald is going after. You and Blago can continue to proclaim innocence but it would be nice just once in a while to read something from you that says “innocent until proven guilty”. That statement would be more believable to the general blogging population. I would be real reluctant to state that Blago is innocent and putting my reputation on the line. But then again, you do like to push buttons don’t you?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:25 am:
The Governor practically dared somebody to sue him — and somebody did. That the plaintiff has, or probably has, conservative political leanings or backing is no surprise. Who else would you expect to step up to the plate?
- Bill - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:28 am:
I prefer innocent unless proven guilty.
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:37 am:
Well Bill, there are a lot of “innocent unless proven guilty” people currently working in the government sector. It’s a long line my friend and you can only hope Blago is at the back of it. However, I think most of us know that Fitzgerald has given Blago reserved seating in Section A, Row 1, Seat 1.
I’m going to try to stay awake until 10 p.m. for the live feed.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:38 am:
I prefer innocent “until” proven guity :)
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:41 am:
I prefer “unless.”
“Until” connotes that the target will actually be found guilty.
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:48 am:
“Until”, “unless”, makes no difference in this case because Blago is already guilty in the other court - the court of public opinion. His poll numbers shout that loud and clear.
- beavis - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:50 am:
The promo is very funny, reminds me of a negative campaign ad in style. I expect very little from the story though. Perhaps I’m ignorant, but I thought the public was already aware that he does nothing.
- Linus - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:53 am:
Rich, you’re a fan of the classics. Is that Jethro Tull’s “Cross-Eyed Mary” playing in the background of the Flannery/Blago promo?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 12:01 pm:
Close, but I don’t think so.
- anon - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 12:07 pm:
Bill, are you a Cubs fan?
- Anon Again - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 1:13 pm:
My numbers may be off by small amounts(had to add by hand) but here are some figures from the OEIG quarterly reports in the fiscal years 05-06-07
they had approximately 3787 complaints filed their report shows out ot these complaints they took action on 8, 2 were refered to the EEC and 6 were refered to the gov off, and we know two of those 6 got their jobs back not one referal to the AG or the FBI or any states attorney, my third grader could do better than that the sad part is know one knows what happened to the other six cases somehow i think we should know this is the USA and why would any case be referd to the Gov office when many of these accusations are about his appointees this is the exact reason many of his people refuse to honestly answer question from anyone it gives witness intimidation a new meaning tell the truth loose your job i have voted democrat my whole life i will not vote for another democrat for a long time this is embarassing
- Bill - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 1:21 pm:
Anon Again
You must be a proponent of the Rich Miller school of punctuation…….just kidding, your highness!
What’s with this cubs fan stuff? I only like major league baseball except for the Frontier League Champion Windy City Thunderbolts.
- Captain America - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 1:39 pm:
I heard the Channel 2 promo on WBBM Radio several times. From a PR standpoint, the promo alone seems very damaging to the governor, irrespective of the substance of the expose. The promo reinforces a negative perception that already exists in the public mind according to the polls.
- Garp - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 1:51 pm:
Truthfully, the thing I got out of the promo clip was that he only makes $155,000 per year. No wonder he is up to shanannigans. Maybe we should give him a raise so his wife doesn’t have to work so hard selling state contractors real estate.
- He makes Ryan Look like a Saint - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 2:03 pm:
Anon again, I don’t think they are reporting everything. Alot of the investigations they are involved in are no more than harassment.
- Anon Again - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 3:07 pm:
Rich teached me therd grade engleesh-failed
- Former State Employee - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 3:32 pm:
Hats off to Matt Magalis and good luck during his hearing. What happenned to “whistle blower” protection? Could the Gov at least reimburse DHS for the $’s raised at the fund raiser planned on state time??? HA!
- Disgusted - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 8:28 pm:
I heard today 3rd hand that the gov, wife and daughter had a run-in in the elevator at the Capitol with a couple of electricians. The gov’s language apparently left much to be desired of a father. Anyone else hear anything about this???
- In the Sticks - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:29 pm:
Rumor from the ISP watchers is that there may be a trip to one of the downtown hotels or two for a meeting or two in the morning, then back home for a jog, some lunch, then the afternoon in the library reading and thinking about how to do wonderful stuff for people. What a life! Check out the spare black Suburban parked at the neighborhood Walgreens - since a paid parking spot hasn’t been authorized.
- Sad in Elgin - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:47 pm:
It seems like the only city in IL is Chicago. Gov Blogo, when he wants to show up in Springfield, flies down on his private jet in the morning, then flies home at night so he can be the family man. Think of the money he wastes. The fuel. If you are going to be gov then live in the capital. I am sorry downtown Chicago has troubles, the CTA and CPS, but should I have to bail them out? We have our own problems here in Elgin. Our absent Gov should be down state working with our elected leaders trying to find a way to help Chicago without making the rest of the state pay! It makes me so tired and sad. Come on Rod, get back to work. I work every day, what about you?