* Deputy Gov. Louanner Peters “testified” yesterday to a House committee about a million dollar grant to fire-ravaged Pilgrim Baptist Church which instead wound up at a school that doesn’t seem to exist. I put quotes around “testified” because Peters wasn’t exactly forthcoming…
[A]t least 59 times in the roughly 90-minute hearing, Peters professed ignorance toward what Blagojevich has called a “bureaucratic mistake.”
“I would not have any idea who in the governor’s office would have the most answers,” Peters told members of the House State Government Administration Committee.
* The governor blamed a couple of former staffers for the grant, but wouldn’t name them. Neither did Deputy Gov. Peters…
Peters refused to name the two state officials the governor blamed for giving the church’s grant to the school.
“I don’t understand why you can’t answer,” Franks said.
“I don’t have an answer, sir,” Peters said.
* More…
Peters said it would be “inappropriate for me to comment on the circumstances surrounding the grant” because of an ongoing review of the matter by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which administered the grant.
* So, when will that review be completed?
Peters couldn’t say how long DCEO’s review would take.
* She gave the same treatment to reporters…
Peters did not answer questions after the hearing. “Walk fast,” a Blagojevich spokeswoman told her as reporters followed her down the Capitol hall.
Supreme arrogance.
- CapitolView - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 6:00 am:
Another example of an Administration which was going to stop doing “business as usual”, demonstrating their true ideals, that as long as they are in control they can do what they want. That has been the precedence since this administration took office. Who are we the general public, to question our public servants on how our tax dollars are spent? We are billions of dollars in debt and we’re giving away millions for feel good exposure. The entire state is controlled by one party and we can’t get answers to questions, we can’t get bills paid on time, we can’t even keep the basic needs to be addressed. All this while not doing “business as usual.”
- Gregor - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 7:43 am:
“Walk, don’t run”
- Cassandra - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 7:49 am:
Doesn’t Ms. Peters oversee the various health and social services programs offered by the state of Illinois. DHS, DCFS, Public Health and so on. All in complete disarray, bloated with highly-paid pork, and incompetent pork at that. With actual people (mostly kids) dying as a result.
This is the real Ms. Peters scandal, not Blaojevich using another million dollars of taxpayer money to buy the African American vote.
He’s been doing that all along.Who knows how involved she was. We may never know. But at least nobody got killed.
The real story is that Ms. Peters, in charge of protecting children and the disabled, some of the the state’s most vulnerable populations, is not up to the job.
- yawn - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:14 am:
So how are we doing on the capital bill? Can Franks take time to work on that instead of trying to run for another office? It must be interesting to live in a county where the sen and rep in the party, who is not in control, can get more done than the “democrat.”
- dc - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:32 am:
Loved the “walk fast” quote… these Blagojevich people in senior leadership roles have had 5 years of on-the-job training and still have an intern mentality. Do you think for one second that someone like Mike Lawrence would have instructed a Deputy Governor to “walk fast” to avoid transparency and accountability? This is yet another example, albeit a somewhat “tangential” one, of a complete lack of vision for leading this state.
Even Ryan, for all his shortcomings, makes the Blagojevich bunch look like characters from Dilbert.
- anon - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:34 am:
Maybe Franks should get back to work on helping Hilary Clinton. She needs help and this is going no where.
- Ghost - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:39 am:
If the Gov can lose 1 mil and not go to jail, how can we prosecute some lowly poor state employee for taking a mere 200k (she xfered most of the original 750k back). So Gov gives this women a pardon and a million bucks, where do I sign up?
- Leave a light on George - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:47 am:
CapitolView/dc I couldn’t agree more. Geo Ryan was/is a crook and got what he deserved but at least he made government run and had respect for the process. When the rules prevented something they changed the rules. Remember the gang of 35?
These arrogant, incompetent boobs in charge now don’t even try and hide their contempt for the process of governing. If they want something any rules, laws, differing opinions be damned, they just do it. Before it is all said and done lots are going to feel the ire of the feds.
- It's 5 O'clock somewhere - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 8:49 am:
Who signed the request for the grant?
- Plutocrat03 - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:01 am:
If it is going to be this hard getting to the bottom of this seemingly simple issue, what hope do the average citizens have in truth and transparency on the more complex matters in State governance.
I will ask again. What is the percentage of politicians who magically become millionaires after being elected into office?
e.g. how many spouses get massive raises and promotions when the political spouse hets a new high profile position?
For clarity, we can compare any other profession in comparison.
Pay to play is ‘large and in charge’
- Wild Bill - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:01 am:
Like the Sun Times reported…Peters must have bumper her head
- anon - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:21 am:
Peters has done a really great job and I commend the Gov for selecting her.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:35 am:
Peters did her job. She showed where her loyalties lie. It isn’t with Illinois citizens though, is it?
“thank for playing, Louanne - here’s a departing gift - don’t come back!”
- Crimefighter - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:36 am:
Great job doing what exactly?
- Springfield Alum - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:43 am:
Thank you for the self-evaluation, Ms. Peters.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 9:44 am:
Arrogance, incompetence, corruption. If the Illinois GOP can find a candidate with a pulse, they might be able to run on these three.
- Garp - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 10:29 am:
This should be an AG investigation and indictment.
- WSEC-TV - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 10:31 am:
DISCLOSURE-
The post by ‘CapitolView’ is not associated with the producers of the CapitolView program produced by WSEC-TV/PBS.
- OneMan - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 10:59 am:
She did a great job reinforcing the incompetence not corruption theme
- Truthful James - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 11:02 am:
Peters testimony revealed at the same time her loyalty to the governor, her ability to duck and cover and the wasted money we have appropriated to fund a Deputy Governor position.
Clearly the job is merely a political and not an administrative position — protecting the governor rather than serving the people
Deputy Dawg could not have done it better. And Bill, as well.
- DuPage Dave - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 12:13 pm:
The story on Springfield public radio yesterday said that Peters was sighing and rolling her eyes in response to questions in order to demonstrate her contempt for the legislators. There was no mention of that in any of the stories I read today (Trib, Sun-Times, SJ-R). Anyone attend the hearing yesterday to confirm that? It seems an interesting detail to be overlooked, if true.
- The Mad Hatter - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 12:23 pm:
This sordid tale has Emil Jones written all over it. You investigative reporters who read this blog need to look into that connection. As an aside, after all the millions involved in the pay-to-play scandals now unfolding, wouldn’t it be a hoot if this measly $1 million give-away ends up being the nail Fitz uses to seal the coffin he’s been building for Unindicted Official A-Rod?
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 4:08 pm:
Walk fast? That sounds like something Britney Spears’ bodyguard would tell her when the paparazzi come crushing in.
What a bunch of arrogant hacks. Oh no! The press! A negative story!
The sad thing is that Ms. Peters is a nice person. She means well. But when thrown into the mix with a bunch of doofuses like Team Blago, I guess even the best-intentioned among us can fall into a funk.
- Truthful James - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 4:34 pm:
How much is she paid for “meaning well.” Perhaps her function is to look dumb.
From Blago’s press release upon her appointment
“,,,Louanner Peters brings years of public service to the position, as well as a strong background in directing social services operations. As the Governor’s deputy chief of staff for social services, Peters oversaw the state’s social service agencies, including the Departments of Human Services, Healthcare and Family Services, Children and Family Services, Public Health, Veterans’ Affairs, Human Rights and Aging. Most recently Louanner served as deputy campaign manager on Governor Blagojevich’s reelection campaign.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to play a direct role in helping Governor Blagojevich fulfill his agenda for his second term, especially his goals for making state government more efficient and responsive to the people it serves. Making those kinds of changes will enable us fulfill the Governor’s campaign promise of bringing affordable health care to everyone in this state that needs it. As the Governor said election night, ‘We have a lot more to do for the hard-working people of our state,’ and I am excited to be on board,” said Peters.
Before beginning her tenure under Governor Blagojevich, Peters served for 10 years on Capitol Hill as the Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative Gus Savage and as a Professional Staff Member to the U.S. House Committee on Public Works. In addition to the Governor’s campaign, Louanner worked on campaigns for U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush and Gus Savage as well as Mayors Marion Barry and Anthony Williams in Washington, D.C. Outside her political experience, Peters was as a Chairperson for the Board of Directors of the Washington Convention Authority and consulted the U.S. Department of Defense on their Breast Cancer Research Program. Peters received her B.A. in Political Science from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and an M.A. of Social Work from the University of Illinois in Chicago….”
Seems like a wide ranging set of experiences.
She did know the suject of Jack Frank’s inquiry and undoubtedly refreshed herself.
Who is her ‘godfather’? Emil Jones? Rich, I am sure you know these things. Curiouser and curiouser.
- cal - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 6:40 pm:
DuPage Dave, I’d be rolling my eyes too if I was subjected to another tedious Jack Franks “I wanna be somebody show.” As for Ms Peters, I think she’s a refreshing and a person that really deeply cares about the communities under her protection.
- Plutocrat03 - Thursday, Apr 3, 08 @ 7:59 pm:
Exactly who was being protected by this lack of testimony?
I challenge anyone to show me a citizen who has benefitted from this misdirection of public funds and tetimony.
She is really supposed to be working for the people of the state of Illinois, and the people who rely on the social services she is to provide.
Two strikes. She should be fired.
- anon - Saturday, Apr 5, 08 @ 5:59 pm:
How did Peters get her job? Am I paying her salary? What’s her job description?