Add Pat Quinn's promise to "fumigate" state government after taking over from Rod Blagojevich to the list of deflating disappointments on the governor's resume.
Far from forming a new administration free of the tainted political hires of the past, Quinn seems to have largely given up any effort to clean house.
According to the Sun-Times, the Quinn administration is still employing about 70 high-ranking, highly paid Blagojevich hires whose names appear on a clout list now in the hands of federal prosecutors, and who have been the subject of subpoeanas issued to the governor's office and other state agencies.
Maybe Quinn forgot where he put the pesticide. Here's a hint: Check that box in the basement where you're storing your backbone.
Legislative efforts to force Quinn to follow through on his promise have stalled, too. House Speaker Michael Madigan - no doubt eyeing the job openings for his own clouty self - passed a measure through his chamber to force the governor to fire 750 state employees left over from the Blago era (he originally wanted to do in a few thousand.)
John Cullerton refused to call the bill in the state senate, though, ostensibly fearing it was too broad to be fair and could have also led to a bevy of lawsuits.
Cullerton wants the governor to fire away on his own.
Politics
And that's not going to happen.
The administration wouldn't even tell the Sun-Times how many jobs have been fumigated.
"Since coming into office, the governor has repeatedly stated that every state worker is being evaluated on an ongoing basis that's based on their abilities, conduct and on-the-job performance," Quinn spokesman Bob Reed told the Sun-Times. "He has made it very clear that all employees are required to do their jobs well and give their best effort every day. Those that fail to do so will be dealt with in a proper, fair and equitable manner."
That may sound pretty, but it doesn't smell good at all.
Steve Rhodes is the proprietor of The Beachwood Reporter, a Chicago-centric news and culture review.
