by Jerry Curtis

Created on: May 22, 2009   Last Updated: May 28, 2009

In a measure apparently designed to "throw the baby out with the bath wash," the Illinois General Assembly appears to ready to settle old scores with former Ryan/Blogovich agency heads and bureaucrats. House Speaker Madigan's original proposal was to fire about 3,000 politically appointed state employees, many in high decision-making positions, whom the reform-minded Illinois Legislature consider corrupt and tainted by the two former governors that appointed them. The problem is that this whole effort reeks of politics and is a naked and blatant power grab that violates the present governor's prerogatives as chief executive.

A wholesale cleanout of Illinois government administration is a bad idea for the following reasons:

*It is radical and disruptive.

House Speaker Madigan wants to fire 1500 appointees (a reduced number from the original 3,000). According to the Chicago Tribune's online "Clout Sheet": "A House committee ... approved a revised measure that would remove about 750 agency heads, deputy directors and employees, as well as members of state boards and commissions who were installed by Blogovich and Ryan over the last decade." Gutting the state's administrative apparatus is a terrible idea for obvious reasons.

*It is unfair and denies due process.

Before he was impeached Governor Blogovich accused Illinois lawmakers of running an unfair "witch hunt" that denied him due process and a chance to defend himself. He probably had a pretty good argument, but impeachment is what it is. On the other hand, those appointed by Blogovich who are summarily dismissed might have a better argument than Blogovich. Fair play and justice demands that anyone who is removed should have an opportunity for a fair hearing and some sort of due process. Mere association with an impeached governor should not be cause for removal, unless the current governor (at whose pleasure these appointees serve) decides to replace the appointee.

*It usurps the governor's prerogatives.

Politically appointed agency heads and employees serve the executive branch of the state government. They are appointed by the governor and approved by the legislature. A one-time law that fires them for no other reason than having been appointed by a particular governor is a bad precedent and violates the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of Illinois' state government.

*It is the "spoils system" in reverse.

In 19th Century American politics, when a new administration came into power, every employee down to the lowest level, was thrown out of a job and replaced by the winners. In this instance, the "new guys" are the legislators who were successful in throwing Governor Blogovich out of office. They now want to purge anyone appointed by him. Legislators want their own version of the spoils system. It would not be surprising if it turns out that there are a few replacements waiting in the wings who might be more pleasing to the legislators.

*There is a more reasonable and orderly way to do this.

If the Illinois state legislature is concerned about the state's well-deserved reputation for corruption, they should go about cleaning up their act in a more measured and just way. Any residual corruption on the part of Blogovich and Ryan appointees should be investigated, proved and disposed of openly and in a way that demonstrates that Illinois is trying to clean up its act.

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