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Rod Blagojevich

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Rod R. Blagojevich
Blagojevich's congressional portrait
40th Governor of Illinois
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 13, 2003
LieutenantPat Quinn
Preceded byGeorge Ryan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 5th district
In office
1997–2003
Preceded byMichael Flanagan
Succeeded byRahm Emanuel
Personal details
Born (1956-12-10) December 10, 1956 (age 67)
Chicago, Illinois
Political partyDemocratic
SpousePatricia Mell
ChildrenAmy Blagojevich
Anne Blagojevich
ResidenceChicago
Alma materUniversity of Tampa, Pepperdine University, Northwestern University
ProfessionLawyer

Rod R. Blagojevich (Template:PronEng Audio file "Blagojevich.ogg" not found, born December 10, 1956) is an American politician from the state of Illinois. A Democrat, Blagojevich currently serves as Governor of Illinois and previously represented parts of Chicago in the U.S. Congress. He is the second Montenegrin American to be elected governor of any state of the United States, after George Voinovich of Ohio.

Blagojevich was the first Democrat elected to Illinois' governorship in thirty years (after Daniel Walker in 1972). Rod has been given the opportunity to select a successor to the Senator Barack Obama who was elected to President, Nov 4th, 2008.

Personal life

Blagojevich was born and raised in Chicago's northwest side in a middle-class family. His father, of Montenegrin origin, immigrated to the United States and found work as a steel plant laborer.[2] He has an older brother, Rob. Blagojevich spent much of his childhood working odd jobs to help the family survive. He was a shoeshiner and pizza delivery boy before working at a meat packing plant.[2] In order to afford college, Blagojevich worked at the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline System as a dishwasher.[2]

Blagojevich is married to the former Patricia Mell, daughter of Chicago Alderman Richard Mell. The couple has two daughters, Amy and Anne. Anne was born just months after her father was sworn in as governor. His sister-in-law is Deb Mell, a gay rights activist running unopposed for the state house in 2008. Blagojevich has no middle name, but uses the initial "R." in honor of his late father Radisa Blagojevich.[3]

Education

He graduated from Chicago's Foreman High School after transferring from Lane Technical High School. After graduation, he enrolled at the University of Tampa.[4] After two years, he transferred to Northwestern University in suburban Evanston where he obtained his bachelor's degree in 1979. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1983. Upon his return to Chicago, Blagojevich entered the legal profession in the public sector. He served as Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, prosecuting domestic abuse crimes and felony weapons cases.[citation needed] ==Legislator==United States SenateWith the backing of his influential father-in-law, alderman Richard Mell, Blagojevich ran for a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives and won in 1992. Most of his legislative accomplishments centered on crime and justice issues.[citation needed] He took from his experiences as a prosecutor to pass laws that he argued would strengthen the state's judicial system and cut crime.

The Fifth Congressional District, in which Blagojevich lived, had long been represented by powerful Chicago Congressman Daniel Rostenkowski, who served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. However, following his loss in 1994 (Rostenkowski pled guilty to mail fraud), the overwhelmingly Democratic district was represented by Republican Mike Flanagan.

However, in 1996, Blagojevich defeated Flanagan with support from his father-in-law, and served three terms in the United States House of Representatives. In Congress, Blagojevich continued to advocate what he called anti-crime measures, especially gun control legislation. In general, though, he was not known as a particularly active Congressman.[citation needed] Blagojevich was thrust into international prominence in the late 1990s when he traveled with Jesse Jackson to Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia to negotiate the release of American prisoners of war from President Slobodan Milošević.[citation needed]

On October 10, 2002, Rod Blagojevich was among the 81 House Democrats who voted in favor of authorizing the invasion of Iraq.[5] He was the only Democrat from Illinois to vote in favor of the Iraq war.

2002 Gubernatorial election

In 2002, Blagojevich ran for his party's nomination to become governor. Blagojevich won a close primary campaign against former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, whose base was largely African-American voters[citation needed], and Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Paul Vallas, who ran strong in the suburban "collar" counties of Chicago.[citation needed]

In the general election, Blagojevich defeated Republican Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan. Ethics scandals had plagued the previous administration of Republican George Ryan (no relation to Jim), and Blagojevich's campaign focused on the theme of "ending business as usual" in state government.[citation needed]

Gubernatorial administration

After the 2002 elections, Democrats had control of the Illinois House, Senate, and all but one statewide office. Since taking office, Blagojevich has signed numerous pieces of progressive legislation such as ethics reform, death penalty reform, a state Earned Income Tax Credit, a statewide comprehensive smoking ban and expansions of health programs like KidCare and FamilyCare. Blagojevich signed a bill in 2005 that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit.

Shortly after taking office in 2003, Blagojevich continued support of a "moratorium" on executions of death row inmates, even though no such executions are likely to occur for years (his predecessor, George Ryan, commuted all of the death sentences in the state shortly before leaving office in 2003).[6] This support has continued through his administration.[7]

Other notable actions of his term include a strict new ethics law and a comprehensive death penalty reform bill that was written by now-President-elect Barack Obama (when he was serving as an Illinois State Senator) and the late U.S. Senator Paul M. Simon.

Blagojevich with Congressman Rahm Emmanuel (D-IL) advocating for changes in medicare legislation.

Health care

In October 2005, Blagojevich announced All Kids, his plan to provide access to state-subsidized healthcare for every child in Illinois. All Kids made Illinois the first state in the U.S. to provide universal healthcare for kids, regardless of income and immigration status. [8]

In March 2007, Blagojevich unveiled and campaigned for his universal healthcare plan, Illinois Covered.[9] The plan was debated in the Illinois State Senate, but came up one vote short of passing. [10]

Education

Despite an annual budget crunch, Blagojevich has overseen record increases in funding for education every year without raising general sales or income taxes. He has, however, been criticized by Republicans and many moderate Democrats for failing to adequately fund the state pension system.

Another early 2006 proposal included "PreSchool for All" for all three- and four-year-old children in Illinois. Legislation authorizing the program was adopted as part of the fiscal year 2007 budget.[11]

Capital Program

On 10 January 2006, Blagojevich announced a proposal for a new $3 billion (US) spending plan for Illinois roads, mass transit, and schools, to be paid for by increased tax revenue and new gambling proposals (such as Keno and Lottery games).[12] The proposal met with immediate opposition by members of the Republican Party in Illinois and many Democrats, who viewed it as "an election year ploy." The suggestion to legalize Keno within Illinois was later withdrawn.[13]

In March 2008, Blagojevich announced a bipartisan coalition, chaired by former U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and Former U.S. Congressman Glenn Poshard, to put together a capital construction package that could pass the Illinois General Assembly. The Illinois Works Coalition toured the state and put together a compromise $34 billion package that relied on a lease of the Illinois Lottery, road funds, and expanded gambling for funding.[14] The plan passed the Senate but stalled in the Illinois House.

Gun Control

In February 2006, in his "State of the State" address, he talked of the need for a state ban on semi-automatic firearms, prompting threats from several gunmakers in the state to leave. Among these were ArmaLite Inc., Rock River Arms, Les Baer Custom and the legendary Springfield Armory.[15]

When Blagojevich was previously a state legislator, he had introduced bills seeking to raise gun owner registration fees in Illinois from the current $5 for 5 years to a $100 annual fee. State Representative Blagojevich stated, "This is, in a small way, another part of the cooling-off period," he said. "If the cost of owning a firearm is raised, people will put more thought into the decision to buy one."[citation needed]

Traffic Safety

The Governor has striven to improve traffic safety. Blagojevich proposed and signed into law a bill that was concerned with making seatbelt enforcement a primary offense (no traffic offense required before being stopped for a seatbelt violation).[citation needed] Another bill signed by the Governor allows the Illinois State Police to operate photo radar on Illinois Tollways in construction zones.[citation needed] Three times, he has vetoed a bill that would permit trucks to drive 65 mph instead of the current 55 mph.[citation needed]

Controversies

Although Blagoejvich was elected on a promise to end the corruption in Illinois government which led to the federal indictment and conviction of former Governor George Ryan and others, his administration has been plagued by similar controversies.[16] Polling completed on October 13, 2008 put Blagojevich's approval rating among Illinois voters at 4%.[17] Blagojevich ranks as “Least Popular Governor” according to Rasmussen Reports By the Numbers. [18]

On October 23, 2008, the Chicago Tribune reported that Blagojevich suffered the lowest ratings ever recorded for an elected politician in nearly three decades of Chicago Tribune polls. The survey of 500 registered likely voters conducted showed that 10 percent wanted Blagojevich re-elected in 2010, while three-fourths said they didn't want him back for a third term. The survey also showed only 13 percent approved of Blagojevich's performance, while 71 percent disapproved. Only 8 percent of the state's voters believe Blagojevich has lived up to his promise to end corruption in government. Sixty percent of Democrats did not want him to serve another term in office, and 54 percent disapproved of the job he had done. Among independent voters, 83 percent disapproved of his performance and 85 percent of them rejected a Blagojevich third term.[19]

Federal investigations

On June 30, 2006, it was revealed that state Attorney General Lisa Madigan had received a letter from United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, stating that Fitzgerald is looking into "very serious allegations of endemic hiring fraud" in the Blagojevich administration, and thanking Madigan for turning over her office's investigation to the federal authorities.[20]

In September 2006, it was revealed that Blagojevich had accepted a $1,500 check from Mike Ascaridis, whom the governor described as one of his closest friends, in 2003.[21] The check was given two weeks after Ascaridis' wife, Beverly, received a state job at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Mrs. Ascaridis received this appointment despite having failed a state hiring exam.[22] Blagojevich initially asserted that the check was written as a birthday gift to his oldest daughter. He then later said it was a gift for his younger daughter's christening.[23] U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald[23] and the FBI[24] are investigating the matter.

On October 2, 2006, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that a company that contributed close to $120,000 to Blagojevich's 2002 gubernatorial campaign won a no-bid contract. Even though the contract was awarded by the Illinois' Capital Development Board[25], the board still reports to the Governor.[26]

Tony Rezko indictment and trial

On October 11, 2006, Blagojevich fundraisers and businessmen Antonin "Tony" Rezko and Stuart Levine were indicted for participation in a scheme to obtain kickbacks from investment firms seeking business from two state boards. Levine pleaded guilty two weeks later and agreed to testify against Rezko.[27][28]

The governor's wife, Patricia Blagojevich, was a business partner of Rezko's for at least a decade. In 2004, she received over $38,000 in real estate commissions from him.[29]

In October 2006, it was revealed that Mrs. Blagojevich, a licensed real estate broker, earned $113,700 in commissions from Anita and Amrish Mahajan. These were the only commissions earned by Mrs. Blagojevich this year. Anita Mahajan owns a urinalysis company that holds a no-bid contract with the state Department of Children and Family Services. Amrish Mahajan is president of a bank that has two requests pending before state regulators to acquire two out-of-state banks.[30]

In December 2007, Blagojevich campaign boss Chris Kelly was indicted on federal charges of tax fraud.[31] The charges against Kelly were not related to the governor or any political work. However, Kelly has been listed as a "co-schemer" in court filings related to the Rezko case. According to prosecutors, Kelly was involved in pressuring prospective state contractors for "finder's fees" or political contributions.[32] At the time of Rezko's indictment, Blagojevich described his relationship with Kelly: "They're two different people, by the way, and it's a different relationship. Chris and I are much closer. Chris is the head of my political campaign. That's someone I talk to a lot more frequently."[33]

Blagojevich was widely rumored to be the unnamed "Public Official A" mentioned in the Rezko indictment. The governor repeatedly denied that he was Public Official A, but on February 26, 2008, the judge in the case issued a ruling which confirmed his identity. A pretrial ruling in the case from U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve named the Blagojevich campaign and confirmed that Blagojevich was the intended beneficiary of at least one of Rezko's extortion attempts. Blagojevich was not charged in the indictment, although prosecutors have asserted in other court filings that he told a top Democratic fundraiser that he could steer contracts, legal work and investment banking in order to help with fundraising.[34][35]

During the Rezko trial, Blagojevich's name came up frequently - first during testimony from Levine, who testified of Rezko's influence with the governor. Blagojevich was not charged in the case, but prosecutors sought to prove that his top advisers were involved in widespread kickback schemes. Levine mentioned Blagojevich by name at least 30 times in one day of testimony, and said under oath that the governor told him, "[Y]ou stick with us and you'll do very well for yourself". Levine took the comment to mean that there was money to be made if he did the administration's bidding. A Blagojevich spokesperson denied that the governor was involved in any illegal activity, saying "Stuart Levine's assertions about the governor are wrong. As we've said before, that's not how the governor does business."[36]

On April 3, 2008, Levine testified that Blagojevich was aware of a shakedown involving businessman and movie producer Tom Rosenberg in 2004. Levine said that when Rosenberg threatened to go to the authorities over what he saw as an extortion attempt, Rezko and the governor worked out a "damage control" plan. Rosenberg would get the contract, but would get no further business from the state. Levine told the jury that Blagojevich approved of this plan and told Rezko that the contract was "the last thing that Mr. Rosenberg should get from the state". Blagojevich's office responded by again denying that any such conduct took place. "We don't endorse or allow the awarding of contracts based on campaign contributions. We never have. We never will." a spokesman for the governor said.[37][38]

Joseph Cari, Jr., the former finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee, testified that Blagojevich was at one time attempting to form a national fundraising presence in hopes of a run for President of the United States. Cari said that the governor told him that "contracts, legal work, investment banking work and consulting work" would be awarded to "people who helped". The governor's office again issued a denial after Cari's testimony.[39]

On June 4, 2008, Rezko was convicted on 16 of the 24 counts against him.[40] Facing decades in federal prison, it became clear that Rezko could cut his prison time significantly if he were to cooperate in ongoing investigations of other public figures, potentially including Blagojevich.[41] On October 9, 2008, Rezko's sentencing was delayed indefinitely as he and his lawyers continued to talk with prosecutors in an effort to work out a deal.[42]

The first signs of Rezko's willingness to give information to the authorities came with the October 30, 2008 indictment of longtime Illinois power broker and Blagojevich fund-raiser William Cellini.[43] Cellini was charged with conspiring with Rezko, Levine and others to award contracts with the state's Teachers Retirement System (TRS) to companies which made campaign contributions to the Blagojevich campaign. The alleged extortion of Rosenberg was one of the instances specifically mentioned in Cellini's indictment.[44]

Talk of impeachment

On April 22, 2008 the former head of the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) became the first person to accuse Blagojevich of personally offering a position in his administration in return for campaign contributions. Ali Ata pleaded guilty to one count of tax fraud and one count of making false statements to federal authorities.[45] In exchange for Ata's cooperation with the investigation, prosecutors dropped charges that he had used his IFA position to help Rezko sell his pizza franchises - a scheme for which Rezko was indicted separately from the bribery case.[46] In the plea agreement, Ata admitted to meeting with Rezko several times regarding fundraising efforts for Blagojevich's campaign, and discussing the possibility of a position with a state agency in return for the contributions. He further stated that Blagojevich was present at one such meeting in 2002, in which Ata presented a $25,000 campaign contribution. According to the plea agreement, Blagojevich expressed his "pleasure" with Ata's fundraising and "asked Rezko if he (Rezko) had talked to the Defendant [Ata] about positions in the administration, and Rezko responded that he had". Ata was eventually appointed to the IFA post, and further admitted to giving Rezko about $125,000 in bribes before and after his appointment.[45][47] Ata repeated these allegations on the witness stand at Rezko's trial.[48] The governor's office issued another denial, and continued to deny that Blagojevich was "Public Official A", despite Judge St. Eve's earlier confirmation. Prosectors later said that Ata was also prepared to testify that Rezko sought and received a $25,000 bribe in 2002 which Rezko claimed would be used to pay for repairs to Blagojevich's home.[49]

In the wake of Ata's guilty plea and accusations against Blagojevich, what had previously been only rumors of impeachment gained credibility when two State House Democrats told the Chicago Sun-Times that a decision on an impeachment resolution could be near. State representatives Jack Franks and John Fritchey said that the revelations made impeachment a real possibility. Fritchey, the representative from Blagojevich's home district in Chicago, explained that "We now find ourselves in a very different environment, where an individual has pled guilty to being a co-conspirator in transactions involving the governor." [50][51] Previously, a Republican group had urged impeachment proceedings due to "near-criminal mismanagement of the state's finances".[52][53]

"$25,000 Club"

In the midst of the Rezko trial, the Chicago Tribune reported on what it called a "$25,000 Club" in which 75% of businesses, unions and individuals that gave a $25,000 donation to Rod Blagojevich's political campaign received benefits from the State of Illinois, including state contracts and appointments to state boards.[54]

Contributions from Elevator Constructors Local 2 PAC

The Associated Press reported on March 3, 2008, that on July 23, 2003, Friends of Blagojevich received a $10,000 campaign contribution from the Elevator Constructors Local 2 PAC fund[55]in the same month three Union Officers received appointments to the Illinois Elevator Safety Board.

The President of Elevator Constructors Local 2 (Chicago) Stephen Hynes was appointed as the labor representative, the Business Manager of Elevator Constructors Local 55 (Peoria) Roderick Gillis was appointed as a representative of a municipality with a population under 25,000 and a third Union Officer, Local 2 Business Manager and Elevator Constructors Vice President Frank J. Christensen was appointed as Chairman of the Illinois Elevator Safety Board by Governor Blagojevich. Christensen was appointed as a representative of a municipality between 25,000 and 50,000. At the time of Christensen's appointment in 2003, the village of Tinley Park had a population in excess of 53,000. Christensen and the Business Manager of Elevator Constructors Local 55, Roderick Gillis were reappointed to their same board positions in 2007 by Governor Blagojevich. Tinley Park's population was in excess of 58,000 in 2007.[56] [57]

CBS 2 News in Chicago reported on March 4, 2008; that the Safety Board appointments are expected to come up at the Rezko trial. On March 8, 2008 the Department of Justice released more Court Documents showing Rezko's ties to Blagojevich administration fundraising. Included in the ten page document, it reveals the July 23, 2003; $10,000 Elevator Constructors Local 2 PAC fund contribution went through Tony Rezko on July 24, 2003 and deposited into Blagojevich's coffers on July 25, 2003. [58][59]

Expensive daily commute

During July and part of August 2007, Illinois lawmakers were in a deadlock over approving a state budget.[60] In light of this, Blagojevich came under criticism for choosing to take daily, expensive commutes between his Chicago home and his office in Springfield rather than stay in the Governor's Mansion in Springfield during the budget crisis. The round trip on a state plane costs nearly $6,000, and Blagojevich made the trip nine times between May 22 and June 7, costing Illinois taxpayers more than $75,000 according to state transportation records.[61] The St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted that a commercial round-trip flight between Springfield and Chicago can be had on short notice for between $500 and $700.[61] State senator Chris Lauzen noted that the cost was more than a teacher's annual salary.[62] Blagojevich's office refused to answer questions pertaining to the flights.[62] However, after ridicule from lawmakers, voters, and editorial cartoonists, he stopped the daily flights home.

Blagojevich had earlier criticized state lawmakers for not working five days a week, with his spokeswoman saying, "Everyone in America works five days a week and is expected to put in full-time work in order to complete their jobs" on June 4. Travel records showed that Blagojevich had flown into Springfield in May and June an average of three days a week, arriving about noon and sometimes staying for as little as three hours before returning to Chicago.[61]

As Governor of Illinois, Blagojevich is entitled to live in the Illinois Executive Mansion, located in the state capital. However, he and his family have opted to remain in Chicago. One reason he gave was an unwillingness to move his infant daughter away from home. In the governor's absence, the Illinois Times, a newspaper based in Springfield, held a satirical contest in 2003 for readers to decide how the mansion should be used. Suggestions ranged from using it as a hotel or homeless shelter to converting it to a "house of ill repute."[63] The Blagojevich family has shunned the use of the Mansion even for one-night stays.[61] Past Governors have lived in Springfield or have at least stayed there during legislative sessions.[62]

Political positions

State spending

Gov. Blagojevich has been criticized for using what his opponents call "gimmicks" to balance the state budget. Republicans have also claimed that he is simply passing the state's fiscal problems on to future generations by borrowing his way to balanced budgets. Indeed, the 2005 state budget called for paying the bills by underfunding a state employees' pension fund by $1.2 billion.[64]

Additionally, Blagojevich has been criticized for his handling of the 2007 state budget. In particular, critics cited his unprecedented use of line-item and reduction vetoes to remove his political opponents' "member initiatives" from the budget bill.[65],[66],[67]

Health care

In November 2005, Blagojevich signed the All Kids health insurance bill into law. The bill obligates Illinois to provide affordable, comprehensive health insurance to every child in the state.

In Spring 2007, Blagojevich proposed a $7.6 billion dollar tax increase, with proceeds earmarked to provide universal healthcare in Illinois, increase education spending by $1.5 billion, fund a $25 billion capital construction plan, and reduce the State's $40 billion pension debt. The plan, a gross receipts tax on businesses, would have been the largest tax increase in state history. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan called for a vote on a non-binding resolution on whether the state should impose a gross receipts tax. When it became apparent that the resolution would be defeated, Blagojevich announced that supporters should vote against it. It was defeated by a vote of 107-0,[68],[69] which the Associated Press termed "jaw-dropping."

Blagojevich issued an executive order in 2004 requiring pharmacists in the state to dispense "morning after" birth control medication, even if they object on moral or religious grounds. This order was not well received by some pharmacists.(see[70]) Later in 2007, opponents of the Governor's executive order reached a settlement with the state, causing partial removal of the order. The settlement, which followed the Illinois Supreme Court's decision in September 2007 to hear an appeal of a lawsuit challenging the executive order, allowed pharmacists to decline to dispense birth control, so long as they provided information to customers about pharmacists who did.[71]

2006 re-election

See also: Illinois gubernatorial election, 2006

During 2005–2006, he served as Federal Liaison for the Democratic Governors Association. Numerous scandals brought the Governor's approval rating as low as 36%, with 56% "disapproving" near the end of 2005[72]

By early 2006, five Republicans ran in the primary for the right to challenge him in the general election, with state treasurer Judy Baar Topinka eventually winning the nomination.

Blagojevich formally launched his 2006 re-election campaign for Governor of Illinois on February 19, 2006. He defeated challenger Edwin Eisendrath in the Democratic Party primary election on March 21.

On November 7, he was declared winner in the re-election campaign against challengers Judy Baar Topinka and Rich Whitney.

Electoral history

2002 gubernatorial election, Illinois
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rod Blagojevich 1,818,823 52 +4.5
Republican Jim Ryan 1,582,604 45 −6
Libertarian Cal Skinner 73,404 2 +2
Independent Marisellis Brown 22,803 1 +1
Turnout 3,497,634
Democratic hold Swing
U.S. House, 5th District of Illinois (General Election)
Year Winning Candidate Party Pct Opponent Party Pct
1996 Rod Blagojevich Democrat 64% Michael Flanagan (inc.) Republican 36%
1998 Rod Blagojevich (inc.) Democrat 74% Alan Spitz Republican 24%
2000 Rod Blagojevich (inc.) Democrat 87% Matt Beauchamp Libertarian 13%
Governor of Illinois (General Election)
Year Winning Candidate Party Pct Opponent Party Pct Opponent Party Pct Opponent Party Pct
2002 Rod Blagojevich Democrat 52% Jim Ryan Republican 45% Cal Skinner Libertarian 2% Marisellis Brown Independent 1%
2006 Rod Blagojevich (inc.) Democrat 50% Judy Baar Topinka Republican 40% Rich Whitney Green 10.36%

References

  1. ^ Chicago Tribune article
  2. ^ a b c Copley News Service. Three Democrats battle for party's nomination for governor. March 9, 2002.
  3. ^ Blog entry by Josh Goodman of Governing magazine.
  4. ^ Profile on the website of biographer Carol Felsenthal.
  5. ^ Final Vote Reults for Roll Call 455, House Joint Resolution 114, Oct. 10, 2002
  6. ^ Outline of Death Penalty moratorium and reform in Illinois.
  7. ^ Reprint of Chicago Defender at the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty website.
  8. ^ State of Illinois All Kids
  9. ^ State of Illinois Illinois Covered
  10. ^ Bill Status for Senate Bill 5
  11. ^ Website for Early Learning Illinois
  12. ^ Chicago Tribune article on Keno proposals
  13. ^ Chicago Tribune article on the withdrawal of the Keno proposal
  14. ^ website for the Illinois Works Coalition
  15. ^ Story in the Bloomington Pantagraph
  16. ^ Blagojevich Says Indicted Adviser 'Betrayed' Him NBC Chicago, Oct. 11, 2006
  17. ^ Rasmussen, [1] Governors Approval Rating
  18. ^ Rich Miller, [2] The CapitolFaxBlog 7/10/2008.
  19. ^ Pearson, Rick (2008-10-23). "Tribune poll: Blagojevich's popularity at 13%". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-10-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Feds Probing Illinois Gov. Office Hiring, CBS News, July 1, 2006
  21. ^ Illinois governor defends $1,500 birthday check
  22. ^ abc7chicago.com: Illinois governor defends $1,500 birthday check 9/21/06
  23. ^ a b Ill. Gov. Questioned Over $1,500 Check - washingtonpost.com
  24. ^ Governor Breaks Silence On $1500 Birthday Check, CBS2Chicago.com
  25. ^ CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD
  26. ^ [3]
  27. ^ U.S. Department Of Justice Press Release, October 11, 2008
  28. ^ Stuart Levine Pleads Guilty, Chicago Business, October 27, 2008
  29. ^ cbs2chicago.com - Governor's Fundraiser Pleads Not Guilty
  30. ^ WBBM 780 - Chicago's #1 source for local news, traffic and weather - *
  31. ^ Feds indict friend of ex-governor, Chicago Tribune, 13 December 2007.
  32. ^ Gov's proposed 'pay-to-play' deals, Chicago Sun-Times, 22 December 2007.
  33. ^ Q&A: In Blagojevich's Words, The Southtown Star, 14 December 2007.
  34. ^ Judge reveals Blagojevich is 'Public Official A', Chicago Tribune, 26 February 2008.
  35. ^ Feds link governor to probe, Chicago Tribune, 21 December 2007.
  36. ^ Name on Levine's lips at trial: Blagojevich, Chicago Tribune, 20 March 2008.
  37. ^ Bob Secter and Jeff Coen, Blagojevich drawn in again Chicago Tribune, April 2, 2008
  38. ^ Levine: Blagojevich knew, Chicago Sun-Times, 3 April 2008.
  39. ^ Blagojevich had big plans, witness says, Chicago Tribune, 15 April 2008.
  40. ^ Rezko convicted of corruption, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2008.
  41. ^ Possibility of stiff sentence incentive for Rezko to cooperate, Galesburg Register-Mail, 4 June 2008.
  42. ^ Judge postpones Rezko sentencing Chicago Sun-Times, October 9, 2008.
  43. ^ State's ultimate insider indicted Chicago Tribune, October 31, 2008
  44. ^ United States of America vs. William F. Cellini, Sr.
  45. ^ a b Ali Ata Plea Agreement Chicago Tribune
  46. ^ Donor links governor to job scheme Chicago Tribune, April 23, 2008
  47. ^ Ex-Official in Illinois Admits Lying About Job for Donation NY Times, April 23, 2008
  48. ^ Ali Ata testifies he paid Rezko, donated to Blagojevich Chicago Tribune, May 1, 2008
  49. ^ Rezko sought cash to avoid lien on governor's home Chicago Sun-Times, April 29, 2008
  50. ^ Impeachment talk targeting gov heats up Chicago Sun-Times, April 24, 2008
  51. ^ Whispers of impeachment grow louder at Capitol Rockford Register-Star, April 23, 2008
  52. ^ Group Calls for Impeachment of Gov. Blagojevich CBS2Chicago, July 17, 2007
  53. ^ ImpeachBlago.com website
  54. ^ Meitrodt, Jeffrey; Ray Long and John Chase. The governor's $25,000 club, Chicago Tribune, 27 April 2008.
  55. ^ Illinois State Board of Elections
  56. ^ Blago appointed union members to safety board after $10,000 donationReport Raises Possible Link between State Appointments and Political Donation
  57. ^ Records: Union members named to board about time of donation
  58. ^ Appointment Of Blagojevich Campaign Donor As Elevator Safety Chairman Expected To Come Up In Testimony
  59. ^ http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/hot/us_v_rezko_exhibits/2008_03_07/fob_chart_1.pdf
  60. ^ Our Apologies
  61. ^ a b c d Kevin McDermott (2007-06-21). "Governor's commute is costing taxpayers $6,000 per trip". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  62. ^ a b c Associated Press (2007-06-21). "Illinois Governor's Day Trips Cost Taxpayers $76,000". Fox News. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  63. ^ Best of Springfield winners, part one - Features - Best of Springfield - Illinois Times - Springfield, Illinois
  64. ^ New Illinois law affects SURS retirement benefits
  65. ^ Long, Ray (2007-08-23). "Governor picks and chooses". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
  66. ^ Miller, Rich (2007-08-27). "Blago issues most political budget veto in history". Daily Southtown. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
  67. ^ http://www.housedem.state.il.us/Statewide%20Budget%20Veto%20Hearing%20Release%2009%2006%202007.pdf
  68. ^ House does more than thump Gov.'s gross receipts tax
  69. ^ [4]
  70. ^ Plan B: Walgreens pharmacist flap dissected
  71. ^ Peres, Judy (2007-10-11). "'Morning-after' pill deal reached". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-07. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  72. ^ Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #6930

Campaign Contribution to Friends of Blagojevich

U.S. Representative 1997–2003

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 5th congressional district
1997–2003 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Illinois
2003– 		Incumbent
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