Is Pat Quinn Running A Patronage Operation? Despite denials, IDOT is clouted up, AP finds

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

Dozens of jobs in Gov. Pat Quinn's administration were filled with candidates who were politically connected or gave campaign contributions to Quinn's party, an Associated Press review of state documents shows.

They were hired for Illinois Department of Transportation posts in a process closed to the public, and without regard to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that lays out strict rules against improperly giving taxpayer-funded jobs to people based on political connections. The Quinn administration says the jobs should be exempt from the ruling because they are sensitive policy-making positions, but one of the jobs was pre-screening the hire of highway maintenance workers.

The great moments of Blue America.