Nov 29, 2007 10:51 pm US/Central
What Do Blagojevich's Choices Cost Taxpayers?
After A CBS 2 Special Report, Viewers Wanted To Know What The Governor's Special Sessions And Trips Are Costing The State
(CBS)
Can the governor be recalled? How much do we as taxpayers pay for his lifestyle? Those are just some of the questions viewers e-mailed to CBS 2 after Wednesday night's special report exposing they way Gov. Rod Blagojevich is spending his time and the state's money.
As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, the story hit a nerve. A viewer asked what taxpayers are paying for the governor's flights back and forth to Springfield from his Northwest Side home. That total is $5,800 per day. CBS 2 has asked the governor for his flight records from this year, though he has yet to supply them. Even still, it is safe to say that hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent this year just so he could sleep in his own bed in Chicago, or make it to a hockey game and back to Springfield for a short time, as he did Wednesday night.
Another viewer asked about the cost of holding special legislative sessions. The governor has thus far called 35 such special sessions, more than all previous governors combined. They cost more than $1 million in salaries and expenses for lawmakers.
And what is his security detail costing taxpayers? CBS 2 observed no less than seven staffed vehicles surrounding the governor's home. Some of the state troopers earn six figures with overtime. It is a conservative estimate, but it costs hundreds of thousands of extra dollars a year to cover the multiple shift changes, squad cars and sport-utility vehicles ferrying Blagojevich all over the state.
At present the Illinois constitution does not allow for a recall of the governor, but some lawmakers are working to change that.
"Blagojevich has been a huge disappointment, somebody who came in with a certain amount of outsider credentials and the promise of replacing a corrupt administration," CBS 2 viewer Paul Hertz said.
And Blagojevich Thursday defended his attendance of a Blackhawks hockey game Wednesday night while state lawmakers attended a special session he ordered in Springfield to try to vote on transit funding.
"I prefer to watch a game that wasn't rigged," Blagojevich said. "That vote last night unfortunately if you look at the roll call where some leaders of the Democratic caucus voted against it suggests to me it wasn't a serious effort to pass it."
Blagojevich took another potshot at the state legislature in the wake of the CBS 2 special report Wednesday night, "Exposing Blagojevich."
CBS 2 viewers had plenty to say after seeing the report.
"I think he oughtta come off his high horse and not quite think he's more important or better than everybody else," said Melrose Park small business owner Bob Silverstein. "Everybody has their role to play while he's 'the chief executive of the state' he doesn't get to run it the way he wants to. He needs to bend a little otherwise he's gonna break."
"I admire fact that he's a family man and really values time with the family but in a public office you really are there to serve the people and I feel he's just fallen short in that regard," said Union Station freelance Web designer Nathan Wiens.
"Many other people who depend on it for their livelihood, if they don't get a bus there goes their income, there goes their happiness, and the governor is laughing it off," said Professor John Flanagan of Prairie State University. "He doesn't realize he's playing with dynamite."
"I think he's standing up for the people, I really do and I think that he's watching out for his constituents," said Chicagoan Pat Scrutchios.
"I don't like the idea of him and Daley not getting along because I live in the city and I'd like more benefits for us," said Chicago resident Mae Lauricella.
"He's doing a fair job," said Will Williamson of Chicago. "I think that the politics involved is kind of limiting the programs he's trying to get through."
"He's not putting his effort on helping us," said Angela Linan. "He's putting his mind somewhere else instead of helping us here."
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