Smile Politely

SPews: July 2, 2010

Hogan’s contract includes tenure, country clubs, condo in Chicago,Daily Illini, June 28

Incoming University president Michael Hogan has officially signed his contract for employment at UI, and his term begins Thursday. Most details of his contract have already been released.

. . .

Other perks in the contract include a house in Urbana, a condo in Chicago and a University car and driver for all UI-related travel. He will also be reimbursed for all moving expenses and given memberships at country clubs in both Chicago and Champaign.

Budget scalpel could cut deeply,” State Journal-Register, June 29

From the disabled who need help to stay in their homes to school districts trying to balance their own budgets, people who rely on state spending are bracing for Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget scalpel.

Quinn said Monday he’s preparing to deal with the proposed spending plan approved by lawmakers last month and that cuts are coming, although he did not specify where they will land.

The only area Quinn identified was “bureaucracy,” implying reductions in direct government expenses, such as employee costs.

MTD feeling the pinch of state not making payments,” News-Gazette, July 1

The state’s financial problems have even begun to affect the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, the MTD’s director said Wednesday.

“We’re not as far in arrears as the (University of Illinois) and a lot of other agencies,” said MTD Managing Director Bill Volk, “but we have not received our fourth quarter reimbursement and we’re now at the end of our fiscal year. At this point we’re about $4 million behind.

Blagojevich and wife spent lavishly on clothes,” Pantagraph, July 1

Rod and Patti Blagojevich spent more than $400,000 on clothes including tailored suits, custom-made shirts, furs and once even topped $1,300 on ties in one day during a lavish, six-year shopping spree that ended only with his arrest, a federal agent testified Thursday.

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