Everyone’s looking at you, Blago
By Jennifer J. Foster
Published: January 28, 2009
As Congress deliberates President Obama’s ginormous economic stimulus package, reporters have reviewed the language and are starting to pick interesting pieces out of it.
For example, did you know that in addition to carving out 10 percent of the stimulus for “persistent poverty counties” (Section 1113) and tweaking eligibility requirements for workers’ compensation among employees in the recreational marine industry (Section 9101), Congress has taken the time and made the effort to specifically forbid the state of Illinois from receiving any federal stimulus funds as long as the possibility exists that they could pass through the hands of Gov. Rod Blagojevich (Section 1112).
That’s right: Unless Blagojevich resigns or is removed from office or the State Legislature directs the acceptance of the funds through legislation after the stimulus is passed, Illinois’ state agencies will get nada—zippo—from the feds.
There are exceptions, of course. Local government entities have an out if their funding is provided directly from a federal entity or distributed based on a formula.
In other words: If Blago can touch it, the feds aren’t going to send it.
Such is the nature of being persona non grata in politics. But being singled out like this in federal legislation shows the heights—or is it the depths?—of the governor’s dubious fame.
Actually, when I heard about this, I thought about that scene in “Goldmember” when Scottie replaces Mini-Me in Dr. Evil’s circle of accomplices.
DR. EVIL: All right, it’s geting crowded in here. Everyone out, everyone out, come on.
Not you, Scottie. Not you, Number Two. Not you, Frau. Not you, Goldmember. Not you guys back there. Not you, henchmen holding wrench. Not you, henchman arbitrarily turning knobs making it seem like you’re doing something.
(Everyone turns and looks at Mini-Me.)
DR. EVIL, sighing: Oh ... this is uncomfortable.
GOLDMEMBER: Ah, the tiny one can’t take a hint. He mustn’t understand; he is small.
And then Mini-Me sadly powers his evil powerchair out of the circle.
Blago can’t take a hint. But by the weekend, he’ll probably be “former Gov. Rod Blagojevich,“ anyway, since the Ilinois Senate will hear closing arguments its impeachment trial against him tomorrow.
With all his legal problems, it’s probably for the best that Blago doesn’t have to worry himself with spending billions in federal stimulus money. He’s got his hands full enough as it is.
See also:
Blago has apparently changed his mind about whether to acknowledge the Senate’s impeachment proceedings against him. After saying for the last two weeks that he’ll have nothing to do with them, he has now asked to make a statement during closing arguments.
But it’s probably going to be too little, too late. Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton didn’t appreciate Blago’s media blitz in New York earlier this week:
“If he wants to come down here instead of hiding out in New York, and having Larry King asking questions instead of the senators, I think he’s making a mistake,“ Cullerton said.
“He should come here, and answer the questions and provide the context that he claims these statements are being taken out of,“ he added.
And just in case you’re wondering, no; Blagojevich won’t be answering any questions from senators tomorrow.
... Not that you were holding your breath.
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