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Blagojevich and White not about to back off
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| Contributor | Jester5716 |
| Last Edited | Jester5716 Jul 20, 2003 04:41pm |
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| Category | News |
| Media | Newspaper - Chicago Tribune |
| News Date | Sunday, July 20, 2003 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Ratcheting up a budget battle that has turned increasingly bitter and personal, the Blagojevich administration lectured Secretary of State Jesse White Friday on how to be more frugal, and aides to White charged that the governor was trying to lay the groundwork for a power grab.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's Office of Management and Budget suggested in a report that White could easily shave nearly $29 million from his budget, without hurting services, by freezing hiring, cutting middle-management jobs, eliminating extra workers and requiring non-union employees to make pension contributions that the state now pays.
The report contended White's office is inefficiently padded with multiple layers of bureaucracy. It also suggested that White should partner with an agency under Blagojevich's control to negotiate energy contracts, consolidate leasing efforts and improve buying power.
The report also suggested consolidating the secretary of state's police force with the Illinois State Police, which is under the governor's control.
"One could interpret it as an effort to take authority away--or a power grab, if you will," said White spokesman Dave Druker.
White has accused Blagojevich of deception and political grandstanding, contending that the governor broke an agreement reached late last month to cut by 3 percent the $385 million spending plan approved for the secretary's office by the General Assembly.
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