Let's see real action on Metra scandal

We heard about the Metra scandal that had the fingerprints of both political parties all over it, with former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar leading the way for the Republicans and Democratic Speaker of the House Mike Madigan playing a major role on the other side.

We tried to get the press to ask the tough questions of the Metra board members, but they all resigned or just went away. Two years later nothing is resolved, no one was indicted and we are left with no answers to the questions that were and were not asked.

Now we have the executive inspector general trying to ask how the Illinois Department Of Transportation could hire "staff assistants" so they could park anyone the pols wanted to on the state payroll, since "staff assistant," a policy-making position, is exempt from anti-patronage laws. The 100 people who were put into the "staff assistant" positions never did any "policy making" and were mostly friends or family with clout. One was even the daughter of the then-IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig.

While all of these hires came through the governors's office, I am smelling the same cast of characters that were doing political sponsored patronage hiring in the Metra mess. Why can't we ever get any answers and some action when these allegations arise? Where is the attorney general when we need her? Oops, pardon my simple mindedness.

Jack Halpin

Arlington Heights