Boo birds rain on Democrats' day
SPRINGFIELD -- Members claiming to be from a Chicago job training group that's received hundreds of thousands of dollars in state contracts courtesy of Gov. Rod Blagojevich showed up at a Democratic rally Wednesday to boo the governor's chief political rival -- House Speaker Michael Madigan.
"Veto Madigan," the nearly two dozen people chanted when Madigan, also chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, took to the microphone during the annual Democratic rally at the Illinois State Fair.
The group immediately left the rally and headed to buses bearing signs for United Services of Chicago. Group members said they were told not to comment to reporters but said they were with United Services and that Blagojevich paid for the bus trip.
A Blagojevich campaign aide denied any involvement.
"No, absolutely not," spokesman Doug Scofield said. The governor claimed he never heard the boos or chants from the stage. Messages left at United Services were not returned.
However, United Services and the Blagojevich administration are no strangers.
United Services of Chicago was awarded a nearly $775,000 contract this year from Blagojevich's economic development agency. And last year, state auditors red flagged nearly $30,000 in state payments to United Services by the state's transportation department. The department was missing files and could not explain why United Services got a potentially $900,000 job training contract over others.
United Services is led by Eddie Read, a key supporter of former Cook County Board President John Stroger and chairman of the Black Independent Political Organization. That organization gave $2,500 to Blagojevich's 2006 campaign.
Wednesday's Democratic rally at the Illinois State Fair was supposed to be a show of unity for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid. Instead, months of political frustration among the ruling Democrats spilled over from the Capitol to the fairgrounds, spurred on by oppressive heat and humidity. The heat index reached 106 degrees.
"Our day here in Springfield should belong to Barack Obama," Madigan said over the jeers. Obama was not at the rally.
Insider Democratic sniping has become the hallmark of this annual rally at the Illinois State Fair in recent years. But this year the allegations were harsher and more pointed as Blagojevich, Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones, a Chicago Democrat, have increasingly been at odds over state spending priorities.
The spat has led to more than two months of overtime session, cost taxpayers more than $1 million and threatened to shutter state offices and stall state paychecks and payments.
The entire situation has some Democrats offering apologies and expressing their disappointment.
"Regardless of whether you're a Democrat or a Republican," said Democratic state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, "it's bad news. It's embarrassing."