Illinois Marathon Pundit

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

At least one official hired by Gov. Blagojevich's administration wore a hidden recording device as part of the federal government's ongoing investigation of the governor's hiring practices, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

The person wore the wire for an undisclosed period of time, a source familiar with the probe said. That source confirmed the feds' tactic on the conditions that the individual who was wired not be identified and that those who have been recorded not be named.

Besides the wire, investigators also have interviewed several potential witnesses regarding the Democratic governor's hiring practices, the source said.

The disclosure about the wire comes after a week of both triumph and tribulations for Blagojevich, a first-term Democrat expected to seek re-election next year. His groundbreaking $45 million program to provide health insurance for up to 250,000 uninsured Illinois children flew through the General Assembly, but he was dogged by three rounds of federal subpoenas being delivered to his administration.

Technorati tags: Blago
Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich

Good friend of the blog, Joe Birkett, had a fund-raiser in Elmhurt, the heart of DuPage County.

LAW ENFORCEMENT POISED TO TURN OUT FOR JOE BIRKETT

WHEATON -- DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett has gained the
endorsement of nearly every Republican State's Attorney, Sheriff and
Coroner in Illinois should he decide to run for Governor. Some of
the officials will be among those who attend a law enforcement
fundraiser for Birkett on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
at the Diplomat West banquet hall, 681 W. North Ave., Elmhurst.

The fundraiser is open to the press.

"In this climate of corruption, law enforcement officials across
Illinois understand that this state needs a leader who can restore
trust in government," Birkett said.

I've created this blog--the Prairie State Home Companion to the middle-size blog of middling repute, Marathon Pundit!