Federal Judge Sidney Schenkier has ruled in favor of good government advocates and will be appointing a hiring monitor at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). A recent report from Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland found that hundreds of IDOT employees were illegally hired by the Blagojevich and Quinn administrations.

“The mission of state agencies is to do the work of the people, not serve as a way to reward political allies,” said Senator Syverson. “I applaud this ruling and hope we can finally root out this corruption that started under Rod Blagojevich and continued under Pat Quinn.”

According to the Auditor General’s report, both the Blagojevich and Quinn administrations hired employees into jobs that were classified as exempt from anti-patronage rules, then transferred the employees into non-exempt positions.

Anti-patronage leader Michael Shakman repeatedly criticized the Quinn administration for its illegal hiring practices, eventually filing suit to force the appointment of a federal hiring monitor.

“Not only did these hires skirt the standard hiring process, jumping in line in front of the majority of applicants, but it allowed Quinn to bypass hiring standards which help ensure that our veterans find jobs,” said Senator Syverson. “Now we are faced with yet another embarrassing blemish on the honor of our state from the actions of our Governor in another scandal where the feds have to come in and take action.”