Springfield, IL – After receiving word that Illinois Finance Authority executive director John Filan resigned and was then promptly hired back on contract, State Representatives Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) and Rich Brauer (R-Petersburg) are calling on Governor Pat Quinn to stop playing Blagojevich-style politics and rid the state of Blagojevich’s chief budgeteer once and for all.

“I, for one, am outraged that Governor Quinn used a loophole of sorts to keep John Filan in Illinois state government,” said Poe. “We knew Governor Blagojevich could not be trusted to keep his word, but I certainly did not expect to see this kind of behavior out of Quinn. Keeping this guy around is bad state government and bad for the morale of the state.”

Speaker Madigan’s ‘Fumigation’ legislation that targeted 700 political appointees made by former governors Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan was purported to have been aimed directly at getting rid of John Filan. After discussions, Quinn made an agreement with Madigan to allow Filan to resign rather than be fired.

“John Filan needs to move out state government,” said Brauer. “How can we ever move past the severe damage the Blagojevich administration did to Illinois if we continue to allow his chief budget advisor to have a hand in our state’s affairs? I plead to Governor Quinn to put friendship aside and find another qualified advisor.”

Quinn spokesman Robert Reed told the media earlier today that the governor supports the action and thinks it’s good for the continuity of the agency to ensure a smooth adjustment.
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