Quinn’s Office Refusing To Detail Hiring Changes

Governor Pat Quinn's administration is refusing to release details about steps it says it took to fix questionable hiring practices at the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The Democrat's office said last spring it had reclassified some jobs to protect them from political considerations in hiring.

Now Quinn's personnel agency won't turn over documents explaining that process and says no decisions have been made.

The Department of Central Management Services denied a Freedom of Information Act request from The Associated Press for records on the reclassification of 61 "staff assistant'' jobs. A federal lawsuit claims IDOT skirted anti-clout rules.
 
A CMS lawyer says the review did not consider anti-patronage rules, contradicting what Quinn's office said in April.

A spokeswoman says the review continues and documents will be released when it's complete.