For The Good Of Illinois has unearthed evidence of a $20 million pay to play scheme involving the College of DuPage and Illinois Democrat Governor Pat Quinn.
According to emails obtained by For The Good Of Illinois College of DuPage President Dr. Robert Breuder discussed with board of trustee members the bringing in of Gov. Quinn for this past May’s commencement address as part of the College’s effort to obtain $20 million in state construction grants and use the appearance to drum up votes for Quinn in his reelection effort against Republican businessman Bruce Rauner.
“I needed to identify a project that would help release our state funding. My idea: a Teaching and Learning Center. Several Board members want to weigh in on the need for such a facility. I have no problem with that; however, not being able to say how we would use the state’s money (perhaps no real need) could lessen our chances to break the money loose at this time (the political moon is rising).”
“When I introduce Governor Quinn at commencement, I want to help our cause (getting the $20 million released sooner rather than later) by thanking him for his commitment in front of 3,500 people. There are many voters in our District. Please keep November 4 in mind.”
“Bottom line: I need some room to breathe on this matter so I can enhance the likelihood
we get the $20 million, soon.”
Dr. Robert Breuder, President of College of DuPage
excerpts from email to Board of Trustees May 9, 2014
As the above email excerpt shows, and the one that follows, the College actually has no need for the $20 million in state grants, but is going ahead with a project anyway in order to get their taxpayer financed pork.
Question for you: If Governor Quinn gives us $20 million, how do you propose we use it? We have taken care of our Homeland Security needs and the temporary buildings are gone. Would building a 22nd century Teaching and Learning Center (need a better name) not be a good thing given our emphasis on teaching and it can also be serve as an attractive announcement for the Governor? We need to think ahead in order to help make good things happen, like getting our $20 million.
According to For The Good Of Illinois attempts to get to the bottom of this apparent vote buying pay to play scheme have hit a roadblock as the College of DuPage refused to acknowledge or even respond to Freedom of Information Act request for emails and other documents related to the bringing in of Gov. Quinn for the commencement address and the unnecessary building.
Gov. Quinn has also been ensnared in a patronage hiring scandal at the Illinois Department of Transportation, which has resulted in the resignation of the head of IDOT. There are also multiple state and federal investigations into a Chicago area anti-violence program that received $50 million that may have been used to help Quinn’s during his last campaign for Governor in 2010.
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