“Sort of like a prizefight between accountants.” That’s how Gov. Blagojevich characterized the differences between the state auditor and the Department of Central Management Services after the former laid into the latter for mismanagement and waste. It’s a cute image for a newspaper cartoonist or skit writer to work with, but in making light of the allegations, the governor was disappointingly cavalier.
He may not want to hear, or have taxpayers hear, that CMS can’t document its claim of having saved them $600 million by cutting government costs. He may want to protect the reputation of Paul Campbell, the CMS executive he named as its next director. If revelations about him dining out on taxpayers don’t do him in, Campbell next month will replace Michael Rumman, who unexpectedly resigned after receiving a draft of the auditor’s report.
