Senator says he's still willing to help Blagojevich despite hiring concerns.(News)

0 Comments | Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), July, 2006 | by Patterson, John

Byline: John Patterson Daily Herald State Government Editor SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Sen. Barack Obama expressed concern about the growing number of reports of potentially illegal hiring under Gov. Rod Blagojevich but said he's willing to help his fellow Chicago Democrat's re-election bid. "I have not followed closely enough what's been taking place in these investigations to comment on them," Obama told the Daily Herald this week.

"Obviously I'm concerned about reports that hiring practices at the state weren't, at times, following appropriate procedures. How high up that went, the degree at which the governor was involved, is not something I'm going to speculate on. "If I received information that made me believe that any Democrat had not been acting in the...