By Illinois Public Radio
Springfield, Ill. – On the heels of allegations that the Blagojevich Administration illegally gave jobs to people based on their political connections, the office says it will make the hiring process more transparent.
The administration says it wants to move the state's hiring system online. That means applicants who want jobs with the state would apply over the Internet, through a system comparable to popular sites like Monster.com or CareerBuilder.
The state now uses paper applications that must be graded, which opens the possibility for manipulation in the hiring process.
Paul Campbell, director of the state's personnel agency, says it's time to revamp the system, noting it should be in place by the end of the year.
Federal Prosecutors are investigating whether the governor's office skirted state laws intended to make sure the most qualified - not the most connected - person gets a job. Blagojevich himself has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
State officials say this is the first real overhaul of hiring in decades.