The Illinois House of Representatives chamber from the Democratic Party side of the floor.

Someone reading my article on McHenry County College Vicky Smith’s contract language which she interprets as pretty much requiring all Trustees to go through her to ask employees questions asked if I had every heard of anything like that.

In fact, I have.

When I worked for the Illinois Department of Management Services, the third Director talked to me about a rule that said anyone talking to a legislator had to write a memo the next day informing him of the conversation.

After work, when the Illinois House was in session, I hung out over there.

I told him that and pointed out that it was unreasonable for me to be required to write memos about every topic I discussed with my friends after work and at dinner.

I told him I would be happy to write a memo if I ever talked about CMS policy or operations, but not about personal conversations.

That seemed to satisfy him, even though it clearly did not meet the letter of the departmental rules.