NPR affiliate WBEZ reported that Richard Goldberg, an aide for Republican Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, is driving Democrats "crazy" with his various pitbull tactics on behalf of his boss.
"Chances are you've not heard that name, but the name Richard Goldberg is well known in the halls of the Capitol," reporter Tony Arnold said. "Goldberg works for Gov. Rauner and he drives Democrats crazy."
Goldberg is 32 years old and once worked for now-Sen. Mark Kirk (R., Ill.), and the "quick-witted" young aide seems to relish his role as Rauner's proxy, Arnold says. Democratic lawmakers take offense at Rauner sending Goldberg as his representative when they have business to conduct, and they also don't like him for what they view as a flouting of rules and general decorum.
In one nasty confrontation captured in the report, an agency head appointed by Rauner deferred to Goldberg while being questioned on aspects of a bill, infuriating Democrats as Goldberg attempted to speak.
"Mr. Goldberg, when a senator is speaking to you, I would strongly counsel you to close your mouth and open your ears, and then you'll have a chance to respond," said State Sen. Don Harmon, who later told the reporter that he regretted his condescending tone.
Harmon later said that Goldberg's job was to be the governor's "unmentionable anatomy," which the reporter translated as being equivalent to calling him an asshole.
Goldberg was not interviewed for the story, but a spokesman for Rauner sent a statement saying it was no surprise local legislators can't clean up Springfield when they "relish the opportunity to personally attack a Navy reservist who served our country fighting terrorists in Afghanistan." Illinois Watchdog has Goldberg's bio described as follows:
Goldberg has served as a Navy Reserve intelligence officer since 2006 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. Raised in Skokie, Goldberg graduated from the Ida Crown Jewish Academy before earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
Democrats have also been angered when Golberg hasn't shown up at all for matters of government business but instead has sent snarky letters insulting the intelligence of Democrats and blasting them for holding "sham hearings."