Treasurer Suspends Employee For Leaking Word About College-Savings Perk
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – There was more fallout Friday from a botched promotion for the state's college-savings program.
Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford suspended a top administrator for the program because she let some state employees in on a state-matching opportunity before the public heard about it, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Rutherford suspended Catherine Watson without pay after learning she e-mailed employees about a promotion that would allow participants in the Bright Start program get $250 if they put $250 of their own money in the program.
Rutherford told the Tribune that Watson's e-mail to as many as three employees was forwarded to about 25 people outside the office. That gave them an advantage over others. The promotion proved so popular that it maxed out at 2,500 people.
Watson was a deputy chief of programs, but won't oversee Bright Start when she returns to work.
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