Illinois DOI Folded Into New Department; Gov. Blagojevich Names Acting Director

The acting director of the Illinois Department of Labor has been promoted to oversee Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s consolidation of four financial and regulatory agencies, including the Department of Insurance.

Blagojevich named Esther Lopez his deputy chief of staff for labor and professional regulation. She will oversee the merger of the departments of Professional Regulation, Insurance, Financial Institutions and the Office of Banks and Real Estate. Blagojevich says combining the agencies will save $15 million a year.

The departments of Labor and Employment Security also will answer to Lopez, 48, whose salary will jump to $115,000 when she starts July 5. Her annual salary overseeing the Labor Department, which she took over in October when the director resigned, is $96,100.

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Topics Legislation Illinois