SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois House members investigating Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment heard Wednesday about illegal hiring in the administration as they prepared for a highly anticipated appearance by the governor's U.S. Senate pick.

Committee member Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, summarized an internal 2004 investigation by the executive inspector general which found "a concerted effort to subvert" state hiring laws at the Department of Employment Security.

The review detailed a scheme by Blagojevich's patronage office in which unqualified people were hired, candidates were told to lie on applications, were put in positions that didn't exist, or were put on the payroll over qualified military veterans, whom state law says get preference for jobs.

The report even mentions freshman Rep. Michael J. Zalewski, a Chicago Democrat who worked at the time for Blagojevich's hiring chief, Joe Cini. But Zalewski was not accused of wrongdoing.

To review a copy of the Illinois House report, click here.

"We're beating a dead horse here," said Rep. Suzanne "Suzie" Bassi, a Palatine Republican. "Let's get moving on this."

Some committee members hope to complete their work and see a House vote on an impeachment recommendation before the week's out. That would send the matter to the state Senate for a trial.

The panel will await a federal court ruling Thursday on whether it will get to hear some of the secretly recorded conversations federal prosecutors made of Blagojevich allegedly scheming to trade government action for campaign contributions.

And the committee plans to hear from former state Attorney General Roland Burris, whom Blagojevich, thumbing his nose at the Legislature, appointed to the Senate seat after his arrest.

The inspector general's report turned up a surprising name -- Zalewski, who won a seat in the House in November but has already been sworn in to replace a retiring Rep. Robert Molaro.

The 30-year-old son of Chicago Alderman Michael R. Zalewski said Wednesday night he was seeking a job after finishing law school and submitted a resume to the governor's office, where he knew Cini and others.

While the report refers to Zalewski as a Cini subordinate who exchanged hiring messages with IDES employees, it did not recommend he be disciplined. He said investigators interviewed him but would not comment on what was said.

"I didn't participate in any wrong conduct while I was there," Zalewski said, "so I was able to give them as thorough answers as I could, and I told the truth, and that was it."

Zalewski, who worked in the office from August 2003 to November 2004, said he was told he needed more training in hiring laws, but did not take part because he left the office to become an assistant Cook County state's attorney. He later went into private practice.

Committee members were piqued by the overall report, particularly because it is supposed to be confidential under the law. While parts of the document were reported by The Associated Press and the report was obtained by the Chicago Tribune, committee members said they would renew efforts to change confidentiality laws so they know the results of such investigations.

"We have to revamp the law because we've hamstrung ourselves," said Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock.