Good Government

Records involving Madigan sought by federal probe into southwest Chicago suburb

By Brad Weisenstein
02/21/2020
Federal investigators are seeking records from a small village near Chicago. The subpoena names Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, his political lieutenants and former ComEd lobbyists.

TAGS: Chicago, Commonwealth Edison, conflict of interest, corruption, ethics, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, Kevin Quinn, Marty Quinn, Michael McClain, Mike Madigan, red light cameras, revolving door, Timothy Mapes

Illinois home to more public corruption convictions than any other state since 2000

By Ben Szalinski
02/19/2020
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s release from federal prison may be making room behind bars for other Illinois politicians. Illinois is the top state for corruption, and federal agents are busy looking for more.

TAGS: conflict of interest, corruption, ethics, federal investigation, Legislative Inspector General, lobbying, Martin Sandoval, red light cameras, revolving door, Rod Blagojevich, watchdog

Bipartisan bill would block ‘revolving door’ from lawmaker to lobbyist

By Ben Szalinski
02/10/2020
Illinois is one of the few states that lets lawmakers or state agency chiefs become a lobbyist the day after leaving office. A new ethics bill would stop that.

TAGS: cooling off period, corruption, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, ghost payroll, Heather Steans, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, lawmakers, lobbying, Michael McClain, Mike Madigan, Mike McClain, Paul Schimpf, revolving door, Scott Bennett, Springfield, Suzy Glowiak-Hilton

Illinois watchdog’s report of ‘serious misconduct’ was ‘squashed’ by panel of lawmakers

By Joe Tabor
02/07/2020
Illinois’ legislative inspector general investigates complaints against state lawmakers, but a commission of their peers can – and did – bury those findings, the former inspector said. A new bill would change that.

TAGS: corruption, ethics, ethics violation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform, Jonathan Carroll, Julie Porter, Legislative Ethics Commission, Legislative Inspector General, OEIG: Office of the Executive Inspector General, sexual harrassment, Springfield, transparency, watchdog

Bill to remove nearly 100 red-light cameras advances to House floor

By Ben Szalinski
02/06/2020
The proposal to limit red-light cameras in Illinois is making progress as another bill’s sponsor believes she can garner the votes to ban them entirely.

TAGS: bribery, Chicago, corruption, David McSweeney, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, home rule, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois House of Representatives, Jonathan Carroll, Martin Sandoval, Oakbrook Terrace, red light cameras, SafeSpeed, Springfield, Susana Mendoza

Former state Rep. Arroyo pleads not guilty to bribery charge

By Ben Szalinski
02/05/2020
Arroyo resigned from his seat in the Illinois General Assembly after his arrest in October on bribery charges. He now faces up to 10 years in prison for bribery.

TAGS: bribery, corruption, fair tax, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, graduated income tax, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Senate, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, JB Pritzker, lobbying, Luis Arroyo, Martin Sandoval, progressive income tax, red light cameras, Springfield, tax fraud, Terry Link

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