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Champaign News-Gazette: In Illinois, ethics rules are written not to work
Illinois government can be farcical, sometimes by accident and sometimes by design.
Recent action by the Illinois State Board of Elections provides a brilliant example of farce by design. The subject of the board’s inquiry involved the highly questionable campaign spending of Auditor General and former state Rep. Frank Mautino.
State Journal-Register: State agency director Mays has spent $66K on travel
The head of Illinois Department of Employment Security’s tab includes frequent Chicago stays
Jeff Mays, a former state representative appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner to run the Illinois Department of Employment Security, has spent more than $66,000 in travel in 3 1/2 years — including spending more than 245 nights in Chicago and suburban hotels.
Crain's Chicago Business: U of I president urges 'big-picture' education reform
The president of the University of Illinois System says the state needs a more strategic, big-picture approach to its public education system.
No one has proffered the kind of reform that integrates public high schools, through to higher education, including community colleges and the state’s public universities, he told the Crain’s editorial board this week.
Belleville News-Democrat: Metro loses 3 million riders, wants $3 million more from taxpayers
So if a mass transit agency loses 3 million riders in a year, how smart is it to hand them an additional $3 million?
Not very. Nodding your head to that deal creates incentive for failure.
But that’s what’s being asked of the St. Clair County Transit District.
Belleville News-Democrat: The mayor drives a village-owned squad car, with lights, siren — and handicapped placard
When Mayor Jo Ann Reed slips it into drive, she’s behind the wheel of a car that belongs to the village of Alorton, decked out with police lights and sirens and a handicapped placard hanging from the rearview mirror.
The part-time mayor earns about $20,000, plus an expense account from the village, where nearly 50 percent of the residents live in poverty, earning a median annual income of $20,000.
The vehicle is owned by the village.