Multiple ‘fair tax’ proponents in Springfield implicated in federal probes

By Ben Szalinski

07/22/2020

Multiple state lawmakers have been charged or associated with criminal conduct after passing the progressive income tax amendment on to voters.

TAGS: bribery, ComEd, corruption, fair tax, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

Pritzker defends Madigan-backed hire to oversee ComEd

By Ben Szalinski

07/22/2020

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s relationship with ComEd is under strict scrutiny by federal investigators after he was implicated in bribery charges filed against the electrical company.

TAGS: bribery, ComEd, corruption, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

11-term New York speaker sentenced to 6.5 years in prison

By Ben Szalinski

07/21/2020

Sheldon Silver’s reign as speaker ended with corruption charges.

TAGS: bribery, corruption, new york

Democratic state senator calls on Madigan to resign

By Ben Szalinski

07/17/2020

Madigan was implicated in bribery charges filed against ComEd. Calls for his resignation are starting.

TAGS: bribery, ComEd, corruption, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

Bill would ban Illinois lawmakers from acting as lobbyists

By Ben Szalinski

02/24/2020

When Illinois lawmakers work as lobbyists, it creates public distrust and serious conflicts of interest.

TAGS: bribery, Carol Ammons, conflicts of interest, cooling off period, corruption, ethics, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, lobbying, Martin Sandoval, red light cameras, revolving door, Scott Bennett

Illinois lawmakers operate under honor system on conflicts of interest

By Joe Tabor

02/10/2020

Prairie State politicians are allowed to determine when they have a conflict of interest, and whether they should recuse themselves from voting or disclose a conflict. HB 4041 would change that.

TAGS: bribery, Carol Ammons, Chicago, Chicago City Council, conflict of interest, corruption, crime, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Luis Arroyo, Mike Madigan, Springfield

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

Work one day, get paid for whole month could end for Illinois lawmakers

By Ben Szalinski

02/04/2020

Illinois lawmakers are currently paid for the entire month, even if they resign before the end of it. A new bill could change that.

TAGS: bribery, Christina Castro, corruption, good government, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, lawmaker pay, Luis Arroyo, Mike Murphy, Monica Bristow, Springfield

After $1B in tickets and 4 corruption indictments, Illinois should shutter the red-light camera industry

By Austin Berg

01/30/2020

With a federal corruption probe burrowing deeper into Springfield, the Illinois General Assembly has only one choice when it comes to the future of a red-light camera industry that has infected nearly 100 communities statewide: shut it down.

TAGS: bribery, Chicago, corruption, David McSweeney, fees, fines, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, John Bills, local government, Martin O'Malley, Martin Sandoval, Mike Madigan, red light cameras, Redflex Traffic Systems, SafeSpeed, Springfield

To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s power over Illinois politics is more precarious than ever. A steady stream of federal investigations, wiretaps and raids of people close to him, a deferred prosecution agreement with Commonwealth Edison wherein the utility giant admitted to bribing the speaker, and a grand jury subpoena served to Madigan’s office have led...

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To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

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Carrie Schindler

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students