Illinoisans want cleaner state government more than great schools, less crime

By Austin Berg

02/13/2020

A common misconception in Illinois is that voters are numb to this reality. But polling released this week, commissioned by the Illinois Education Association, shows that’s not true.

TAGS: bipartisan, corruption, education, ethics, federal investigation, Legislative Inspector General, revolving door

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

‘Fair tax’ backer pleads guilty to tax fraud

By Vincent Caruso

01/28/2020

Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval once headed the powerful Senate Transportation Committee. He now faces up to 13 years in prison on corruption charges involving a controversial red-light camera company.

TAGS: bribery, Chicago, conflict of interest, corruption, Ed Burke, embezzlement, ethics, fair maps, fair tax, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, fraud, graduated income tax, house rules, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, JB Pritzker, Luis Arroyo, Martin Sandoval, pork barrel spending, progressive income tax, red light cameras, redistricting, revolving door, Springfield, tax fraud, Tom Cullerton

Feds indict champion of Illinois gas tax hike, ‘fair tax’ on tax fraud and bribery

By Vincent Caruso

01/27/2020

The former chair of the influential Senate Transportation Committee is the fourth Illinois politician indicted on federal charges amid a sweeping FBI probe.

TAGS: bribery, Chicago, conflict of interest, corruption, Ed Burke, embezzlement, ethics, fair maps, fair tax, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal, federal government, federal investigation, fraud, gas tax, graduated income tax, graduation rate, house rules, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, JB Pritzker, Legislative Inspector General, Luis Arroyo, Martin Sandoval, Mike Madigan, pork barrel spending, progressive income tax, red light cameras, redistricting, revolving door, SafeSpeed, Senate Transportation Committee, Smart Scale, Springfield, tax fraud, transparency, waste, watchdog

Madigan confidant used state worker’s silence on rape to prove political loyalty

By Brad Weisenstein

01/08/2020

Silence on a rape and about ghost workers were evidence of political loyalty that should save a state worker facing discipline, according to an email uncovered in an open records request.

TAGS: conflict of interest, ethics, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, house rules, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, JB Pritzker, lawmakers, Legislative Inspector General, lobbying, Michael McClain, Mike Madigan, Mike McClain, Pat Quinn, redistricting, revolving door, Rod Blagojevich, sexual harrassment, Smart Scale, Springfield, Virginia, watchdog

Illinois ethics panel begins with small ethical lapse

12/23/2019

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed a former state lawmaker to his panel on ethics and lobbying. Trouble was, the lawmaker had recently worked as a lobbyist.

TAGS: Christine Radogno, ComEd, ethics, ethics task force, federal investigation, Heather Steans, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, JB Pritzker, lawmakers, lobbying, Michael McClain, Mike Madigan, revolving door, Rod Blagojevich, Springfield

FBI asking about Madigan money, political clout in corruption investigation

By Austin Berg

12/06/2019

There is little doubt the FBI is targeting the longtime House speaker and Democratic political boss in their sweeping investigation of Illinois corruption.

TAGS: ComEd, Commonwealth Edison, corruption, Democratic Party, ethics, fair maps, fair tax, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, gerrymandering, house rules, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, independent maps, lawmakers, Mike Madigan, revolving door, rules committee, Springfield, watchdog

Illinois lawmakers should hold Pritzker to his ‘fair maps’ promise

By Austin Berg

12/03/2019

Even without a constitutional amendment, there are changes lawmakers could make as soon as session resumes to get politics out of mapmaking.

TAGS: bipartisan, ethics, gerrymandering, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Senate, JB Pritzker, lawmakers, legislative district, legislative map, redistricting, Springfield

Look past the faces of Illinois corruption to see the larger problem

By Amy Korte

12/02/2019

Focus too much on single aspects of Illinois corruption and the big picture will be lost, along with chances to fix the problems.

TAGS: Chicago, ComEd, corruption, Danny Solis, Ed Burke, ethics, ethics task force, federal investigation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, lawmakers, leadership, Legislative Inspector General, lobbying, Luis Arroyo, Martin Sandoval, revolving door, Rod Blagojevich, watchdog

Appellate judges rule Mautino campaign violated election code, faces more fines

By Brad Weisenstein

08/28/2019

The campaign committee that once backed Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino – a former state lawmaker – violated Illinois election codes, appellate judges ruled.

TAGS: corruption, ethics, Frank Mautino

ethics

Illinoisans want cleaner state government more than great schools, less crime

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

‘Fair tax’ backer pleads guilty to tax fraud

Feds indict champion of Illinois gas tax hike, ‘fair tax’ on tax fraud and bribery

Madigan confidant used state worker’s silence on rape to prove political loyalty

Illinois ethics panel begins with small ethical lapse

FBI asking about Madigan money, political clout in corruption investigation

Illinois lawmakers should hold Pritzker to his ‘fair maps’ promise

Look past the faces of Illinois corruption to see the larger problem

Appellate judges rule Mautino campaign violated election code, faces more fines

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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