Illinois elections board gives state leader’s campaign a pass for $225K spent on cars

By Dylan Sharkey

11/16/2021

A former state lawmaker’s campaign committee was not aware it couldn’t spend $225,109 on personal vehicles, according to Illinois State Board of Elections members. That lawmaker now oversees public spending for the state.

TAGS: campaign finance, Frank Mautino, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education

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

If Frank Mautino didn’t break the rules, the rules are broken

By Austin Berg

07/12/2018

Mautino might not be corrupt. But his conduct mirrored that of a person engaging in corrupt behavior.

TAGS: campaign finance, corruption, Frank Mautino, Illinois Auditor General

Illinois’ political machine is still humming

By Austin Berg

07/27/2017

Madigan, Martwick and Mautino are cogs in a well-oiled political machine that continues to enrich Illinois' political class at the expense of taxpayers.

TAGS: corruption, cronyism, Frank Mautino, Mike Madigan, property taxes, Robert Martwick

Mautino committee fined $5K for campaign finance disclosure violations

By Eric Kohn

05/15/2017

The Illinois State Board of Elections cast a tie vote on whether to refer to the Illinois attorney general or LaSalle County state’s attorney the disclosure violations case regarding Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino’s previous campaign funds.

TAGS: campaign finance, corruption, Frank Mautino, Illinois State Board of Elections

Frank Mautino and the arrogance of Illinois’ political insiders

By Austin Berg

04/27/2017

State agencies have paid more than $270,000 to Mautino Distributing Company – most of it after Madigan brought Mautino into a leadership role in 2009.

TAGS: corruption, Frank Mautino, Illinois Auditor General, Jeanne Ives, Mike Madigan, patronage, Rich Miller

Federal investigation exposes Madigan patronage

By Austin Berg

04/27/2017

With House Speaker Mike Madigan’s longevity comes a patronage army paid with public dollars.

TAGS: corruption, Frank Mautino, Metra, Mike Madigan, patronage, Richard Daley, Rod Blagojevich

Mautino pleads the Fifth in campaign finance case

By Greg Bishop

04/20/2017

The gas the Mautino campaign claims to have purchased over 16 years would equate to more than 35,000 miles every year. The circumference of the earth is 24,901 miles.

TAGS: campaign finance, corruption, Frank Mautino, good government, transparency

Alcohol bill aimed to help special interests, further status quo

By Joe Kaiser

04/10/2017

An amendment to Illinois’ longstanding Liquor Control Act creates curious guidelines that seem likely to favor a few specific Chicago businesses, while keeping the status quo intact for the rest.

TAGS: Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act, Frank Mautino, James Clayborne, Juliana Stratton, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, Wine & Spirits Distributors of Illinois, Wine and Spirits Fair Dealing Act

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Cathy Stuehmeier

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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