The former president of the Illinois Senate is now a lobbyist for a power utility. Illinois needs stronger rules on when their peers can return to sway state lawmakers.
Illinois lawmakers miss deadline for corruption reforms
State lawmakers putting together ethics reforms have not met since the first week of March, when the coronavirus ended gatherings.
Blagojevich comes home to America’s most corrupt city
Chicago and the state of Illinois are notorious around the country for high-profile corruption convictions. Rod Blagojevich settles back in after the former governor’s imprisonment for corruption.
Bill would ban Illinois lawmakers from acting as lobbyists
When Illinois lawmakers work as lobbyists, it creates public distrust and serious conflicts of interest.
Records involving Madigan sought by federal probe into southwest Chicago suburb
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.
Illinois home to more public corruption convictions than any other state since 2000
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.
Illinoisans want cleaner state government more than great schools, less crime
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.
Bipartisan bill would block ‘revolving door’ from lawmaker to lobbyist
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.
‘Fair tax’ backer pleads guilty to tax fraud
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.
Feds indict champion of Illinois gas tax hike, ‘fair tax’ on tax fraud and bribery
The former chair of the influential Senate Transportation Committee is the fourth Illinois politician indicted on federal charges amid a sweeping FBI probe.