Should disgraced ex-Gov. George Ryan be given a partial state pension of $68,400 a year for his tenure as a county official, state legislator and lieu...
Chicago Sun-Times | DAVE MCKINNEY | Posted 10.19.2009 | Chicago
Perry Mandera might not be a well-known name in most circles. But when he tried to get people a job in then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration, it ...
Crain's Chicago Business | Paul Merrion | Posted 11.15.2009 | Chicago
Their quest for the vacant U.S. Senate seat of President Barack Obama has landed Sen. Roland Burris and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. on a watchdog grou...
Marcel Pacatte | Posted 10.17.2009 | Chicago
No one in the race has the resume, experience or heft required of a U.S. Senator. In fact, the bench in Illinois is pretty weak right now, among both Democrats and Republicans.
Rep. Jack Franks | Posted 07.17.2009 | Chicago
Illinois must re-evaluate its redistricting rules, which currently favor incumbents by allowing them to choose their constituents, rather than the people choosing their legislator.
Henryk A. Kowalczyk | Posted 07.05.2009 | Chicago
Behind the objection is an unspoken assumption that holding a top public office requires some knowledge and skills that are beyond the reach of an average citizen.
Cindi Canary | Posted 06.12.2009 | Chicago
If Illinois ever hopes to sanitize itself from the stench of political corruption, it must expose lobbying to the light of day and demand higher ethical conduct from state lobbyists.
AP | Posted 05.29.2009 | Chicago
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn is praising the recommendations from his Illinois Reform Commission but says the panel left out some good ide...
AP | ANDREA ZELINSKI | Posted 05.29.2009 | Chicago
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- After 100 days poring over stacks of data and testimony, a commission appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn has delivered a sweeping p...
Chicago Tribune | Ray Long and Ashley Rueff | Posted 05.23.2009 | Chicago
A key member of Gov. Pat Quinn's reform panel called Tuesday for lawmakers to approve meaningful state contract reforms so businesses that have given ...
Ben Strauss | Posted 05.16.2009 | Chicago
Among the damning evidence against Troutman was a recording of her saying, "Most aldermen, most politicians are ho's."
The Huffington Post | Tim Taliaferro | Posted 05.02.2009 | Chicago
SPRINGFIELD - Just hours after launching the initial salvo to end pay-to-play in state government, members of a blue-ribbon group traveled from Chicag...
AP | ANDREA ZELINSKI | Posted 04.30.2009 | Chicago
As taxpayers look down the barrel of a major income tax increase, another tax already is draining their wallets. But this one isn't found anywhere in ...
Chicago Tribune | Howard Witt | Posted 04.27.2009 | Chicago
[F]or genuine, savory, infused-in-the-gumbo style public venality, Louisiana still has Illinois, and most of America, beat. Ranked according to corrup...
Alden Loury | Posted 04.19.2009 | Chicago
We have a long track record of political disasters in this state, and the folks on the inside need to be taught that the people of Illinois have had enough. We don't need more promises of reform.
The Onion | Posted 04.09.2009 | Chicago
The controversy surrounding Illinois senator Roland Burris is only the latest chapter in a long history of political corruption in the Land of Lincoln...
Daily Herald | Joseph Ryan | Posted 03.27.2009 | Chicago
Karl Rove, the political brain trust of former President George W. Bush, told Northwest suburban Republicans they can win back the state if they don't...
The State Journal-Register | ADRIANA COLINDRES | Posted 03.26.2009 | Chicago
With Illinois government reeling from allegations of scandal, most notably the accusation that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried to sell a U.S. Senate...
AP | Posted 03.16.2009 | Chicago
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - President Barack Obama says Illinois is ready to move forward now that Rod Blagojevich has been removed as governor. In an interv...
AP | CHRISTOPHER WILLS | Posted 03.02.2009 | Chicago
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. Pat Quinn moved quickly Friday to put Rod Blagojevich's scandal-ridden tenure behind him, signing his first executive o...
Crain's Chicago Business | Greg Hinz | Posted 02.28.2009 | Chicago
[W]hatever his crimes and misdemeanors, high and low, Rod Blagojevich is only an example of what's gone terribly wrong with Illinois politics. The sta...
Susan Greenhalgh | Posted 02.17.2009 | Politics
The Senate is doing the right thing by seating Burris, now Burris should do the right thing and pledge to resign if Blagojevich is convicted.
ProPublica | Ben Protess | Posted 02.16.2009 | Chicago
Politicians and the media [1] largely have portrayed Sen. Roland Burris as an upstanding public official. As Barack Obama described his replacement in...
AP | Posted 02.16.2009 | Chicago
CHICAGO — Impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich's former chief fundraiser has admitted he illegally used corporate funds to pay gambling debts and pers...
Chicago Sun-Times | Chris Fusco | Posted 02.15.2009 | Chicago
A key reason that the Illinois Gaming Board rejected a bid to put a casino in Waukegan was that indicted businessman William F. Cellini still stood to...
Chicago Sun-Times | DAVE MCKINNEY | Posted 11.18.2009 | Chicago