Mayor Emanuel’s pledge not to accept campaign cash from lobbyists is adhered to — for the most part. BGA review prompts some questionable donations to be returned.
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Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Local Government Has Obesity Problem
Public agencies need a crash diet, with unnecessary units of government eliminated and duplicative functions consolidated.
Posted inPress Release
BGA to House Speaker Madigan: Allow a Vote on Sheahan Pension Amendment
Working to cut pension benefits for state government employees, House Democrats seek to spare one politically influential person from any pension reductions.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
PROMISING MOVEMENT ON PENSION
Prompted in part by disclosures by the BGA and Chicago Sun-Times of a pension perk apparently crafted by a state legislator just for a member of one of Chicago’s most powerful political families, the Illinois Senate passes a bill to reverse the benefit. While the House didn’t take up the measure, it’s expected to be revisited in the next legislative session.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Legislators Move to Kill Pension Perk for Ex-Chief
Former Oak Brook Police Chief Tom Sheahan’s taxpayer-funded retirement benefits soared thanks to a law that appeared to be quietly crafted several years ago just for him. Now, following a BGA/Sun-Times expose, the Illinois Senate has voted to reverse the sweetheart deal.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
The Wild, Wild West
A Melrose Park cop sues the western suburb in federal court, claiming racial discrimination and accusing police brass of ignoring misconduct – including allegations of cops soliciting a prostitute, shooting a squad car and stealing a golf cart.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Summertime Clout in the Southwest Suburbs
How did the teenaged sons of a Cook County commissioner from Orland Park end up with good-paying summer jobs with the local fire department? The agency’s former human resources director says political favoritism played a part.
Posted inPress Release
Fitzgerald: Tough Act to Follow
Illinois is a slightly cleaner state today because of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, and all of us owe him a debt of gratitude.
Posted inPress Release
Illinois House Votes to End Controversial Legislative Scholarships
Bill Heads to Governor, Who Favors Killing the Longtime Perk
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
MORE COMPETITION, LOWER PRICES ON CPS MILK CONTRACTS
Following a series of stories from the BGA and the Chicago Sun-Times about a politically connected dairy company and its government contracts, Chicago Public Schools negotiated new terms that should save the system $750,000 in milk expenses. Officials also pledged to launch a “rigorous competitive bidding process” to keep costs down.