State Senate Passes Bill To End Legislative Scholarships
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Posted inAnalysis, Policy
State Senate Passes Bill To End Legislative Scholarships
A bill to eliminate the controversial legislative scholarship program passed the Illinois Senate and is very close to becoming law.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
LEGISLATIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM KILLED
After the BGA, the Chicago Sun-Times and others exposed repeated abuses in how Illinois legislators award college tuition waivers — and following an aggressive lobbying campaign by the BGA policy team — the General Assembly votes to end the decades-old program, which had been costing taxpayers more than $13 million a year. Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to soon sign the bill into
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Cop Assigned to Private Building in Loop
There aren’t enough officers in high-crime neighborhoods, but the Chicago Police Department has a full-time cop at the Merchandise Mart, a low-crime office building long run by the Kennedy family. How busy is the officer? In three years, he’s made no arrests.
Posted inPress Release
Cullerton Support Signals End of Legislative Scholarships
A bill to eliminate the controversial legislative scholarship program is advancing in the Illinois Senate. A measure to end the program is now supported by a key General Assembly leader–Senate President John Cullerton–who changed his position from supporting reforms aimed at policing the program to advocating its elimination.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
PUBLIC HOUSING OFFICIAL STEPS DOWN
Following inquiries from the BGA about his private companies doing business with the government agency that he was leading, Cook County Housing Authority board Chairman Elzie Higginbottom resigns and, to avoid a possible conflict of interest, the agency changes the way Section 8 vouchers are handled for buildings run by his firms.
Posted inPress Release
BGA To Illinois Senate: Don’t Waver On Ending State Tuition Waivers
The Better Government Association is again strongly urging Illinois Senate President John Cullerton to call for a full Senate vote on a bill to end the troubled and clout-riddled legislative scholarship program.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Redefining the ‘Chicago Way’
How did Mayor Emanuel do in Ethics & Transparency 101? BGA has the first term grade in Crain’s one-year perspective.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Do Forest Preserves Need a Separate Police Force?
Eliminating the forest preserve police department has been discussed numerous times over the years. The subject is again surfacing as county officials discuss “streamlining” and saving money.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Really Bad Judgment
DuPage County Board members rip sheriff for letting teenage son play cop, go on ride-alongs with on-duty deputies.