by Brian CostinToday, state Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) was expelled from the General Assembly by a 100-6 vote. The first such expulsion since 1905. Rep. Smith has been accused of taking a $7,000 bribe to steer a $50,000 grant to a daycare center.
This is another sad day for Illinois. Two former governors currently sit in jail on federal public corruption charges, and earlier this year a report from the University of Illinois-Chicago found the Northern District of Illinois is the most corrupt region in all of the United States.
Despite the indictment and expulsion, the now former Rep. Smith still appears on the ballot for the November election and could be re-elected by voters. This is not inconceivable considering Smith won re-election in the primary by a margin of 77-23 percent in March a week AFTER being indicted.
Only in Illinois.Roll Call: HR1191 Expulsion Derrick Smith
