General Assembly returns to Springfield with looming deadlines
General Assembly returns to Springfield with looming deadlines
After returning from vacation, Illinois lawmakers will operate under rapidly approaching deadlines to pass legislation.
Chicago passes smokeless-tobacco ban for city ballparks
Chicago passes smokeless-tobacco ban for city ballparks
Chicago recently became the fourth city to ban smokeless tobacco at ballparks, and is home to the nation’s highest tobacco tax.
Illinois corruption watch: February 2016
Illinois corruption watch: February 2016
Illinoisans’ confidence in their state government is the lowest of residents of any state in the nation, and corruption stories from February 2016 don’t help.
Legislative update: Government transparency, consolidation bills on the move in Springfield
Legislative update: Government transparency, consolidation bills on the move in Springfield
Illinois Policy Action has been busy advancing its 2016 Legislative Agenda, arguing for bills that make local- government operations more transparent to residents, and promote efficiency.
Judge rules Chicago red-light and speed-camera tickets ‘void’
Judge rules Chicago red-light and speed-camera tickets ‘void’
Chicago is taking yet another black eye for its mishandling of a highly controversial ticketing system, which has slapped drivers with hundreds of millions of dollars in fines.
Illinoisans have nation’s lowest trust in state government by far
Illinoisans have nation’s lowest trust in state government by far
New polling data show nearly 3 in 4 Illinoisans lack confidence in Springfield.
Obama’s birthday could become next state government holiday
Obama’s birthday could become next state government holiday
A bill introduced by state Rep. Andre Thapedi, D-Chicago, would make President Barack Obama’s Aug. 4 birthday Illinois’ 13th paid state holiday.
Illinois corruption watch: January 2016
Illinois corruption watch: January 2016
In January several instances of corruption, influence peddling and mismanagement across Illinois were brought to light, from the College of DuPage’s expense-account mismanagement, to Chicago’s red-light-camera bribery case.
Chicago City Council passes weakened oversight ordinance at Burke’s bidding
Chicago City Council passes weakened oversight ordinance at Burke’s bidding
Chicago aldermen voted in favor of an ordinance that was changed to shield City Council from the auditing powers of Inspector General Joe Ferguson.
Chicago aldermen look to kneecap oversight in City Council vote
Chicago aldermen look to kneecap oversight in City Council vote
Aldermen say they want oversight, but they don’t want anyone to be able to audit them. What do they have to hide?
Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal found guilty on all charges
Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal found guilty on all charges
A federal jury convicted former transportation official John Bills of fraud, extortion, bribery and more.
Wheatland Township earns Sunshine Award with perfect online transparency score
Wheatland Township earns Sunshine Award with perfect online transparency score
Wheatland Township’s “transparency portal” provides residents access to important government information.
Oversight of Chicago City Council coming soon
Oversight of Chicago City Council coming soon
At its next meeting in February, City Council will likely approve legislation to expand the scope of the inspector general’s role to overseeing aldermen.
Court testimony: Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal ordered donations to Madigan’s political organization
Court testimony: Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal ordered donations to Madigan’s political organization
Redflex bagman Martin O’Malley says John Bills ordered him to pay thousands of dollars to Mike Madigan’s 13th Ward Democratic Organization.