Lawmaker who voted for ‘fair tax’ pleads guilty to tax fraud

By Vincent Caruso

09/16/2020

Five key supporters of the progressive tax in the Illinois General Assembly are facing corruption probes. Four have been charged. Three have resigned.

TAGS: bribery, corruption, fair tax, Terry Link

Sen. Terry Link latest ‘fair tax’ supporter to resign amid corruption charge

09/14/2020

Five key supporters of the progressive tax in the Illinois General Assembly are facing corruption probes. Four have been charged. Three have resigned.

TAGS: bribery, corruption, fair tax, federal investigation, Mike Madigan, Terry Link

Link in the chain of Illinois power, corruption, taxes

By Vincent Caruso

08/26/2020

With the "fair tax" campaign, lawmakers aim to sell voters a shovel to entrench the status quo by advertising it as a weapon with which to fight against it.

TAGS: corruption, fair tax, federal investigation, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, Terry Link

‘Fair tax’ supporter indicted for tax evasion

08/13/2020

Four long-time Illinois General Assembly members who pushed through the “fair tax” referendum have been charged with crimes. A fifth faces a bribery investigation.

TAGS: corruption, federal investigation, tax fraud, Terry Link

Former state Rep. Arroyo pleads not guilty to bribery charge

02/05/2020

Arroyo resigned from his seat in the Illinois General Assembly after his arrest in October on bribery charges. He now faces up to 10 years in prison for bribery.

TAGS: bribery, corruption, fair tax, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, graduated income tax, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Senate, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, JB Pritzker, lobbying, Luis Arroyo, Martin Sandoval, progressive income tax, red light cameras, Springfield, tax fraud, Terry Link

Chicago City Council votes to ban lobbying by elected leaders

12/20/2019

Chicago’s second round of anti-corruption rules restricts aldermen and city employees from working as lobbyists and stops other elected leaders from lobbying city government for private clients.

TAGS: bribery, Chicago, Chicago City Council, ComEd, corruption, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Larry Suffredin, lawmakers, lobbying, Lori Lightfoot, Luis Arroyo, Michael Zalewski, Michele Smith, Mike Madigan, ordinance, Springfield, Terry Link

Illinois state senator on ethics committee allegedly filed false income tax return

11/07/2019

Sources have identified state Sen. Terry Link as the FBI’s witness in their investigation into former state Rep. Luis Arroyo. Tax troubles may have led to Link’s cooperation.

TAGS: corruption, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, income tax, Luis Arroyo, taxes, Terry Link

Illinois Senate passes bill barring pension double-dipping for local politicians

04/29/2019

Illinois is home to the nation’s worst pension problem. A bill aimed at double-dipping by local politicians could make it better as Illinois pursues a pension system overhaul.

TAGS: Laura Murphy, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, Terry Link

Illinois Senate committee approves statewide plastic bag tax, exempts Chicago

By Austin Berg

03/07/2019

Shoppers across Illinois would pay a new state-level bag tax under Senate Bill 1240 and House Bill 3335. But Chicago shoppers, who already pay a city bag tax, would not.

TAGS: Ann Williams, Chicago, JB Pritzker, plastic bags, taxes, Terry Link