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
BGA
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 inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
STATE’S ATTORNEY COP RESIGNS, OFFICIALS VOW REFORM
An investigator for Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez resigned after being caught on camera by FOX Chicago and the BGA spending work hours at a Bridgeport cigar shop. Alvarez’s aides promised better oversight in the 130-person investigative bureau.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
DUPAGE COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS CALL ON SHERIFF JOHN ZARUBA TO SUSPEND RIDE-ALONGS
After the BGA and CBS2 found the teenage son of DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba playing cop, including participating in attempted arrests and chases, County Board members demand a halt to police “ride-alongs” pending a review of the program.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Chicago Infrastructure Trust Approved
The Chicago City Council overwhelmingly approved Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to finance public works with private money, putting aside concerns voiced by dissenting aldermen and the BGA that the plan needed more oversight supervision.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
KOSCHMAN CASE GETS SPECIAL PROSECUTOR
A special prosecutor was appointed by a judge on April 23, 2012, to re-investigate the homicide of David Koschman, who died after allegedly being punched by a nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2004. Nobody was ever criminally charged in the case. The special prosecutor — whose appointment was pushed by Koschman’s family, with legal wing support from the BGA — will
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
BGA to Chicago City Council: Delay Infrastructure Trust Plan
BGA to Chicago City Council: Delay Infrastructure Trust Plan