Illinois Valley Times

Veteran state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) dreams of what could be if Illinois residents didn't have to pay a hefty price tag for corruption among Springfield Democrats.

“This is money that should be going to schools, keeping the state safe, instead of going to fund corrupt practices,” Rezin told the Illinois Valley Times. “I’m not at all surprised, but this number certainly exemplifies just how deep the problem runs.”

A new University of Illinois at Chicago study finds that the state’s culture of corruption annually costs taxpayers in the neighborhood of $556 million. Researchers also noted Illinois ranks as the second-most corrupt state in the country (behind Louisiana) and Chicago is the most corrupt city in the U.S., all of which goes a long way in crippling the state’s chances for economic growth.

Over the last two decades, researchers also found the state’s corruption price-tag easily tops $10 billion, or around $830 per resident.

“It’s at every level of government,” Rezin added. “I think people have really grown tired of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if the cost we’re paying is actually even greater.”

This year alone, at least four state lawmakers have been indicted on corruption charges, adding to the state’s long and sordid political history that includes four governors having been sentenced to prison over the last five decades. Presently, longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan finds himself cast as a central figure in the ongoing federal probe involving utility giant ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme.

“Again, this is money that could be going to things like mental health, instead it’s ending up in the last place it should,” Rezin added.

Rezin said Republicans have long been pushing for change.

“We have common sense ethics bills that would provide more transparency,” she said. “I introduced a bill in 2018 that would mandate that elected officials would have to report all assets and income. The ethics requirements we have right now are too ambiguous and not transparent enough.”

Rezin added none of the measures proposed by Republicans have advanced pass the preliminary stages.   

“This is what happens when you have one party control for as long as we have in Illinois,” she said.