* Headline…
Powerful State Senator Got Caribbean Trips, Campaign Donations And Cash Through Loretto Hospital
* Trips…
Loretto’s tax reports do not state who paid for Lightford’s trips.
Carroll said wholly owned insurance companies are not uncommon in the health care industry, and Loretto was forced to create its own firm several years ago “because there was not a single provider in the United States that would provide the insurance required for it to operate.”
“Members of boards who create captives also often serve on those boards, and this is no different in the case of Loretto,” Carroll said. “Board members of captives are required by Cayman Islands’ law to travel at least once a year to the island to attend one of their two annual board meetings. […]
In 2008 and 2012, Lightford used her campaign fund to reimburse Westside for bills totaling $1,833 related to Westside board meetings or other functions in the Cayman Islands, where Westside is registered.
So, at least in those two years, the hospital didn’t pay for her trips.
* Campaign contributions…
Loretto’s former hospital management firm and top contractor, Renaissance Hospital Management Inc., gave $38,350 to Lightford’s political fund between 2002 and 2014, records show.
Lightford reported raising $1.1 million during that timeframe, so that was about 3.5 percent of her total haul.
* “Cash”…
But she has been paid through the hospital’s wholly owned insurance company, Westside Insurance Co. Lightford’s state ethics disclosures list her connection to Westside but do not divulge what she was paid or even her title with the firm.
Illinois lawmakers are required to disclose the name of organizations they received more than $1,200 from in a year but do not have to detail how much money they made or what work they did.
We need a better disclosure law.
*** UPDATE *** Leader Lightford…
Rich, the insinuation that I am somehow “financially benefiting” from the hospital’s captive insurance company is beyond ridiculous. I receive less than the $5,000 a year that’s required to be reported. I report it anyway in an effort to be transparent only to turnaround and now have it used against me. I have followed what are standard business practices, and I am proud of the work I have done for this vital health care resource in a tragically underserved community.
- don the legend - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 12:41 pm:
Paraphrasing Seinfeld: “And she wanted to be Iliinois’ Senate President, I don’t think so.”
- Rasselas - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 12:43 pm:
And if it’s legal for campaign funds to be used for this type of travel (serving on the board of an insurance company for a hospital), we need better campaign financing laws, too.
- phocion - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 12:44 pm:
Good thing the Senate Democrats ignored Governor Pritkzer’s advice on who they should have as their Senate President.
- Perrid - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 12:45 pm:
And Loretto was just on the hot seat for giving million dollar contracts to an exec’s friends, while claiming poverty to the GA. The hits just keep coming.
- Pizza Man - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 12:47 pm:
Friday’s news dump for Majority Leader Lightford…well, a little earlier than 5 p.m.
- Responsa - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 1:05 pm:
Politicians, grift, wash rinse repeat.
- From the 'Dale to HP - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 1:05 pm:
Becky Carroll is back at it, I see. That alone leads me to believe there isn’t as much here as the headline says.
- NIU Grad - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 1:06 pm:
Gov. Pritzker really knows how to pick winners…
I’ve said it before, but the Senate really dodged a bullet here.
- 62468 - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 1:13 pm:
When should citizens expect to hear from the Senate President on this story?
- Flakk - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 1:16 pm:
I’m confused about the Becky Carroll comment. Are you saying that because she’s a paid spokesperson for the hospital, that there’s not much to this? The hiring of a veteran political operative usually indicates the opposite.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 1:18 pm:
Right now, Loretto is not a word, place, or subject you want associated with yourself.
Funny thing is, it’s the people and their choices that make Lorretto such a negative thing.
When talking about ethics or voluntary disclosure or even honesty to task, purpose, it seems that those associated with Lorretto made some really interesting choices, and those choices and the revelations that follow…. they sizzle.
It’s a one thing causing all this angst, it’s a bunch of “one things” surrounding Lorretto and those close to it.
I’ll see if Lightford learns from this, and with it being a Friday, it’ll help with initial damage.
- Unsafety Net - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 1:19 pm:
It’s about time the State’s inspectors start looking at all the money we have been giving to these so called safety net hospitals. I mean they had three legislators on just this one hospital’s board and paid staff. How may other legislators work for safety net hospitals or their insurance companies? It could be time for an investigation. It doesn’t pass the smell test.
- Ben - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 1:59 pm:
We need a better disclosure law and we need legislators who don’t feel so entitled to the finer things as part of their jobs.
- No relation - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 2:09 pm:
“So, at least in those two years, the hospital didn’t pay for her trips. ”
Maybe.
My wife was also on a captive insurance board and if a board member took a companion to the Cayman meeting they had to reimburse the hospital for the expenses (air flight, meals, etc) The amount in the article could be her paying for a companion.
There was a conference on hospital insurance at the same time the board meeting was scheduled. The time I went down my wife spent all day in seminars.
- Senor Strawberry - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 2:10 pm:
I’m in favor of doubling legislative salaries and banning all outside employment. You can move the boundaries by passing new ethics legislation but a number of folks will just learn how to game it.
- Constitutional Lawyer - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 2:31 pm:
== I’m in favor of doubling legislative salaries and banning all outside employment. You can move the boundaries by passing new ethics legislation but a number of folks will just learn how to game it. ==
The other 2 branches of government require full time service and no outside employment, but they also have higher salaries. If you want elected officials who do this as their job, not a side gig, and deal with all of the personal crap that comes with it you have to pay them for the job. Pay all elected constitutional officers $200K a year if you want better people to run and a more professionalized government.
- Soccermom - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 2:31 pm:
To No Relation’s point, it’s also unclear whether the payments reported covered all costs for the trip. Less than $1900 for two trips to the Cayman Islands? that seems awfully low
- JS Mill - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 3:25 pm:
I have been a longtime critic of Lightford. I have always struggled to understand her level of influence and power. This reports is not surprising (for any politician really) and I would love to see her run out of the senate right behind Darren Bailey.
- Ed Equity - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 3:39 pm:
At least we know through all of this Loretto has a reputation for being a nationally respected, top-notch, high-quality, innovative healthcare provider (said no one ever).
- Candy Dogood - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 4:11 pm:
===We need a better disclosure law. ==
It looks like Representative Lightford agrees with you.
===I receive less than the $5,000 a year that’s required to be reported. I report it anyway in an effort to be transparent only to turnaround and now have it used against me===
Perhaps we should go a step further and encourage mandatory audits of state legislators and constitutional office holders. That might keep some of the billionaires from seeking public office, though.
- Birds on the Bat - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 6:03 pm:
I have followed what are standard business practices
For Illinois Democrats, you sure have.
- Chito - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 6:10 pm:
Why isn’t more written about Rep. Lilly. She’s an employee of Loretto while chairing the Appropriations Committee that oversees HFS, which funds a huge chunk of that hospital’s annual budget.
- Anonymous - Monday, May 24, 21 @ 9:59 am:
“we need better disclosure laws”…Yup, and we need BETTER laws generally restricting any paid benefits or participation on the front end- this really is alarming.