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First, the setup:
One bumper sticker handed out in 2000 by a group critical of then-Gov. George Ryan may have best summed up the public’s often cynical view of Illinois politics: “Our governor is a bigger crook than your governor.”Ryan’s conviction on federal corruption charges adds yet another chapter to Illinois’ already voluminous history of political missteps, shenanigans and scandal.
From Ryan’s subordinates barbecuing documents trying to cover their tracks to cash-filled shoe boxes in the hotel room of a dead secretary of state, Illinois - the state that gave rise to Honest Abe - is arguably best known for its less-than-honest political pedigree.
But are we really that bad?
“Yes” is the resounding answer from many, but not all, political reformers and pundits.
“I think that it’s important for people to step back and look at Illinois at this moment in history,” said Cindi Canary, the director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. “The breadth and volume of the problem in this state is absolutely without compare. And it’s nothing to be proud of.”
Do you think Illinois is the most corrupt state in the nation? Why or why not? And what should be done about it?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 6:55 am
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Rich, the fact that you even ask that question leads me to think that you have never heard of a place called Louisiana, which by far takes the cake for most corrupt state.
Comment by Injou Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 7:26 am
louisiana certainly has problems, but, face it, illinois wins hands down.
this state has a very, very, very high tolerance for corruption. it’s expected. it’s encouraged. voters are aware but don’t care. i think the only real disgust i’ve run into are the government workers that had to walk a precinct to keep their jobs. i can’t imagine what the workers who had to give george ryan a bribe at christmas thought.
contrast that with louisiana, where corruption is only tolerated by the electorate if there is some other intrensic value to it. for example, edwin edwards was entertaining (by louisiana standards). are you really going to argue that ryan and daley were entertaining?
another contrast with louisiana is that those who ran against edwards always ran on a good government platform with clean hands. that’s probably unheard of here. who has clean hands?
but i think the best distinction is the one rich alluded to: illinois’ corrupt politicians don’t believe they are stealing from the taxpayers. they are deluded. at least the louisiana politicians (in my lifetime) understood that they were doing something wrong — they just thought they could get away with it. i’d love to see sheer dishonesty out of an illinois crook; self-righteous dishonesty is sickening…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 7:40 am
Also speaking as a Louisiana native, I’d say Injou and bored now both make good points. I’m not sure who wins. It would be fun to try and count up the federal investigations, convictions and scandals and try and weigh Louisiana and Illinois side-to-side. My gut tells me Louisiana would win.
bored now - “those who ran against edwards always ran on a good government platform with clean hands” … er, David Duke? Which produced the famous 1991 bumper stickers, “Vote for the crook - it’s important” and “Vote for the lizard, not for the wizard.”
Any other states we should throw in the mix here? I would say the bar has been set high.
Comment by ZC Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 7:57 am
i wasn’t thinking about duke. edwards had been around a long time…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 8:03 am
Here is a great rumor to start the day.
Noted government outsider and reformer Brian McFadden is taking over the AccordiOnGal campaign ship.
Comment by Reddbyrd Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 8:23 am
Here is a great rumor to start the day.
Noted government outsider and reformer Brian McFadden is taking over the AccordiOnGal campaign ship.
Comment by Reddbyrd Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 8:23 am
Don’t forget about New Jersey. The wonderful thing about IL, it is truley a bipartisan effort.
Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 8:24 am
I thought when politicos were talking about the most corrupt states a couple years ago, in no particular order it was Illinois, Louissiana, and New Jersey. Are there any similarities between Blago, New Jersey’s gov, and Louissiana’s gov?
Personally, I’m sure that contracts go out to friends of elected officials in probably every state. And it’s probably worse in smaller states where there isn’t that much competition, or where most people know everyone. Like in South Dakota or a state like that. I could be wrong, but it almost just seems like human nature to pick people who you know.
Comment by Walker, Texas Ranger Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 8:32 am
When Walter Hickel picked a friend to rent a state office from in Alaska, wasn’t he almost impeached?
Comment by Cal Skinner Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 8:41 am
I’ve worked politics around the country, and I’ve noticed that a lot of states claim title to most corrupt. Louisiana and New Jersey probably top the list. But go to the bookstores in eastern Pennsylvania — there are plenty of history books about crooked politicians and claims of stolen elections.
I don’t understand the competition for the claim of most corrupt political system. It’s nothing to be proud of.
As for whether Illinois is the most corrupt: it doesn’t matter if Louisiana is worse than Illinois. What matters is that our political system is too corrupt to allow for truly free market competition; too corrupt to create efficient and effective government programs; and too corrupt to keep Illinois competitive in a global economy that rewards innovation and flexibility.
Comment by the Other Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 8:46 am
Politics is the family business, and it’s dominated by Chicago families, Daley, Hynes, Madigan,Mell. It’s looking for a living on the public dime.
As the other anonymous says, Illinois can’t compete and is falling behind with this entitlement mentality.
Comment by Backyard Conservative Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 8:54 am
I just know that this type of stuff doesn’t happen in Texas. I wouldn’t allow it.
Comment by Walker, Texas Ranger Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 8:57 am
Corruption - cool word. Elicits outrage in the outraged: Bobby ‘Check’s in the Mail’ Rush lards the Englewood Center with kin and is a Progressive voice for change and George Ryan is charged with ‘neglecting the citizens of Illinois’ and not ‘pocketing’ dollars per se.
The perpetually outraged - people who seem to dislike the fact that other people, usually succesful people fair pretty well in the world. They can not accept the fact that those person do better than they do through dedication and hard-work. The perpetually outraged- Monty Greenwood in the 51th Ward loses his job at the Board of Trade along with his mortgage payments, 3 tuitions at St. Pecunia Non Olet’s, the New GMAC receipts for the Hummer, & etc.;never registered to vote; and never had anything to do with ‘political stooges’ in his life; reads John Kass daily; wouldn’t know Fast Eddie if EV were buying his lunch. Monty traded too loose and lost. Now, what are those corrupt political hogs-at-the-trough and tight-as-ticks Union insiders going to do for him? He can not even get an appointment. He’s outraged. He lost is job and may send the kids to Public school, may lose the house, the Hummer and more. Where is the compassion?
Political corruption -the sugar pill for bitterness.
Comment by Pat Hickey Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 9:09 am
I recall reading that Rhode Island was a cesspool of corruption, though I can’t remember the specifics.
I have a friend from New Jersey who will sometimes mention how much bad press our state gets in the national news.
If nothing else, Illinois is probably in the top ten.
Comment by Walking Wounded Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 9:13 am
Corruption occurs when one party feels comfortable enough to let their revelers run amuck. Single party governments like Louisiana, New Jersey, and Chicago all fit this description. The Illinois GOP turned a blind eye after a quarter century rule. Chicago’s Blagojevich brought Cook County Democratic Party politics to Springfield, so the corruption continues.
As to which state is most corrupt, it is the state that allows a single party to rule the longest. I’d say New Jersey because it continues to elect the same corrupted Democratic Party even after gubernatorial scandals. Louisiana is historically corrupt, but has been seeing the revivial of another party, although it is on the verge of electing another Landreu, this time as NO mayor.
While there are always exceptions to this rule, history repeatedly shows that a state with single party rule becomes corrupt.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 9:18 am
I would say that Louisiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Ohio would all give Illinois a run for the title of most corrupt state governments.
Comment by Coloradem Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 9:29 am
History clearly shows that any state with single party rule becomes corrupted. Chicago has been dominated by one party for 70 years. No one should have expected a Chicago Alderman’s son in law to reform Illinois. Illinois was dominated by the GOP for a quarter century. This produces a Ryan. All of our crooked governors appear during single party rule. It isn’t a coincidence.
Historically, Louisiana is so corrupt it destroyed New Orleans, forcing businesses to a new city named Houston. The Democratic Party has ruled there with an iron fist. Only now are we seeing Republicans elected, however, it appears NO is willing to elect another Landreau as mayor.
Currently, New Jersey is the worst. Even with gubernatorial scandals, voters continue electing Democrats. The current governor ran last fall on a no tax pledge. One week into his term, he raised taxes. Their Senate race was stolen by the Democrats when polls showed them that their incumbant candidate couldn’t win after corruption charges were proven. The Party merely changed election rules and put another guy in. Stupidly enough, New Jersey voters continue electing this corrupted party into office. So, I’d have to say New Jersey. They don’t seem to even get a clue yet.
Illinois is another case. Perhaps with the Ryan conviction and how Fitzgerald deals with Blagojevich’s corruption, we’ll start seeing an improvement. Topinka knows all the dirt. With the GOP near-death experience during the past six years, maybe they will be interested in leading a statewide reform to stay in office this time.
What we know now is that the governor we currently have is too dirty to stay in office and has no interest in reforming anything.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 9:35 am
At a bare minimum Illinois is in the top three in terms of corruption, with the other contenders being Louisiana and New Jersey.
We have rampant corruption because our politicians view it as integral to “getting things done”, very weak ethics/campaign finance/procurement laws that virtually invite corruption, States Attorneys that can fight all sorts of crime, but never do anyting on public corruption and a public that has stopped caring. The combination makes Illinois a corruption utopia, government of the insiders, by the insiders, for the insiders.
To combat it we need four things: continued vigorous prosecution by prosecutors (hey States Attorneys, Fitzgerald could use some help), strengthen ethics/campaign finance/procurement law, aggressive press coverage of politicians and voters need to wake up and vote out ethically challenged public officials.
Comment by Navin Johnson Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 9:35 am
Rich,
Please feel free to delete my first entry. @#$@ computer lead me to believe my last posting didn’t post. I normally catch this. Sorry!
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 9:38 am
http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/
2006/04/have-nice-day.html
Comment by Backyard Conservative Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 10:51 am
Surprised no one is mentioning the Bush brothers other state FL. Seems like every week there is some kinky deal in the news.
Comment by Reddbyrd Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 10:58 am
Many of the same behaviors mentioned above are going on in, or have recently happened in, LA, AR, IL, WI, NJ, NV, OH, CT, AK, TX, MT, KY and I am sure there are more.
Comment by The Hankster Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 11:25 am
Don’t Blame Me, I voted for Jim Oberweis! He would’ve fixed it all up!
Comment by ANONymous Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 11:26 am
I’d have to agree with Hankster. It’s just that Blago is too inept at governing, he can’t even be good at being corrupt. That’s why our state is falling apart.
Comment by Walker, Texas Ranger Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 12:55 pm
Maryland, Arkansas, Illinois and Louisiana all have had governors head off to prison. But what about Nevada, which has its own unique political culture….
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 1:02 pm
Nevada would probably be corrupt, expect their solution seems to be legalizing all the “bad” stuff.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 1:09 pm
Too many people here act as if all the stuff we are so unhappy about is somehow being imposed on us. Remember Pogo!
Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 1:11 pm
There is a big criminal corruption trial going on in Nevada right now.
Comment by The Hankster Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 1:18 pm
Backyard, don’t forget the Phelps family.
I would say that Ohio, Illinois, Louisiana and New Jersey are by far the worst. Of course, it’s not necessarily in that order. New York is pretty bad too but there enough good people in the Burroughs to cancel out the bad ones. Illinois doesn’t have that. We might have a few decent politicians but the bulk of them are corrupt and uncaring of their constituents. Fair constituent service and driving around the district don’t make up for unethical behavior and the old boy network.
The problem with corruption is that states who have corruption issues often have those issues due a heavily-population base centered in one area (i.e. Chicago, North Jersey, New Orleans). That adds to the problem as one area of the state seemingly tries to (or succeeds in) running the state. That area then becomes unchecked and feels invincible. Seriously, unless Daley, Blago, Madigan, Jones, Mell and the Hynes family are all indicted at the same time we will never see an end to the shenanigans that come out of Chicago.
New Orleans is an interesting case study. They are willing to keep electing corrupt, in-the-family officials even when it is plain to see the choices made by Louisiana voters are bad. In a way they get what they deserve. I feel bad for NOLA yet I also cannot feel too much sympathy for people who heap these problems upon themselves.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 1:22 pm
I could never understand why Louisiana would continue to elect Long and yet he was surrounded by corruption. I didn’t understand why Alabama would continue to elect George Wallace when he so unfairly stood on the steps of a university saying he would never allow blacks to enter. I kept thinking “what’s wrong with these voters?” And now here we are in Illinois are we continue to accept less than the best for our government officials. The politicians know that we don’t demand the best and therefore we don’t even have the opportunity to be governed by the best. And we have absolutely no one to blame but ourselves. We vote for the person who we think will win and can do favors for us, our relatives, our business or our city. If we act like prostitutes and are happy with whatever crumbs a politician will throw our way, we are going to elect pimps and nothing better.
Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 1:31 pm
Little Egypt: I agree with what you said. I also think that there is always going to be corruption in government, thats no secret but I also think people will allow some if they think everything else is running smoothly. Many times people attack someone for being corrupt, but the real reason they are attacking them I believe, is because they are of the wrong party or disagree with them politically.
Comment by Big Mike Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 1:40 pm
Corruption knows no borders! As long as human beings are involved there will be corruption. That doesn’t make it right; it’s just a reality of human nature. I get tired of people bashing our state like we are all so bad. The vast majority of people in government at all levels — either elected, appointed, or hired — are good decent people who are involved for the most honorable reasons. One rotten apple spoils the whole bushell and needs to be thrown out as soon as it is discovered.
Comment by Proud Illini Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 2:53 pm
Just a theory. Illinois (Chicago) has a lot of east europeans. Corruption is part and parcel of that culture. Politics is just another type of business that people go into to make money. That’s why no one cares because its expected.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 3:26 pm
Anon, 3:26, I don’t think so. Aside from painting a whole region of the world with one brush, it ignores the fact of Chicago also having huge numbers of Irish and Germans (usually considered Western or Central European) who have been in trouble about as frequently.
For me, I tend to be tolerant of a certain amount of corruption. As long as the amounts aren’t too large and no one is physically harmed, it’s hard to get too worked up about it. Call me a cynic or a realist or an idiot, but it just seems to be part of human behavior and the best you can do is manage it.
Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 4:33 pm
We allow corruption to flourish locally, and then elect these criminals to higher offices to represent us. Who’s to blame for that? We’re all adults and yet accept unethical behavior as part of “politics.” Wrong is wrong, and I don’t care where you’re from or who you are.
Comment by It wasn't me! Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 6:25 pm
Little Egypt 1:31: at least Long and Wallace had an appeal to the common masses, no matter if it was wrong-headed. Long with his populist, bordering on socialism Robin Hood wealth redistribution schemes, and Wallace with his us-against-them dig in the heels stance in holding up the values of old Dixie. In IL we shrug as politicians make faint appeals to the public of their “noble motives”, as they obviously have bigger goals in mind for themselves and their cronies.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 7:19 pm
This is why Illinois is the most coprupt state for political coruption.The Cook County GOP is being taken over by Democrats disguised as Republicans.
Remnants of former undersheriff James Dvorak’s political operation are
re-surfacing in Cook County these days and threaten to wreck havoc on
hard-fought gains made the past two years against the entrenched Democratic
establishment. In 1988, Dvorak unseated Cook County Chairman Don Totten in a
surprising reversal. Totten, you may recall, was Ronald Reagan’s presidential
campaign manager for Illinois.
Not long after his victory over Totten, Dvorak was forced to step down as
undersheriff on charges that he was accepting bribes from mob sources. Later
Dvorak pled guilty-from jail-to hiring ghost payrollers. Jim Parrilli, Former
Proviso Township Republican Committeeman and one of James Dvorak’s chief allies
during the late 1980’s and early ’90’s appears intent on bringing back James
Dvorak’s glory days of political mischief and questionable practices.
In the 1980’s, Parrilli admitted to wrongly using public resources to solicit
political contributions, as reported in the Chicago Tribune (4/2/1985). Judy
Baar Topinka, a sitting State Senator during the scandal-plagued Dvorak days, at
that time opposed Parrilli’s re-election as Proviso Township Republican
Committeeman (Chicago Tribune, 12/10/1989). Despite his questionable
association with Dvorak and checkered past, Parrilli managed to win the 19th
Ward Republican Committeeman’s race on Chicago’s Southwest side in 2004.
On Wednesday night (April 19, 2006), Parrilli was running for an Illinois
Republican Party State Central Committeeman’s seat at the Cook County organizing
convention, and he initially lost to incumbent George Preski. Cook County
Chairman Gary Skoien ruled twice that a proxy Parrilli attempted to submit was
not valid and was not timely cast. After continued pressure from Parrilli and
the late arrival (in person) of the proxy grantor (Committeeman Helen Cashman
from Mike Madigan’s 13th Ward), Skoien resuscitated Parrilli’s bid by allowing
Cashman to confirm her votes for Parrilli, and Skoien then accepted the disputed
proxy, which had been altered. Skoien’s ruling erased Preski’s lead and
tentatively gives the spot to Parrilli, subject to review by the State
Republican Party. Commissioner Tony Peraica and State Treasurer Judy Baar
Topinka cast their weighted votes against Parrilli.
Parrilli is also at the center of a challenge to Clark Pellett as the sitting
Republican Chicago Chairman. An ally of Topinka, Pellett was in his own battle
on that Wednesday night, but he was eventually supported by a unanimous vote.
Pellett who is a Life Member of the Republican Party (Eisenhower Commission) and
a Sustaining Member of the Republican National Committee is also a Presidential
Roundtable member. He gives generously to state and local Republican
candidates, according to State Board of Election records, and is a member of the
NRSC’s Inner Circle.
By contrast, Jim Parrilli’s State Board of Election contribution records show
that he has apparently never given money to any Republican candidate. More
shocking is that just 8 months ago, in August of 2005, Parrilli was a
contributor to Democratic State Representative Kevin Joyce (D. - 35th District)
-even though Parrilli was a sitting Republican Ward committeeman.
“It appears that our Democratic “friends” have found new ways to snarl the
Republican Party-with scurrilous attempts to thin our ranks and reverse our
progress,” said Pellett. These conflicts, stoked by the likes of Parrilli,
simply waste our Republican time, energy and resources-much to the benefit of
Rod Blagojevich and his Democratic cronies. We need to guard against more
challenges coming from these people or we will see our hopes dim for Republican
victories in November.
Chicago Republican Party
205 W. Randolph, Suite 1245
Chicago
Illinois 60606
United States
Comment by Chicago GOP/Republican Party Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 9:25 pm
Thomas Kean and Christie Todd Whitman are recent Republican governors of NJ.
Comment by jersey guy Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 10:30 pm
what about mounting a challenge to the powers that be? if government is of the people, perhaps blame should lie with us. if it has been taken out of our hands, we need to try to take it back. if we dont or cant, why shouldnt it get worse?
William Maggos
DFI coordinator
Comment by wjmaggos Tuesday, Apr 25, 06 @ 11:36 pm
Kean was a generation ago, and Whitman was worthless even before her famous EPA fiasco.
On one hand, at least Illinois is not New Jersey. On the other hand, it seems to have selected New Jersey as its role model. Give it one or two more cycles.
Comment by T.J. Wednesday, Apr 26, 06 @ 12:44 am
To hear our illustrious governor tell the tale, it’s us state employees who are the crooks. Doesn’t matter who you are or how good a job you do, we’re all tarred with the same brush. And we’re the ones who have to take annual ethics training? Give me a break!
Comment by Disgusted Wednesday, Apr 26, 06 @ 5:16 am
My name says it all. We da best at it, methinks. Abe, Paul Simon, Adlai Stevenson, Glen Poshard….wonderful memories of noble men. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama give me what little hope I have for this pitiful state.
Comment by Criminal Enterprise Called Illinois Wednesday, Apr 26, 06 @ 7:19 pm