Capitol Fax: Willie Wilson cleared, handouts denounced, but will resume tomorrow

The controversy of last month - Willie Wilson handing out cash at a church under the guise of property tax relief - appears to be over. Mr. Wilson who made most of his money owning McDonald's franchises is cleared of wrongdoing and plans to continue his property tax relief for now.

Read more at CapFax

Willie Wilson cleared, handouts denounced, but will resume tomorrow https://t.co/5AEboSlO8T

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) August 27, 2018

CBS Chicago: Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett To Step Aside

cps.edu

Interesting development:

Faced with a growing federal investigation, Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett will take a paid leave of absence.

Chicago Board of Education President David Vitale confirmed Byrd-Bennett will temporarily step aside.

“In light of the ongoing federal investigation and its impact on her ability to effectively lead Chicago Public Schools, Barbara Byrd-Bennett is taking a leave of absence from Chicago Public Schools effective immediately,” he said. “Board of Education Vice President Jesse Ruiz is taking the responsibilities of the chief executive officer while Byrd-Bennett is on leave. As board vice president for almost four years, and a former chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, Ruiz has both the legal and educational expertise and experience to guide the district at this time while ensuring students and teachers continue to make academic gains in the classroom.”

Ruiz will serve as interim CEO as the district prepares to negotiate a new teachers’ contract this summer and deal with budget and pension shortfalls.

...
Byrd-Bennett, along with at least three other CPS aides, is a focus of the federal probe, along with the Wilmette-based SUPES Academy, which offers leadership training to principals. SUPES received a $20 million no-bid contract in 2013, right after CPS closed 50 schools.

The three other CPS officials are: chief of staff Sherry Ulery; Tracy Martin, head of strategic services; and Rosemary Herpel, a senior project manager.

The Chicago Teachers Union has said the investigation centered on Byrd-Bennett reflects a broader ethics problem at CPS, particularly among leaders.

WOW!

Secretary of State launches ethics probe of Ald. Beale’s wife - Chicago Sun-Times

Secretary of State launches ethics probe of Ald. Beale’s wife - Chicago Sun-Times

WOW!!!! First his daughter takes part in controversial state legislative scholarships to attend one of our state's public universities and now an ethics probe on his wife:

The wife of Ald. Anthony Beale is the subject of an ethics probe for undisclosed “job performance” issues, Secretary of State Jesse White’s office confirmed Tuesday.

Dana Beale was hired by the secretary of state in 2000 and worked as an enforcement auditor in White’s securities division until last May, when she resigned from her $79,620-a-year post.

Despite leaving that job eight months ago, she remains under investigation by James Burns, the secretary of state’s inspector general and a former U.S. attorney, White spokesman Dave Druker said.

“The inspector general is conducting an investigation pertaining to her job performance in the secretary of state’s office,” Druker said, declining to offer any other specifics about the nature of the investigation.

Burns declined comment.

Dana Beale is a legislative aide to state Rep. Robert Rita (D-Blue Island) who receives a “token” $400-a-month state paycheck for helping, as Rita described, “serve more than 100,000 constituents … [handling] constituent service requests for help and community outreach activities.”

This causes me to draw a conclusion at the moment but perhaps you will be thinking what I'm thinking. At least I hope you are.

Daley pushes Springfield agenda lacking ethics reform

Sun-Times:

Flanked by a cast of thousands, Mayor Daley turned up the heat today on the Illinois General Assembly to approve his Springfield agenda with one conspicuous omission: ethics reform.

With one governor in prison and another impeached and indicted, reforming a state government mired in corruption and pay-to-pay politics is high on just about everybody's agenda.

Not Daley's. Not even after the Hired Truck, city hiring and minority contracting scandals resulted in dozens of convictions, including the March guilty verdict against former Streets and Sanitation commissioner and Hispanic Democratic Organization chieftain Al Sanchez for rigging city hiring and promotions.

Why not champion the issue?

"We've done everything here. We're leading the way with our inspector general, office of compliance — all the things we've done. We're more transparent than any other government. Look at it. We're doing a tremendous job here. We lead by example," he said.

Aldermanic ethics statements

Courtesy of the Sun-Times:

At least 15 of Chicago’s 50 alderman supplemented their six-figure city salaries last year by working outside jobs or owning businesses, according to annual financial statements released this morning.

A handful of City Council members — led by Finance Committee Chairman Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) — also disclosed income that either they or their spouses derived from people who do business with the city or other local government agencies. In Burke’s case, his law firm, Klafter & Burke, provided services to 31 companies with government business ties — seven fewer than it did last year.

You won't find Aldermen Cochrane or Latasha Thomas here. There is a 30 day grace period, but after that they may be penalized.

Here's Ald. Lyle's ethics statement we also blogged last year's statement as well.

Hat-tip Newsalert!

Illinois Senate approves Blagojevich-endorsed package that restricts lawmakers

Tribune:

Less than 24 hours after approving major ethics legislation aimed at Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a package backed by the governor that would put some of the same restrictions on lawmakers.

Blagojevich and his chief legislative ally, Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), said the legislation would close loopholes in the just-approved law that bans campaign donations to statewide officeholders from those who have or are seeking state contracts totaling more than $50,000. The Senate measure would extend the campaign-donation ban to lawmakers.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. James DeLeo (D-Chicago), includes a proposed ban on lawmakers holding other government jobs. Another provision would require lawmakers to vote on pay raises based on a yes-or-no vote. Currently lawmakers in both chambers must vote to reject a pay raise or it takes effect automatically.

Blagojevich immediately issued a statement urging the House to take up the legislation before the Nov. 4 election. "Members of the Senate have made it clear that they are ready to change the business-as-usual policies of state government and put the interests of the people first," he said.

I briefly followed the proceedings online in the state Senate. There were some great speeches to be had on the floor of the Senate. Of course some were humorous.

Ill. lawmakers consider ethics bill

WLS-TV:

Governor Rod Blagojevich has called both the Senate and the House back.

Senate President Emil Jones agreed to pursue the ethics legislation now rather than waiting until the next scheduled legislative session in November.

The ethics bill would restrict campaign donations from people who do business with the state.

Gov pushes ethics, keeps tainted funds

Sun-Times:

Besides the multiple federal investigations he's facing, Gov. Blagojevich has 65,000 other reasons he might have trouble persuading state lawmakers this week to "follow my lead" on ethics reform.

The governor has kept $65,000 in campaign contributions from one of his administration's former top employees, Ali D. Ata, even though Ata pleaded guilty to felony charges earlier this year.

After cutting a deal with federal prosecutors in April, Ata testified against former top Blagojevich adviser and fund-raiser Tony Rezko, who was convicted in June of wide-ranging corruption involving state deals.

After a Sun-Times reporter asked about the Ata contributions, Blagojevich campaign spokesman Doug Scofield said Sunday he was not aware of Ata's money being dumped.

Blagojevich's keeping the Ata money has given ammunition to his critics, even as the governor is calling legislators back to Springfield today to consider his ethics proposal. "This is a hypocritical move by him, especially at a time when he refuses to give back the ill-gotten gains of a felon," said state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), one of Blagojevich's harshest critics.

Sen. Obama calls the Senate President

If you read The Capitol Fax (if not the blog then the subscription newsletter) you know that there has been a suggestion that Barack Obama can use some of his pull to call his state senate mentor. The purpose is to pass some ethics legislation that is stalled because the Senate President is choosing not to convene the Senate to consider the legislation. Obama finally made the call today.

See more here.

What's your alderman's side job?

Clout Street has the story...

Under the city's ethics ordinance, aldermen are required to disclose outside income. They also must reveal if they made at least $5,000 from any investments or if they or their spouses were paid at least $5,000 by a company that does business with the city or another local government body, including the CTA and the Chicago Park District.

Aldermen also must disclose receiving gifts.

So the ethics statements of all the city alderman are included in this post for your perusal.

Here's the ethics statement of Ald. Lyle.