With one former governor in federal prison and another possibly on his way, prosecutors have argued that Illinois is perhaps the most corrupt state in the nation. Fed up with the scandals, lawmakers are promising changes in the way contractors do business with the Land of Lincoln.
In the wake of scandal and the economic stimulus act, proposals for reform measures are flowing through both chambers of the statehouse in Springfield, Ill. “We haven’t seen the final package yet, but indications are they are comprehensive and far-reaching,” says Rep. Kathleen Ryg (D), who is sponsoring a bill to prioritize transportation projects. Issues under discussion include greater accountability in the bid process, transparency of contracts, public access to information, inclusion and documentation of minority and women-owned enterprises and tighter restrictions on campaign contributions.