West Cook News

Bryce Hill, a senior research analyst for Illinois Policy, said Chicago is the most corrupt city in the country and Illinois is the second-most corrupt state in the U.S., costing residents an estimated $556 million a year.

The finding was based on federal convictions of state government officials. Only Kentucky was worse for government corruption than Illinois among states the Hill opinion piece noted.

“Illinois’ high levels of corruption damage the state’s economy, costing it $10.6 billion since 2000,” Hill said in the op-ed piece for Illinois Policy. “States with higher levels of corruption average lower levels of economic growth.”

Hill cited as one example the scandal involving Democrat House Speaker Mike Madigan, accused by federal officers of taking bribes from Commonwealth Edison, the state’s largest electricity producer. The utility pleaded guilty to providing jobs and payments to Madigan associates in exchange for favorable legislation. Madigan denies the charges and has not been charged with a crime, though officials for ComEd admitted they tried to influence the House speaker and agreed to pay a $200 million fine in a deferred, three-year prosecution deal with federal investigators. Once the fine is paid, charges against the company would be dropped.         

Hill cited other examples. Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty to $250,000 in bribes and faces 13 years in prison. In October 2019, former state Rep. Luis Arroyo was arrested, accused of attempting to bribe a state official and faces tax invasion charges.

Other Illinois officials were charged with wire fraud, extortion and embezzlement.

“Corruption in the city of Chicago can be traced back decades and earns the city recognition as the most corrupt in the nation,” Hill said. “Federal prosecutors in the judicial district covering Chicago and northern Illinois have obtained 1,750 corruption convictions from 1976 through 2018.”

Statewide, Hill said four Illinois governors – including Rod Blagojevich – have gone to prison since 1973. Hill said a tape recorded while Blagojevich was in office in 2008 revealed he had promised J.B. Pritzker, at the time a private citizen, a government office in exchange for campaign donations.

Pritzker, the current governor, is also a Democrat. Blagojevich had his sentence commuted and is now free.

Hill said when the $556 million in corruption costs, including the loss of jobs, is parceled out it amounts to about $830 out of the pocket of every state resident for the year.

House Republicans have demanded that Pritzker convene a special meeting to discuss corruption. Pritzker declined, but conceded the issue needed to be looked at and would be probed through a State Ethics Commission, possibly in November.     

Illinois Policy is a nonprofit think tank promoting government responsibility and personal freedom.