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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TideGlider who wrote (316713)	7/28/2009 8:14:43 PM
From: goldworldnet	3 Recommendations Respond to of 793707

Is Illinois the most corrupt state? 44 ARRESTS? \| Based on FBI resources, late-night TV, Illinois has no rivals July 27, 2009 BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter Hey, back off, New Jersey. suntimes.com Just as Illinois basks in the shameful glow of its most-corrupt reputation, the Garden State wants to one-up us. Sure, we've had two consecutive governors, an army of alderman and a posse of political fund-raisers under indictment -- not to mention two current members of Congress facing ethics inquiries. But in New Jersey last week, 44 people, including three mayors, two state lawmakers and a slew of rabbis were rounded up in a corruption scheme replete with allegations of organ sales, $97,000 stuffed into a cereal box and plenty of good, old-fashioned bribes. There were so many arrestees, the FBI had to herd them onto a bus. Well, New Jersey may be trying to outshine us, but if the sleaze factor is gauged by FBI resources, Chicago isn't slipping. With 42 agents, the Windy City outpaces New York and Los Angeles and is second in the nation only to Washington, D.C., in the number of FBI agents investigating public corruption. As for Newark, N.J., it has one-third fewer corruption agents than Chicago, according to the FBI. And perhaps it was the Land of Lincoln that helped the New Jersey FBI chief hone his skills. Weysan Dun headed up the Springfield FBI office before moving to Newark. Why are there so many corruption agents in Chicago? "We have a lot of work," Chicago's FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Grant told the Chicago Sun-Times. "We've made it a priority to try and have an impact on what has been a historical problem in this state and this city. We're trying to have a significant impact on the way things are done." Grant is the special agent who, in announcing the corruption charges against since-ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich last December, told the world that if Illinois "isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it is one hell of a competitor." So far, the impact of his office's work has been slow in coming, he said. "I keep seeing the same kind of crime," Grant said. "There's a casual acceptance of corruption in Chicago. It's significant here, it has always been significant here. I don't just mean politicians. I mean business people. There's a culture in this state that believes the only way to do business is to delve into the corrupt areas." The true test will be whether real reform becomes an issue in the next major statewide election, Grant said. Andy Shaw, executive director of the Better Government Association, said that might just happen, at least with Chicago voters. Sure, Chicagoans have long felt a sort of twisted pride over the sordid shenanigans of their politicos. But bad economic times have brought out a new kind of public fury, he said. "The level of anger, frustration and hopelessness is deeper than I've ever seen," Shaw said. As far as the race to the bottom, Jersey has a way to go, Shaw said. Sinking to the level of a nationwide disgrace can only be achieved through the portal of late-night TV, he said. Blagojevich's media blitz, which ranged from David Letterman to hosting local radio, "has ensured we've remained a national laughingstock," Shaw said. * * *