Rezko Guilt Should Prompt Overdue Reforms
In what counts as one of the worst moments in time for Illinois state government, Antoin “Tony” Rezko has been convicted by a jury of his peers on 16 counts of high level political corruption. Essentially, jurors found that Rezko abused his position in the governor’s kitchen cabinet by masterminding an extensive—and illegal—pay to play scheme, that forced businesses looking for state contracts to pay millions of dollars in kickbacks. Even in a state that has had more than its share of corrupt public and quasi-public officials, the sheer scope and audacity of Rezko’s actions—coming on the heels of Governor Ryan’s corruption conviction—has to shake the confidence of even hardened, political junkies in the institution of state government.
This lack of public confidence in all likelihood will impede the state’s ability to resolve the most significant issues that have vexed Illinois policy makers for decades, involving everything from inadequate, ... Read More...
