Bob McCarty Writes

They’ve all been doing it for so long, they probably think it’s okay, writes J. Robert Gough in his blog today at Quincy News.  In this instance, “it” is the practice of inviting those with “skin in the game” of bidding on state contracts to political fund-raising events in advance of those state contracts being awarded.

He points to a blog post by Greg Hinz published yesterday at Chicago Business.  In the lead paragraph of that piece, Hinz wrote:

A political fundraiser featuring Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig has been abruptly canceled amid apparent concerns that it violated at least the spirit of new state ethics laws.

Hinz goes on to detail how Hannig pulled out of the event for a state senator after key officials in the administration of Gov. Pat Quinn expressed concerns.  Further, he explains that the event was canceled only after he made some phone calls to those involved.  Read the rest of his piece here.

As Gough explains, similar things are going on in Quincy, too.  His piece is recommended reading for anyone interested in understanding the “Machine Politics” of Illinois, the “Land of Obama.”