Money can still buy influence in Illinois

Illinois is the Land of Lincoln, where in recent history, three former governors, including George Ryan, one state auditor, one state attorney general, one state treasurer, two congressmen, numerous state legislators, judges, lawyers, sheriff's deputies, court bailiffs and Chicago aldermen have gone to jail.

In the mid-1980s, "Operation Greylord" produced 92 indictments and 87 convictions of Cook County judges, lawyers and court personnel for bribery, racketeering, mail fraud and conspiracy.

As one "old-timer" who lobbied the state legislature in the 1950s, I remember when it was not unusual for a state legislator to advise bringing money for members of a committee to assure passage of a bill.

At that time, it was reported that one-third of state legislators accepted direct payoffs, not disguised as "political contributions."

Unfortunately, there is still too much influence in state and federal governments dependent on "the more you spend the more you get," legally or illegally.

The Tribune editorial of Nov. 7 asked the inevitable "who's next?"

John V. Whaley

Naperville