Accountability measure advances to state Senate

Just as a federal grand jury handed up an indictment against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, suburban state lawmakers were fighting to make sure future governors have fewer opportunities for corruption.

The plan calls for a Web site that would display state contracts, current pay rates of all state employees, and tax credits given out by the state, for all to see. The Central Management Services department would maintain the site and information.

The proposal was approved on a 177-0 vote in the House and this week picked up several suburban sponsors in the state Senate - Republican Sens. Pamela Althoff of McHenry, Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and Carole Pankau of Itasca, who plan to bring the legislation to the floor when they return from break.

In an attempt to cut down on misuse of grants and tax credits, state Rep. Michael Tryon, a Crystal Lake Republican, developed a plan. "It will be the most comprehensive transparency Web site that has even been created," he said. "We need to restore the trust of the people."

He proposes calling it the Illinois Accountability Portal.

Federal prosecutors claim that Blagojevich attempted to misuse the Illinois Finance Authority, a state agency that can provide financing for real estate deals.

Supporters of the proposed Web site say that if the law had been in effect, state aid information would have been found on the portal and not in FBI wire taps.

This same legislation passed the House in 2008 but was never picked up by the Senate. This time around, it has met with a more bipartisan approach, as lawmakers try to restore Illinoisans' faith in state government.