More on Illinois' corruption tax

Last week AP took a look at Illinois' "corruption tax." Now it's the turn of the Daily Herald:

• When Blagojevich insiders are accused of extorting cash from pension investors, that raises the possibility that the best company was not chosen and taxpayers might have to cover any lost cash.

• When construction work is steered to a specific contractor who donates big to politicians, the contractor could potentially pad the bill and do shoddy work.

• When insiders pick appointees to crucial state departments and boards by funneling cash to politicians, then those appointees can be pressured into corrupt schemes.

• Patronage hires may well not even have to work for their paychecks, forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for more employees to get the job done.

And I have to say this again: Just two days ago President Barack Obama--who of course is from Illinois--scolded Kenya for public corruption in front of a French audience.

What about Illinois? Or Blago? What about your friend and convicted felon Tony Rezko, Mr. President?

Former Chicago Alderman Dick Simpson, who was a quixotic reformer during his City Council days, estimates the corruption tax at $300 million per year for Chicago area residents, or about $37 million annually.

That, to paraphrase legendary Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen, is real money.

Chicagoans pay the nation's highest sales tax. Rod Blagojevich's successor, Patrick Quinn, wants to increase Illinois' income tax by 50 percent.

Blago is gone...the corruption taxes live on. And grow.

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