(1) CHA CHING!
Background
State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) was quoted in a Tribune Watch Dog series story Sunday on video gambling as saying, "I haven't seen any effort by Mr. Nichols in Illinois to improperly influence anybody to do anything.” Now some facts.
“Mr. Nicholas” refers to Nicky Nicholas, owner of a video poker empire in Louisiana who would like to own and operate video poker machines in Illinois. His father-in-law, Robert Guidry admitted bribing Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards to get a casino license. He even testified in Edwards’ 2000 corruption trial that he paid the Governor nearly $1.5 million in bribes for his gaming license.
Nicholas has contributed $70,000 to State Rep. Lang, who has twice pushed for measures to legalize video poker in Illinois in venues other than the established casinos.
Question
Why else would a person from Louisiana give money to a legislator in Illinois? OF COURSE this is about greasing the right pockets to get a little pull. It might not be technically “improper” but it is certainly questionable!
(2) CUTTING UP
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel is cutting up the credit cards that local government agencies use due to allegations of abuse. According to the Sun Times “Government employees will also be expressly forbidden from spending taxpayers’ money on everything from alcohol, flowers, office decor and restaurant meals within a 50-mile radius of Chicago to sponsorships, charitable donations and parties celebrating holidays, birthdays and employee appreciation.”
This ban has come about because a joint investigation by the Better Government Association and Fox Television revealed an abundance of credit card abuse by executives at the Chicago Housing Authority and the Chicago Park District. Charges have been made at Gibson’s, among other upscale restaurants, and thousands of dollars have been spent on flowers and gifts… even a suite at the United Center! Further, evidence shows that these credit accounts were used to pay red-light camera tickets!
The new City Comptroller Amer Ahmad audited city credit card use and the Sun Times said his report stated, “Although all policies specifically stated that the card must be used exclusively for business purposes, questionable and/or inappropriate expenditures were identified, such as: extensive local meals/refreshments; entertainment; excessive professional development/executive coaching; parking/ red light tickets; car washes; sporting goods; flowers [and] cable bills.”
Question
If Chicago employees used city credit cards for their own personal use, will they be forced to pay the money back? If they don’t, will we see criminal or civil lawsuits against these people for conversion of city assets? And finally, did Ahmad audit former Mayor Daley’s credit card use? That’s the question I would really love someone to answer!
This is Chicago, soon to be known as Cha Chango as the video machines clang away. The answers to your questions are rhetorical!
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