The primary candidates in the race to replace Mayor Daley are running against his recent record as much as they are each other. And their own records. Case in point: longtime Daley insider Gery Chico. Chico released three years of tax returns yesterday, and they show that City Hall has been very, very good to him and his. more ›

The four Chicago-area transit agencies - CTA, RTA, Metra, and Pace - spent a total of almost $1 million in taxpayer money for lobbying efforts in Springfield in the year between July 2, 2008 and June 30, 2009. According to the report, which comes from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, here's how the spending broke down: CTA: $385,345; Metra: $264,504; RTA: $171,635; PACE: $132,000. The Tribune says that the CTA's bundle was, "the highest tab...among transit agencies and all 119 government bodies surveyed for lobbyist expenses." Reps for the agencies defended the amount, pointing out that they don't have "taxing authority" and rely primarily on public funds and fares. more ›

While the International Olympic Committee won’t vote on which city gets the 2016 Summer Olympics until Oct. 2, Chicago 2016 is hard at work lobbying for support from Washington should the city be granted the Games. more ›

The three-tier liquor distribution system established after the repeal of Prohibition was designed after our model of checks and balances between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government. Ideally, no one branch between the maker (brewery, distiller or winery), wholesaler and retailer should wield excessive power. Here in the real world, however, money talks, or so goes the adage. That's especially true here in Illinois, where legislation regarding how alcohol gets to a consumer is dictated by the wholesalers through the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, the powerful lobby for the state's liquor distributors. The ABDI was instrumental in the drafting and passing of HB 429 and SB 123, which prohibits out-of-state retailers (think wine clubs and online retailers) from selling to customers in Illinois. more ›