Pressure for Reform in Illinois

The Nigeria of the Midwest? Hmm, the Olympic Committee is in town--how about some real reform Chicago? Illinois? John Kass:

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's federal indictment is expected any day now, and when the details are finally spread out before us, we'll gag on all the sleaze.

The people of Illinois are sick and tired of the corruption, and we want real sunshine, a road map to clean government, some way to get there. If you don't believe me, just ask a woman digging in her purse for 28 quarters to pay a Chicago parking meter courtesy of Mayor Richard Daley. She'll tell you.

But there's at least one benefit to Blagojevich's indictment focusing the public's attention on political corruption: Politicians won't be able to easily dismiss a report issued Tuesday by the Illinois Reform Commission led by former assistant U.S. Atty. Patrick Collins.

You know, the guy who put Gov. Ryan in jail. Can't we cut this corrupt stuff out once and for all? Do we have to rely on prosecutors to clean it up after the fact--to our cost? Read on for highlights. Trib editorial here. Full report here.