Powerful Illinois Democrat Uses Nepotism as the Road to Riches

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

At the same time Senate President Emil Jones went to unusual lengths to block a Commonwealth Edison rate freeze, his stepson's computer-consulting firm was on the payroll of the utility's corporate parent.

Late Wednesday, a top Jones aide said the Senate leader was unaware of his stepson's utility deal until being told of it by the Chicago Sun-Times.


Exelon Corp. confirmed Synch-Solutions, a firm owned by Jones' stepson John Sterling, is one of four information-technology companies it employs to provide "software integration services."

The disclosure set off questions about why Jones did not publicly disclose his familial ties to the utility, and prompted a call from Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn for Jones to "abstain" from any further negotiations or votes on rate-freeze legislation this spring.

The one party state of Illinois really knows no shame.