Rezko International Airport

Division Street reports:

Um, wow?

Top Jesse Jackson Jr. aide Rick Bryant tells a Tony Rezko tale to eNews Park Forest that rings all too true. (via Rich Miller’s Capitol Fax)

“The Illinois Senate quietly approved a bill this spring that would have steered the proposed third airport down a path of pay-to-play politics – and certain doom.

“I know, because Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko attempted to lead Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. down that same path two years ago – a proposal Jackson flatly rejected.”

Here’s the meat of it:

“At the time, the governor was running for re-election and facing angry south suburban leaders who were running a massive ad campaign criticizing Blagojevich for reneging on his promise to build the airport.

“Feeling heat from his voter base, the governor agreed to have two of his top aides meet with Jackson and [the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission].

“At the last minute, however, there was a change of plans. Instead of meeting with the Governor’s aides, we would be meeting with Tony Rezko.

“So, on Sunday, June 25, 2006, at the Chicago Four Seasons Hotel, Rezko showed up by himself. He said he could offer gubernatorial support for ALNAC’s airport plan – if the governor were allowed to make key appointments to ALNAC’s Board.”

Isn't nice to know Illinois politics has been run by guys like Tony Rezko?