Teachers group biggest donor to Illinois statehouse candidates

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

Top lobbying groups and big unions — and one individual — head the list of the largest recent donors to candidates for the Illinois General Assembly as the Nov. 4 election nears.

The top contributor from July 1 through Oct. 26 is the Illinois Education Assn., a teachers union that gave candidates $877,000 in that period. Second was another organization known for its Springfield activities, the Illinois State Medical Society, which gave $565,000.

Two other unions followed close behind: the Illinois Federation of Teachers and affiliates ($558,000) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees ($410,000). The Illinois Health Care Council came in at No. 5, contributing $389,000.

A looting operation has to start somewhere.