Chicago Way Ethics Makes News :Powerful Alderman's Brother Collects Salary and Pension While Lobbying

The Better Government Association and the Chicago Sun-Times shed the spotlight on the Chicago Way. The investigation concerns Illinois State Representative Daniel Burke, brother of Chicago Mob linked Alderman Burke:

BGA Executive Director Andy Shaw said,“Illinois may be the only state in the country where the brother of Chicago's most powerful alderman can collect a city pension and a state legislative salary—while he lobbies his brother (and others) on behalf of businesses that want help from the city and will happily contribute to politicians, including Burke's brother, to get that help. Meanwhile, Dan Burke gets free office space from that same brother, and Dan Burke's business partner is free to lobby on behalf of state clients who may need Dan's vote to further their aims. And by the way, Dan will eventually get a second pension from the state for serving in the state legislature. It goes without saying that Illinois MUST eliminate pension double and triple-dipping. One public pension is enough for Dan Burke and everyone else. Burke’s activities may not violate the letter of the law, but it violates the spirit of the law—it’s a conflict of interest and it's inside dealing at its worst. It’s time for a ban on public officials lobbying any branch of Illinois government. Somewhere down the line clout for hire increases the cost of government—and that’s a bill taxpayers can ill afford to pay.”

For a look at how Daniel Burke's brother Ed put a mobster on the City of Chicago payroll.