Ex-lawmaker waives tuition for supporter's family

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Year after year, state Rep. Robert Molaro doled out publicly funded scholarships to the family of a longtime political supporter, ultimately giving the four children more than $94,000 in tuition.

The valuable scholarships came with just one legal requirement: that the students lived in Molaro's Southwest Side district.

The siblings signed notarized documents stating they did, while other public records indicate they lived with their mother in Oak Lawn, outside Molaro's district. Their father didn't live in the district either.

The Tribune's examination of awards to the family of longtime Molaro backer Phil Bruno comes amid Gov. Pat Quinn's calls to abolish the General Assembly Scholarship program, a century-old legislative perk long criticized for allowing lawmakers to pass out waivers like political plums.

Intended to give Illinois legislators a chance to ease the financial burden of a few college-bound constituents, the program instead has sent money to insiders. The Bruno family example also raises new questions about loose enforcement of eligibility requirements.

The Chicago Way in action.