Illinois State Supreme Court justices rake in cash tied to pension-law players

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

If a lawsuit challenging Illinois’ new pension-reform law reaches the state Supreme Court, the overwhelming majority of justices might first want to extend a “thank you” before hearing arguments about the constitutional merits of the case.

That’s because they’ll be listening to their campaign contributors — literally — make a case for and against the historic new law that the General Assembly and Gov. Pat Quinn put on the books last month.

All told, state records show six of seven justices have taken close to a combined $3 million in campaign contributions tied to those with a stake in the pension debate: labor unions, business groups and a political committee controlled by House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, who last month said the legislation could not have passed without his muscle.

Kind of a big problem!