IL Governor Quinn launches website to crack down on government corruption

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Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn

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16 April 2009

In the wake of the Blagojevich scandal, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn chose tax day to announce the creation of a new website aimed at cracking down on corruption in state government.[1] “Today is the deadline for filing U.S. tax returns that support and pay for our government. So it’s especially fitting that we demand our elected officials always operate in the taxpayers’ interest,” declared Quinn. “When an official betrays the public’s trust, it’s often a whistleblower that helps bring that injustice out in the open.”[2]

[edit] IL whistleblower act

The new website gives state employees and taxpayers a place to report corruption and also informs them about the Illinois Whistleblower Act, which Quinn helped get passed in 1991.[3] Since then the Act has been expanded and now includes all levels of government. In addition, the state can collect three times the monetary amount lost to fraud, and allows for fines up to $10,000. In instances of a successful whistleblower lawsuit, the whistleblower can receive a reward of up to 30% of the amount received.[1]

In a news conference, Quinn took the opportunity to promote the Act and the site - “I think this is an important way of putting economic incentives in to our statues in Illinois to fight back against corruption in government. I think that’s our mission. I think we understand that, in Illinois, everyone has a role to play."[4]

[edit] Criticism

While most appeared to favor the new site, the Illinois GOP released a statement critical of Quinn, saying it was hypocritical of the Governor to ask anyone to be watchdogs for corruption, as Quinn served as Blagojevich's lieutenant governor for 6 years. Republican Party Spokesman Lance Trover explained, “Pat Quinn promoting watchdogs is like Rod Blagojevich promoting ethics reform – ridiculous.”[5]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 ABC 7, Website launched to crack down on corruption, April 15, 2009
  2. ↑ eNews Park Forest, Governor Pat Quinn Backs Government Watchdogs, April 15, 2009
  3. ↑ Chicago Tribune, Quinn calling on whistleblowers to help, April 15, 2009
  4. ↑ WJBD, Quinn announces website to fight corruption, April 16, 2009
  5. ↑ Illinois Republican Party, Blagojevich’s lapdog now expects Illinois citizens to be watchdogs (seriously), April 15, 2009
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