Busted! quid pro quo too obvious

Chicago Tribune (John Chase & Virginia Groark):

Firm tied to state officials loses pact
Illinois backs out of energy effort

The administration of Gov. Rod Blagojevich has backed out of an energy-conservation initiative for several state buildings that would have benefited a firm run by the governor's handpicked chairman of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

The action came days after the Tribune began inquiring about details of the plan, which would have allowed Electric City Corp. of Elk Grove Village to install energy-saving equipment in as many as 30 state facilities in northern Illinois.

Tollway Chairman John Mitola is the chief executive officer of the publicly traded firm and Christopher Kelly, Blagojevich's chief political fundraiser, is an investor.

Comments?