Three projects under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois program, including a proposed port in beleaguered downstate Cairo, have benefited his friends or political allies. Pritzker insists the projects were funded on their merits.
Sandy Bergo
A Chicago native, Sandy Bergo began her professional career as a reporter for the Chicago Reporter, worked as a writer and producer for WBBM Radio, and for 20 years, was a producer with Pam Zekman’s investigative team at WBBM-TV.
She has shared in local and national awards for her work. Her stories have exposed bad doctors, campaign finance irregularities and government waste of taxpayers’ money.
In 2001, Sandy moved with her husband, Chuck Neubauer, to Washington D.C., where she worked as a freelance reporter, television producer and a staff writer for the Center for Public Integrity.
For 10 years until 2019, she was the executive director of The Fund for Investigative Journalism.
During that time, she collaborated with her husband on investigative stories for the Better Government Association.
Sandy and Chuck have one son and two grandsons.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Pritzker Orders Funds Released to Madigan-Sponsored Projects
Citing a BGA investigation, nine lawmakers requested a funding freeze in the wake of former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s 22-count federal indictment on charges he traded his office to enrich himself and his friends.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Pritzker Freezes Funds to Madigan-Sponsored Projects
Citing a BGA investigation, nine lawmakers requested the freeze in the wake of former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s 22-count federal indictment on charges he traded his office to enrich himself and his friends.
Posted inInvestigations
Projects With Madigan Ties Went to the Front of the Line in State’s Massive Rebuild Illinois List
The $45 billion statewide capital plan includes $4 billion in pet projects added by a handful of the state’s most powerful politicians, including the former speaker.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Top Legislators Blowing Past Limits in Illinois Campaign Finance Reform Law
Democrats violate the spirit of a law they authored. Republicans take advantage of loopholes in legislation they opposed. Both sides reap millions from big-money contributors and dole out cash to favored legislative candidates.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Poderosos Funcionarios Electos Exceden los Límites en Contribuciones Políticas
Los demócratas han destrozado el propósito de la ley que ellos mismos crearon. Los republicanos se han aprovechado de un resquicio legal al que ellos mismos se opusieron cuando la ley se creó. Ambos partidos han recaudado millones de dólares en contribuciones.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Lawmakers in Hot Water With Feds Get Campaign Cash That Helps Pay Defense Lawyers
In one of his last acts, now-retired Illinois Senate President John Cullerton OK’d sending nearly $100,000 to two state senators under federal investigation.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Millions in Tax Breaks for Ed Burke’s Law Clients Fronted by Fellow Aldermen
Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson and former Ald. Michael R. Zalewski sponsored six resolutions that benefited clients of Burke’s law firm. The moves allowed the now-indicted alderman to skirt city conflict-of-interest rules.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Ald. Ed Burke’s Wave of Ward Projects Boosted His Legal Practice, Powered His Re-election
Burke touted development deals for his 14th Ward in winning a February re-election despite the cloud of federal corruption charges. A BGA investigation found Burke’s law firm had financial ties to most of those deals.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Taxpayers Covered Millions in Gym Costs Jesse White Promised to Pay
Illinois’ Secretary of State said he would raise most of the funds needed to build a new Chicago home for his Tumblers gymnastics team. He didn’t, but taxpayers did.