In the News

Chicago Sun Times, July 31, 2010

It's hard to imagine an agency more in need of a strong inspector general than the Illinois Tollway.

For years, its name has served as shorthand for the worst abuses of government: namely, cronyism and corruption.

Among the agencies allegedly targeted by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, we weren't surprised to learn, was the Tollway, known formally as the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Blagojevich is accused of withholding billions of state dollars for road reconstruction in late 2008 until road builders came through with campaign cash.

Thankfully, much has changed at the Downers Grove-based agency that oversees the toll roads in northern Illinois. With a new board chair, several new board members and a new executive director installed in the last year, we've seen a promising level of transparency and accountability take hold.

But wisely, this group knows that's not enough. They're strong proponents of a new law, signed by Gov. Quinn on Wednesday, that for the first time creates an independent Illinois Tollway inspector general. With billions of dollars flowing through the agency -- in road contracts, in quarters and via credit cards -- the opportunity for skimming, stealing and trading political favors is just too great.

We only wish officials at Metra, an agency coming off a string of unseemly revelations about improper pay practices and excessive overtime costs, saw the same risks at their agency. They're resisting legislation to create an independent inspector general.

The new Tollway inspector general's office looks to be a good model for Metra -- in fact, the same state senator, Susan Garrett, sponsored legislation creating IGs for both agencies. The Tollway IG will for the first time have the tools he needs: subpoena power, a five-year term to insulate the office from the whims of political leaders and a budget that cannot be reduced by more than 10 percent in any given year.

This framework is crucial, but, like anything else, the office will be only as good as the person who leads it.

It's up to Gov. Quinn to name the new inspector general, but we urge him to heed the advice of his hand-picked board chair, Paula Wolff.

When Wolff, a highly regarded policy wonk, took over last August, she made a strong inspector general a top priority. She conducted a thorough search and appointed James Wagner to a comparable, though less powerful, post. Wolff says he's done a good job and would like him to stay.

Wagner was a special agent with the FBI for more than 30 years, including time as head of the organized crime unit. He also was head of the Chicago Crime Commission. His credentials are the right match for the IG job, and the Tollway is lucky to have him.