In the News

Chicago Tribune online, January 6, 2011

The General Assembly today approved legislation making the state's top ethics official the new watchdog over Chicago's mass transit agencies.

Under the legislation, the state's executive inspector general will get new oversight power to help guard against corruption, waste and fraud at the Regional Transportation Authority, the CTA, Metra and Pace.

The measure was prompted by the disclosure last spring that Metra's longtime executive director, Phil Pagano, had taken $475,000 in unapproved vacation payments and forged documents. Facing firing by Metra's board, Pagano committed suicide May 7.

The measure, spearheaded by State Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, came after months of legislative hearings and negotiations with the transit agencies.

"It has been a long and thoughtful process with months of negotiations, but in the end we reached a responsible agreement that will bring much-needed independent oversight to the transit agencies," Garrett said in a statement. "This reform legislation will hold Chicago and suburban transit agencies to be accountable to riders and taxpayers."

The bill was passed today by the Senate 53-3, and 92-21 Wednesday in the House. The bill now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn for his signature.