JEFFERSON CITY — Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields unveiled new ethics legislation today. But a key plank looks a lot like old ethics legislation that courts have twice thrown out.

Shields wants to bar lobbyists from contributing to legislators’ and…

Madigan

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois House tonight passed a bill to impose the first political contribution limits in the state’s history. House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, personally presented the measure to the floor.

But critics continue to blast the bill for…

Biden

UPDATED

WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden will be in St. Louis on Thursday to promote the success of the economic stimulus package and to help Secretary of State Robin Carnahan raise money for her Senate campaign.

The vice president will appear with Gov. Jay Nixon at…

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois House approved a plan Wednesday that would limit campaign contributions from people appointed to a state board or commission.

The plan by state Rep. Karen May, D-Highwood, would limit political appointees to contributing no more than…

Turow

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Bestselling novelist-lawyer Scott Turow this morning told Illinois legslators that all their current attempts to strengthen the state’s ethics standards in the wake of multiple earth-rocking political scandals won’t work if they don’t limit their own campaign contributions…