>>> ♪ HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN .

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE NIGHT OFF .

NEARLY 5000 PILOTS ARE MISREPORTING OR FALSIFYING THEIR MEDICAL RECORDS TO AVOID BEING GROUNDED AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR AIRLINE SAFETY.

>> WE SHARE THE CONCERNS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF OUR SERVICE.

>> THEY TOUT BETTER TRANSIT WHILE WARNING OF LOOMING CHALLENGES.

AND WORD IS THE CASE AGAINST MICHAEL MADIGAN STAND ?

AND REPUBLICANS IN SPRINGFIELD ARE CALLING FOR EPIC REFORM AFTER THE CHIEF OF STAFF IS CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION CHARGES.

AND NOW SOME STORIES.

A CHICAGO FIREFIGHTER HAS DIED FROM INJURIES HE RECEIVED RESPONDING TO A HOUSE FIRE EARLIER THIS MONTH AND THEY SAID LIEUTENANT KEVIN WARD DIED AT LOYOLA MEDICAL CENTER AFTER BEING INJURED IN A HOUSE FIRE ON AUGUST 11.

THEY PAID RESPECTS TO HIM WITH A PROCESSION AS HIS REMAINS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

OFFICIALS SAY HE WAS 59 AND JOINED THE DEPARTMENT IN 1996.

LIEUTENANT WARD IS THE THIRD FIREFIGHTER TO DIE IN THE LINE OF DUTY THIS YEAR.

>>> MEDICARE PATIENTS WITH HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES AND CERTAIN CANCERS WOULD BE THE FIRST TO PAY LOWER PRICES ON MEDICATIONS WHEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NEW PRICE GOES INTO EFFECT AND THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID UNVEILED A LIST OF DRUGS SUBJECT TO PRICE NEGOTIATIONS WITH MANUFACTURERS AND THOSE IN THE DRUG INDUSTRY HAVE FILED MULTIPLE LAWSUITS TO DERAIL THE EFFORT AND THE PROGRAM IS PART OF THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT PUSH THROUGH CONGRESS LAST YEAR ARGUING PRICE NEGOTIATIONS WOULD LOWER THE COST AND THE IRA CAPPED THE MONTHLY COST OF INSULIN AT $35 FOR MEDICARE ENROLLEES ALLOWING SENIORS TO GET MORE VACCINES AT NO CHARGE AND PENALIZES DRUGMAKERS THAT RAISES PRICES HIGHER THAN INFLATION.

>> INSTEAD OF USING ALL YOUR ENERGY TO FIGHT DISEASE YOU HAVE INSURANCE OR DRUG COMPANIES FOR MEDICINE THAT LITERALLY KEEPS YOU ALIVE AND WITHOUT THEM, YOU WON'T BE HERE.

>>> THE NEGOTIATED PRICES WOULD TAKE EFFECT IN 2026.

>>> EXAMINING AIRLINE SAFETY FOLLOWING AN ALARMING REPORT ON PILOTS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS AND THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY AND THE PULL THE FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

♪ >>> THOUSANDS OF U.S.

AIRLINE PILOTS MAY BE UNFIT TO FLY.

NEARLY 4800 PILOTS INCLUDING SOME 600 LICENSED TO FLY PASSENGER AIRLINERS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION AUTHORITY FOR POTENTIALLY CONCEALING HEALTH ISSUES THAT COULD HAVE GROUNDED THEM ACCORDING TO A WASHINGTON POST REPORT.

THE PILOTS ARE MILITARY VETERANS AND IDENTIFIED WHEN THEY CROSSCHECKED INFORMATION AGAINST VETERANS AFFAIR DATABASE THE FORMER BENEFITS AND THE FAA HAS SAID THERE WAS A CLEAR DANGER TO STOP FLYING IMMEDIATELY UNTIL THE RECORDS ARE REVIEWED AND JOINING US NOW TO SHARE THOUGHTS ARE THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE FLIGHT SAFETY ORGANIZATION A NONPROFIT THAT ADVOCATES AND AN AMERICAN AIRLINES PILOT AND SPOKESMAN FOR THE ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION AND THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS AMERICAN AIRLINES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST THEY WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THIS REPORT.

WE WILL START WITH YOU, CAPTAIN.

>> FIRST, THESE VETERANS HAVE BEEN SELECT THAT OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE ON DISABILITY AND LIKELY FROM TWO DECADES OF WAR WE HAD AND THIS IS BEEN OUR EXCUSE AND ANY MISTAKES MADE OR MISREPRESENTATIONS IN THE REPORTING BUT IT ACTUALLY FORCES US TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHY WOULD A PILOT POSSIBLY CHOOSE OR MISTAKENLY NOT DISCLOSE SOMETHING AND THEREIN LIES THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS IN GETTING TO A BETTER PLACE AND THE FAA HAS STRUCTURAL ISSUES IN PROCESSING GETTING A PILOT BACK TO FLYING WAITING 12 TO 18 MONTHS AND IT'S MORE OF A DOCUMENT AND BUREAUCRACY ISSUE AND I THINK THE DR. COULD SHARE MORE OF A CONCERN BUT WE HAVE TO HELP PILOTS ON THE FLIGHT DECK AND KEEP PASSENGERS SAFE BUT WE DO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED AND PILOTS WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT MAY TAKE THEM OFF THE FLIGHT DECK THEY ARE NOT JUST MISSING A FLIGHT BUT LIKELY PUTTING THEIR FAMILY INCOME AT RISK AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE A SAFETY NET, IT CAN EXACERBATE THAT DECISION.

>> I DO WANT TO COME BACK TO SOME OF THAT LIKE WHY SOME OF THIS MAY HAPPEN AND WHAT PILOTS ARE THINKING WITH THE ISSUES THEY HAVE TO CONSIDER.

BUT I WANT TO GET YOU IN ON THE SAME QUESTION.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION ON THIS REPORT.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE ACCURATE MEDICAL RECORDS ON FILE AND PILOTS SHOULD PROVIDE TIMELY AND ACCURATE INFORMATION AND THAT SAID OF THE 4800 CASES, HALF OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DISCREPANCIES AND THE RECORDS UPDATED AND THE REST ARE BEING CURRENTLY INVESTIGATED AND WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE THE RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION AND I BELIEVE THAT BEFORE ALL IS SAID AND DONE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WILL RESOLVE AND THEY WILL BE RESOLVED AND UPDATED AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT MOVING FORWARD WE FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION IS SHARED AND IN A TIMELY WAY AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY GROUNDED, THEY CAN GET BACK TO FLYING.

>> YOU DID MENTION TWO DECADES OF WAR WHO WERE FORMALLY IN THE MILITARY AND IS IT UNFAIR OR DISRESPECTFUL FOR THOSE PILOTS TO BE SINGLED OUT THIS WAY?

>> I AM A VETERAN AS WELL HAVING SERVED IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THESE ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE HIGH INTEGRITY AND IF THE SYSTEM THE WAY IT IS SET UP AND CLEARLY BECAUSE OF THE DOCUMENT ACCESS AND I WILL USE THE WORD TARGETED BUT I AM SURE IT WAS THE EASIEST WAY TO GET ACCESS WITH CONTINUITY BUT WE HAVE TO STAND WITH OUR VETERANS FOR WHAT THEY WENT THERE BUT IT DOESN'T EXCUSE THAT AND IT IS MISREPRESENTING AND AS THE DOCTORS SAID I AM SURE IT CAN BE RESOLVED BUT THIS ESSAY THE MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR AN AIRLINE PILOT NEED MODERNIZATION AND THERE IS A HOUSE BILL APPROVED THAT ADDRESSES THAT AND BRINGS THE TEAM TOGETHER FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TO JUST GETTING A PILOT BACK ONTO THE FLIGHT DECK AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE AND THIS IS THE TIME TO GET IT DONE AND FUND THE FAA SO THEY CAN HAVE THE ASSETS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND ALL THIS DURING A PILOT SHORTAGE AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS BUT WE HAVE TO DO ALL WE CAN TO KEEP THAT PIPELINE FLOWING OF FIT HEALTHY PILOTS.

>> DR. SHAHIDI, SHOULD THIS SCREENING BE RECONSIDERED IN ITS CURRENT FORM AND IT SEEMS TO RELY ON SELF REPORTING A HEALTH PROBLEM?

>> I THINK CERTAINLY STREAMLINING IS IMPORTANT BUT ALSO THE REQUIREMENT IS FOR THE PILOT TO BE FIT TO FLY AND THE PILOT TO REPORT THEIR MEDICAL CONDITION.

THAT SAID, THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT FOR THE MEDICAL RECORDS AND IT IS COMPLICATED AND THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE REFORMED AND THE FAA IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THAT TO MAKE SURE QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED AND BOTH CAPTAIN DENNISTAJER AND I HAVE ANSWERED THESE QUESTIONS BUT SOME OF THEM ARE COMPLICATED AND THERE IS A REAL NEED FOR MODERNIZATION OF THAT AND WE SHOULDN'T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS AS TO WHETHER THESE RECORD CONFUSIONS ARE BEING MISREPRESENTED AND SOMETIMES IT IS JUST CONFUSING QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE AND NOT JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS BUT THERE HAS TO BE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE SYSTEM.

>> WHAT WOULD THE ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN NEXT?

>> THIS LEGISLATION PASSED PICKED UP BY THE SENATE SO WE CAN MODERNIZE IT SOAP PILOTS NO THERE IS A LOGICAL NOT JUST A SAFETY NET BUT A PROCESS TO GET THEM BACK INTO THE FLIGHT DECK WHEN THEY ARE WELL WHICH WILL LEAD A PILOT TO SAY AND I HAVE A PLACE TO GO AND THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND WE WON'T HAVE ANY OF THESE MISTAKES OR MISJUDGMENTS.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE BELIEVE IT.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT CTA LEADERS SHARE UPDATES ON THEIR CHALLENGES AHEAD.

STAY WITH US.

>>> CTA LEADERS ARE MARKING THE ANNIVERSARY OF A STRATEGIC PLAN AIMED AT BOOSTING STAFFING LEVELS AND THE AGENCY SAID ON AVERAGE IT RAN FAR MORE SCHEDULED BUSES AND TRAINS LAST MONTH AND IT DID IN AUGUST 2022 BUT SOME PASSENGERS AND ADVOCATES ARE STILL CALLING ON THE TRANSIT AGENCY TO DO MORE FOR COMMUTERS AND REGIONAL LEADERS ARE TAKING A HARD LOOK AT HOW TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ACROSS THE AREA AND WE WERE AT TODAY'S CTA BOARD MEETING AND WE ARE JOINED WITH THEM NOW.

>> THE CTA STRUGGLE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IN THE CITY OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT EVERYTHING FROM CRIME AND CLEANLINESS TO GHOST BUSES AND STAFFING SHORTAGES AND LAST AUGUST THE AGENCY AND BUILD A PLAN AIMED AT TURNING THE TRANSIT SERVICE AROUND AND TO MARK THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY THE AGENCY HAS BEEN TOUTING GAINS IN SERVICE AND STAFFING LEVELS AND MORE AND THE CTA SAID LAST MONTH IT DELIVERED AN AVERAGE OF 88% OF SCHEDULED RAIL SERVICE COMPARED TO 71% IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR AND IT SAID IT DELIVERED 96% OF SERVICE IN JULY COMPARED TO 81% LAST AUGUST BUT THE CTA PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FRUSTRATION MANY COMMUTERS HAVE AND SAID THE AGENCY IS DOING THE BEST IT CAN DESPITE A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT FOR TRANSIT SYSTEMS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> CERTAINLY WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK EVERY DAY TO IMPROVE ON WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> SOME TRANSIT ADVOCATE SAY THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE IN PART OF THE PLAN INVOLVES CHANGING BUS AND TRAIN SCHEDULES TO MATCH STAFFING LEVELS WHICH WEREN'T CUT AND BRADENTON McFADDEN'S WITH THAT GROUP.

>> THEY ARE RUNNING THE RIGHT NUMBER OF TRAINS EVERY DAY AND IT DEFINITELY FLUCTUATES BUT THEY ARE RUNNING IT INCONSISTENTLY AND THEY HAVE TRAINS RUNNING BACK TO BACK AND A GAP IN BETWEEN AND THEY MAY NOT BE IN THE METRICS THE WAY THEY ARE MEASURING THEM.

>> HE SAID THE RELIABILITY METRIC JUST DOESN'T ALWAYS CAPTURE THE LONG GAPS BASED ON THE WAY THEY MEASURE THINGS WHICH IS AN ISSUE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE STAFFING SHORTFALL AND WHERE DO THINGS STAND?

>> HE SAID A HUGE REASON BEHIND LONG WAITS AND INCONSISTENT SERVICES, SURPRISE, THE AGENCY HASN'T HAD ENOUGH BUS AND TRAIN OPERATORS AND TODAY HE DID SAY THE CTA HAS HELD MORE THAN 10 JOB FAIRS IN THE LAST YEAR WITH NEARLY 3000 ATTENDEES AND PUTTING TOGETHER NEW HIRING AND RETENTION INCENTIVES AND CARTER CALLS IT THE MOST REGRESSIVE -- AGGRESSIVE RECRUITMENT PROGRAM EVER.

>> THE CTA HAS HIRED MORE EMPLOYEES IN 2023 THAN IN ANY RECENT YEAR INCLUDING 600 PLUS OPERATORS WHICH IS AS MANY BUS OPERATORS AS WE HAVE HAD HISTORICALLY IN A 12 MONTH PERIOD.

>> HE SAID DESPITE THAT RECRUITMENT HIS GROUP SEES THE STAFFING NUMBERS RELATIVELY FLAT AND IS HOPING TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT.

>> THEY ARE SHOWING WE LOSE THIS MONEY TO TRANSFER HIS OR RETIREMENTS OR JUST PLAIN SEPARATION BUT WE ARE NOT REALLY SEEING WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE GROWING AND WHETHER IT IS NOT ENOUGH QUALIFIED CANDIDATES ARE TRYING HARD ENOUGH TO GET QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.

>> THE MEETING TODAY HAD A PRESENTATION FROM THE REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY ON CREATING STRONGER AND MORE STABLE ACROSS CHICAGOLAND AND THEY WON'T MAKE ANY FINAL REGULATIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS BUT LOOKING ANYTHING FROM INFRASTRUCTURE TO FUNDING MODELS TO INCREASE COORDINATION OR EVEN A MERGER AMONG THEM AND LEADERS SAY ALL OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS COST MONEY AND THAT MEANS THEY WILL NEED SUPPORT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, HE WAS CUT ARGUABLY, THE STATES MOST POWERFUL POLITICIAN AND WHERE THE CASE AGAINST MICHAEL MADIGAN STANDS.

BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

♪ ♪ >>> FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN IS PREPARING FOR A JURY TO DECIDE IF HE RAN A CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE AS THE STATES MOST POWERFUL POLITICIAN AS HE FACES A TEAM OF PROSECUTORS EMBOLDENED BY A PERFECT RECORD OF CONVICTIONS IN TWO TRIALS.

WE ARE NOW JOINED WITH MORE ON WHAT WE COULD EXPECT ONCE KNOWN AS THE VELVET HAMMER AND REMIND US WHAT HE IS CHARGED WITH.

>> HE FACES 23 COUNTS THAT ESSENTIALLY ALLEGE HE RAN A RACKETEERING OPERATION AS SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AND USED HIS OFFICIAL POWER TO ENRICH HIS FRIENDS AND FUNNEL BUSINESS TO HIS PROPERTY TAX LAW FIRM AND HE WILL STAND TRIAL ALONGSIDE MICHAEL MacLEAN, ONE OF HIS CLOSEST CONFIDANT EVEN INTO THE 70s WHEN THEY SERVED TOGETHER IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AND THAT TRIAL IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL.

>> WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THIS AS WELL AS THE CASE AGAINST THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF?

>> THE SAME TEAM OF PROSECUTORS THAT WILL FACE MAD AGAIN IN APRIL CONVINCED TWO DIFFERENT FEDERAL JURIES THAT THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING MAD AGAIN WERE ENGAGED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THOSE AS THE OPENING ACT WITH MADIGAN'S TRIAL AS THE HEADLINER.

NOW, THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE WHAT THEY LEARNED IN THOSE TWO TRIALS AND TELL A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT STORY, THAT ALL OF THOSE CRIMINAL ACTIONS WERE BENEFITED AND ORCHESTRATED BY ONE MAN, MICHAEL MADIGAN, WITH THE HELP OF MICHAEL MacLEAN.

>> GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT HIS DEFENSE WILL BE.

>> HE IS ASKING THE JUDGE TO TOSS OUT WIRED CONVERSATIONS SAYING THEY WERE ILLEGALLY OBTAINED.

IF THAT DOES NOT SUCCEED, HE IS LIKELY TO ARGUE TO A JURY HE DID NOTHING CRIMINALLY WRONG BUT JUST ENGAGED IN LOBBYING AND POLITICS AND WHILE IT MAY NOT BE PRETTY IT IS LEGAL BUT THE PROBLEM FACING HIM IS THE SO-CALLED COMMENT FOUR AND THE JURY DIDN'T BUY .

>> YOU ARE IN COURT FOR A HEARING IN THE CASE AGAINST MADIGAN AND McLEAN WHO YOU SAID HAS ALREADY BEEN CONVICTED IN A RELATED CASE AND WHAT DID WE LEARN TODAY?

>> THE JUDGE IN THE CASE ROBERT BLAKELY WANTS NO MORE DELAYS AND IT WILL GO TO TRIAL IN APRIL AND THE PROSECUTORS AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS HAVE TO BE READY FOR THAT SO IF HE GOES TO TRIAL IN APRIL MADIGAN WILL HAVE TWO YEARS BETWEEN INDICTMENTS AND TRIAL WHICH IS EXTREMELY LONG CAUSED IN MY COVID-19 SHUTDOWNS AND A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE AND HOW DIFFICULT A 23 COUNT INDICTMENT IS.

>> ATTORNEYS WILL HAVE TO BE READY.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> UP NEXT WE SPEAK WITH LAWMAKERS ABOUT REFORMS THAT COULD STEM FROM THESE RECENT CONVICTIONS.

STAY WITH US.

♪ >>> AS WE JUST HEARD, FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN IS FACING CORRUPTION CHARGES ALONG WITH HIS CLOSE FRIEND AND CONFIDENT FORMER LAWMAKER TURNED LOBBYIST, MICHAEL MacLEAN SO HERE WHAT POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE REFORMS COULD RESULT?

JOIN US NOW ARE THE STATE SENATOR CURRAN AND THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE THE ILLINOIS HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER AND WE ALSO INVITED DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AND SENATE BUT THEY DECLINED AND GOVERNOR PRITZKER AND THE SPOKESPERSON SENT A STATEMENT THAT SAYS, SINCE TAKING OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR HAS ADVANCED THE CAUSE OF ETHICS REFORM IN KEY AREAS ESPECIALLY IN BRINGING MORE TRANSPARENCY TO THE PROCESS AND TIGHTENING REQUIREMENTS FOR LOBBYISTS AND THE GOVERNOR BELIEVES WE MUST RESTORE THE PUBLIC'S TRUST IN GOVERNMENT AND WORK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO VIOLATE THAT TRUST ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

MEANWHILE THE SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE, WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND LET'S START WITH YOU AND IN LIGHT OF THOSE, HAD FOUR CONVICTIONS WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ETHICS REFORM YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE?

>> I HAVE BEEN PROPOSING IN THE SENATE FOR QUITE A WHILE AND EXPANDING RICO WIRETAPPING AUTHORITY TO OUR LOCAL PROSECUTORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THE SAME TOOL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE FBI IN THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE USES IN THESE TYPES OF INVESTIGATIONS RESULTING IN THE CONVICTION OF THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS WELL AS EXPANDING THE STATE JURY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL USES TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC CORRUPTION CRIME AND WE HAVE IMPANELED A STATEWIDE GRAND JURY BUT IT IS LIMITED AND DOESN'T ALLOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE PUBLIC CORRUPTION CRIMES AND I THINK THOSE ARE TWO REFORMS THAT DO MAKE A LOT OF SENSE AND HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND IT IS PAST TIME FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR ETHICS BILL THAT WOULD BAN THE USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

THIS IS A BILL THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BEFORE AND THIS IS ONE OF MANY AND I THINK WE COULD DO SOME ADDITIONAL ON REVOLVING DOORS FOR LEGISLATIVE LOBBYISTS AS WELL BUT THIS ONE WE DID RECEIVE CAMPAIGN FUNDING FROM OUR DONORS TO GET A SELECTED OR REELECTED AND TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE CAMPAIGN DOLLARS AS SPEAKER MADIGAN HAS USED $8.5 MILLION OF CAMPAIGN DONATIONS IN HIS COURT CASES HERE AND IT SEEMS UNETHICAL AND DISINGENUOUS TO DONORS.

THIS BILL WOULD CHANGE THAT AND I THINK IT IS A PRETTY COMMON SENSE BILL TO BRING FORWARD.

>> DEMOCRATS SAY THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE ETHICS REFORM IN THE WAKE OF THE COMMENT SCANDAL INCLUDING LAWMAKERS TO LIFT IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS EMPLOYED BY A PUBLIC UTILITY AND YOU THINK THAT GOES FAR ENOUGH?

>> IT DOES NOT.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STEPS ON TRANSPARENCY AND DISCLOSURES THAT THE ASSEMBLY IS TAKING BUT WE CONTINUED UNDER RESOURCE AND UNDER STAFF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT END OF IT THAT ACTUALLY INVESTIGATES THESE TYPES OF CRIMES AND ALSO THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE LIMITED IN RESOURCES ACTS AS A FILTER ON ACTUALLY INVESTIGATING AND ROOTING OUT ALL OF THE ACTIVITY THAT WE WANT TO REMOVE FROM THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND FROM GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL.

>> WE DID TALK ABOUT A REVOLVING DOOR WHERE LAWMAKERS BECOME LOBBYISTS AND HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM IS THAT?

>> IT IS A PRETTY BIG PROBLEM AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IS INTERESTING AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS A RIDICULOUS THING THAT COULD HAPPEN BUT IT IS AMAZING TO ME TO THINK THAT I COULD BE THE MAYOR OF A COMMUNITY AND A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND LOBBYIST AT THE SAME TIME.

IT CERTAINLY IS A PROBLEM AND NOT APPROPRIATE.

THERE IS ALSO A CASE WHERE A SENATOR WAS CHARGED AND CONVICTED AND THEY CAN TURN AROUND AND COME BACK AND BE A LOBBYIST AND THAT IS ALSO AN ISSUE THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE BANNING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> WHAT WOULD GIVEN THE SUBPOENA POWER VERSUS A CRIMINAL PROBE, WHAT WOULD IT DO?

>> IT IS JUST ANOTHER ARTIFICIAL FILTER WE PUT ON THE PROCESS AND THE LEGISLATIVE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS TO GET AUTHORITY UNDER THE STATUTE TO ISSUE A SUBPOENA FROM THE ETHICS OVERSIGHT COMMISSION AND WE WANT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO ACT WITH AUTONOMY AND INVESTIGATE AND ROOT OUT ANY PRACTICES AND THAT CERTAINLY SHOULD BE WITHIN THAT OFFICE TO ISSUE THOSE SUBPOENAS AND GATHER THE FACTS AND PUT THOSE IN FRONT OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION AND NOT BE CONSTRAINED FROM INVESTIGATING THE ALLEGATIONS BROUGHT TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

>> THE DEMOCRATS AS WE SAID EARLIER PAST ETHICS REFORMS IN THE SPRING SESSION AND DID YOU VOTE FOR THEM AND IS THAT BETTER THAN NOTHING?

>> WE WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT ETHICS REFORM AND JUST TO PASS A LITTLE BIT THEY SAY IT IS COMPREHENSIVE AND THEY SAY THEY WERE PASSING REFORM ON THE ECONOMIC STATEMENT FOR OUR DISCLOSURES AND OF COURSE ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING BUT WHEN YOU ARE NOT PUNISHING BAD BEHAVIOR OR REALLY BEING STRONG ON IT, YOU ARE BEING POLITICAL SO THEY CAN SAY THEY HAVE DONE COMPREHENSIVE AND WE REALLY NEED TO BE TACKLING THIS.

AT THE END OF THE SESSION THEY SAID WE REALLY NEED SOME TIME AND WE WILL BE CALLING FOR SOME SUMMER SESSIONS AND WE WILL REALLY BE TACKLING THIS THIS SUMMER, BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY TACKLING THAT THE SUMMER SO IT IS A PROBLEM AND THEY SAY WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME AND WE ARE BUSY DURING THE SESSION AND THAT IS WERE LEADERS LAST WEEK CALLED FOR THE GOVERNOR TO CALL FOR A SPECIAL SESSION AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY TIME LET'S HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION AND HAMMER THIS OUT AND THIS ISN'T A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT ISSUE BUT JUST AN ISSUE WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

>> THERE IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE.

MY THANKS TO THE STATE ARE PRESENTED IN THE STATE SENATOR FOR JOINING US.

>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT AND DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND OUR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 AND 10:00 AND THE POLITICAL FIGHT OVER WORK AUTHORIZATION FOR MIGRANTS AND ARE TEAM SPOTLIGHTS THAT AND MORE PLUS WE GO TO O'HARE FOR A PROGRAM HONORING VETERANS AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN .

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.