Progress Illinois

In the last year, the state of Illinois has aggressively pushed for stricter standards against air pollution at the national level. That push has now put us at odds with one of our neighbors across the Mississippi. Today the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports how Missouri's Department of National Resources (DNR) is suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to weaken ozone regulations. Meanwhile, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is suing to have those regulations strengthened.

Here's the background: in March, the EPA lowered the standard of acceptable ozone pollution to 0.075 parts-per-million from 0.084 parts-per-million. The problem with the new limit is that the EPA's own scientists found it still allowed for a dangerous level of pollution. In response, Madigan -- along with the AGs of New York, California, Oregon, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania -- signed a petition demanding that the regulations fall in line with the scientists' recommendations:

"It is simply unacceptable for EPA to ignore its own science advisory committee and set the new ozone standard at a level that will make breathing more difficult for children, seniors, people who work outdoors and those who already suffer from chronic lung disease," [Madigan] said.

Fearing that the new rules may hurt local industries, the Missouri DNR took the opposite position, joining the state of Mississippi in suing the EPA to bring the ozone limit back to pre-March standards.

Only time will tell whether either lawsuit will succeed, but with over a dozen other states backing her petition, Madigan certainly has the numbers on her side. Another good sign for the Illinois-backed suit? Missouri's own Attorney General Jay Nixon does not support his state's legal challenge. The DNR asked him to back the suit but he refused, saying that "the new [EPA] standard is an effort to protect public health" and pointing out that the agency had failed to provide any factual basis for its suit.

It goes without saying that many Chicagoans -- particulary from low-income brackets -- are distrustful of a city police force that repeatedly abused citizens over the past few decades with little repercussion. The most notorious example is the widespread torture of suspects under Commander Jon Burge (pictured right). In a well-reported article published on AlterNet today, Chicago-based journalist Jessica Pupovac shines a light on the two dozen men still behind bars for crimes to which they confessed only after hours of abuse by Burge-led officers:

[Michael] Tillman is one of at least 24 African-American men that the People's Law Office in Chicago claims are still serving sentences for crimes they say they confessed to only after enduring hours of torture at the hands of Chicago police officers under Commander Jon Burge between 1972 and 1992. Although 10 of Burge's victims have been pardoned or given new trials after their illegally obtained confessions were exposed, the vast majority of the 100-plus cases have yet to be reviewed by the state of Illinois. Those men have either served out their sentences, died in custody or, like Tillman, continue to live their lives behind bars, hoping that one day they will have a fair trial.

And what about the officers who elicited the false confessions? Were they brought to justice for their abuses? Not really, says Pupovac:

Nevertheless, almost 20 years later, not a single police officer has been made to face charges in the massive scandal. They were all let off the hook, first by a succession of judges and legal professionals who looked the other way, and later by a statute of limitations that expired before the Illinois state attorney considered filing charges. According to Taylor, there is no state or federal law criminalizing torture by law enforcement officers. While possible offenses for torture can include attempted murder, aggravated battery, battery, assault, assault with a dangerous weapon or hate crimes, the statute on these crimes is generally five years for federal prosecution and three years in the state of Illinois.

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On WTTW's Chicago Tonight last week, the Friday panel discussed the possibility of gubernatorial bids by both Bill Daley and Lisa Madigan. During the conversation, ABC 7's Andy Shaw asserted that "Mike Madigan has done great damage to Lisa's chances with his obstructionism in Springfield."

Host Joel Weisman and the Tribune's David Greisling both pushed back against the notion that Lisa would be held accountable for her father's record as House Speaker. Watch it:

I'd have to agree with Shaw and, frankly, it was refreshing to hear a journalist even refer to Mike Madigan's "obstructionism."

As I tried to articulate during my own Chicago Tonight appearance a month ago, I think that the speaker is a serious liability for Lisa if she decides to run. Griesling is probably right that most Illinois residents don't associate Mike Madigan with the stalemate in Springfield. But that might change if Lisa threw her hat in the ring, as it would result in some serious scrutiny of her father and how he operates.

On various business-oriented blogs today, I've seen a lot of griping about the news that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is suing Countrywide Financial for engaging in deceptive business practices. Some of these complaints have called into question Madigan's decision to target Countrywide, pointing out that the company is one of numerous bad actors in the financial sphere. Others have chalked Madigan's move up to political grandstanding.

But it's important to remember that, in terms of Illinois alone, Countrywide is the biggest fish in the pond. From The New York Times:

For 2004 through 2006, Countrywide was the largest lender in Illinois, selling about 94,000 loans to consumers in the state, the complaint said. The company operated about 100 retail branch offices in Illinois and its loans were offered by many mortgage brokers licensed to do business there. Countrywide also purchased loans through a network of 2,100 correspondent lenders in the state.

More from Illinois Issues:

The company’s practices were particularly harmful to Chicago and the surrounding counties, the suit says.

The Chicago area had the most subprime loans of any metropolitan area in the country, according to a 2006 study by the Chicago Reporter, an investigative magazine. And Countrywide held more of those loans than any other lender. The Chicago area also has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country.

The attorney general also says her office has received more than 200 complaints about the company since 2005.

In keeping with her record as Illinois attorney general, Lisa Madigan is keeping close tabs on the state's financial predators. She's currently urging victims of the floods in Western and Southeastern Illinois to protect themselves from so-called "storm chasers":

"Flood and storm victims are faced with the daunting task of rebuilding and repairing homes and businesses," Madigan said. "It’s important they remain vigilant as they prepare to recover and keep an eye out for repair fraud that inevitably follows storms and natural disasters."

Madigan warned consumers and business owners to be careful before contracting to have damaged or destroyed property rebuilt and not rush in to contractual agreements or make large down payments, according to a release. She also urged consumers to alert both her office and local law enforcement if suspicious storm chasers solicit in the area.

"A storm chaser knows how to take advantage of the emotional aftermath of major storms and often can persuade individuals to make snap decisions for repairing their home or business," Madigan said.

The Sun-Times has her full list of tips.

The housing advocate group ACORN says that troubled Illinois homeowners have a friend in Lisa Madigan. In a report released today, the community organization gave the Illinois Attorney General an A+ grade for her work protecting families facing mortgage foreclosure -- a rating only five other attorneys general garnered nationwide.

They cited her efforts pushing the Illinois Homeownership Preservation Act, a law that imposed tougher regulations on the ability of mortgage lenders and brokers to dole out loans, and her continuing investigation into the alleged fair lending and civil rights violations of Countrywide Homes Loans Inc. and Wells Fargo Financial Illinois Inc.

Madigan was thrilled to hear the news:

“I am honored to receive this recognition from Acorn for my office’s efforts to combat the foreclosure crisis that is devastating our neighborhoods and communities around Illinois,” Ms. Madigan said in a statement. “I am committed to aggressively investigating predatory and unfair lending practices, and my office will continue to take the most comprehensive steps in assisting troubled homeowners and holding irresponsible lenders accountable for their actions."