From the The Pantagraph

Madigan taps into campaign account
By Kurt Erickson
Capitol bureau chief

SPRINGFIELD -- It's been two years since Robert Madigan left the Illinois
Senate, but the money he raised during his 14 years in office is still
helping the Republican from Lincoln.
According to reports filed this week with the Illinois State Board of
Elections, Madigan wrote checks to himself out of his campaign fund in May
and June worth more than $267,000.
Although such a move would be illegal nowadays, Madigan, 61, is able to tap
into his fund-raising dollars for personal use because of a loophole in a
1998 state law.
Under that law, which banned the use of campaign funds for personal gain,
politicians are able to use whatever amount was in their account on June 30,
1998, without reprisal.
If they write themselves checks, however, they must pay income taxes on the
money.
Money raised after June 30, 1998, is not allowed to be used for personal
use.
The reports, which track campaign fund activity between January and July,
show that Madigan has $118,000 left in his account.
Madigan is not alone among retired politicians tapping into their campaign
money for personal use.
Former state Rep. Joel Brunsvold, D-Milan, cashed out some of his campaign
money earlier this year when he became a member of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's
Cabinet.
Madigan didn't use all of his money for himself.
The reports show he contributed $5,000 for the Lincoln Art and Balloon
Festival and $500 to Millikin University in Decatur.
After leaving office, Madigan became a member of the Illinois Industrial
Commission for one year. Upon his retirement, he began receiving a state
pension worth $85,335 annually.
Madigan could not be reached for comment Thursday.