As Conservative Group Grows In Influence, Financial Dealings Enrich Its Leaders
Illinois Policy Institute has called for government reform while channeling money to firms owned by insiders.
by Mick Dumke, ProPublica, and Tina Sfondeles, Chicago Sun-Times Feb. 8, 6 a.m. CST
This story was produced in collaboration with the Chicago Sun-Times.
Well before John Tillman began running the Illinois Policy Institute a decade ago, the nonprofit think tank was calling for major reforms to state government, especially its finances. But few in Springfield — or elsewhere in Illinois — paid attention.
That changed when Tillman relaunched the institute in 2007.
The organization steadily expanded its work and influence after the conservative activist took over, while contributions shot up from about $341,000 in 2007 to $6.4 million in 2016 — a nearly 19-fold increase in a decade.
Tillman was also able to ratchet up the group’s output of research and advocacy. Its studies and opinion pieces on cutting government spending and boosting transparency became must-read material to many Republicans, some Democrats — and to the governor of Illinois.
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https://www.propublica.org/article/illinois-policy-institute-john-tillman-transactions
