Background Checks a Must for Officials

It makes no sense that secretaries working for the State ofIllinois must undergo more extensive background checks than top-levelbureaucrats entrusted with investments and policy decisions.

Criminal and financial background checks should be required ofindividuals hired by elected officials to carry out high-level statebusiness. It might have saved State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka alot of embarrassment.

Topinka placed her close friend and campaign manager, MartinKovarik, in charge of $6 billion in state investments last Januarywithout checking his personal finances. Kovarik blames a divorce fordebts that left his finances in shambles, including bankruptcy andtwo …