New Database Links Contributions to Contracts SPRINGFIELD, IL (wqub) - Databse1
Illinois' comptroller says a new state database will help draw attention to the link between campaign contributions and government contracts. Amanda Vinicky reports:

Track a state contract back far enough ... and there's a good chance that a campaign contribution was made to the right politician at the right time ... at least according to Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes. Problem is ... he says ...

"In many cases connecting the dots is not that simple. Following the money is easier said than done."

Hynes says his office created the new "Open Book" web site to help people follow that money trail. The site is a searchable database of state contracts, political donors, and the candidates they've contributed to. That's already public information. But the new database integrates it.
Hynes ... a Democrat ... says he hopes it will bring attention to cases in which politicians are awarding supporters by giving them state business.
He says there's no excuse for the Senate's stalling on legislation that would limit that practice.
I'm Amanda Vinicky.

The Web site is www -dot-openbook-dot-ioc-dot-state-dot-il-dot-us.

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