Chicago's taxi cab cartel donated $180,750 to 61 state legislators in 2014-15, including multiple Chicago-area legislators, encouraging them to help preserve their traditional monopoly by banning ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft in Illinois.
Chicago state Reps. Art Turner II ($5,000), Edward Acevedo ($2,500), Ann Williams ($1,500), Esther Golar ($1,000), Marcus Evans Jr. ($1,000), Anthony DeLuca ($1,000), Elgie Sims ($750), Fran Hurley ($500), Jaime Andrade ($500), John D'Amico ($500), Ken Dunkin ($500), Luis Arroyo ($500), Robert Martwick ($500) and Silviana Tabares ($500) received donations from the taxi lobby.
The campaign donations led to Reps. Michael Zalewski (D-Riverside) and Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) creating a bill, which was vetoed by then-Gov. Pat Quinn, that would have regulated Uber and Lyft out of existence in Illinois.
Chicago’s taxi cab cartel spread more than $180,000 in campaign donations around Springfield, amassing a who’s who of legislative allies.
Their first check – for $15,000 – went to Durkin. Their second, for $50,000, went to Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago)
Democrat House Speaker Michael J. Madigan ($25,000), then-Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont ($12,500) and Democrat State Sen. Martin Sandoval of Cicero ($10,000) were also big taxi cab cartel beneficiaries.
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