Take a secret land trust, a booming real estate market and a long-sought nearby highway. Add a secret federal funding process known as a congressional "earmark," as in "let's earmark that money for this project." The result when all those elements become public knowledge can be embarrassing, as House Speaker Dennis Hastert now has discovered.

Hastert denies there is any connection between the profit (pegged at $1.5 million to $1.8 million) he made from selling land in booming Kendall County to a housing developer and the $207 million in federal funding he secured via earmarks for the proposed Prairie Parkway in the area.

Let's look at how all this came to pass.

The author then proceeds to outline just how Blubber Butt got himself into this pickle. It's not a pretty picture.The editorial board makes clear their disdain with zingers like this:

Hastert inserted two earmarks into last year's transportation bill--one for $152 million that would help fund the Prairie Parkway and one for a $55 million interchange. The parkway interchange is about 5 miles from the property he held in secret. Earmarks only become public knowledge after the fact. There's no chance for scrutiny in advance. The House under Hastert has turned the earmark into an art form. [emphasis mine]

But then they REALLY get in his face with the article's conclusion...I love it!

...Hastert is furious that his integrity has come into question.

But there's no one in the nation who's in a better position to do something about that than the speaker of the House.

One, stay out of secret land deals. Two, eliminate the earmark process.

OUCH! that had to hurt.

Kudos to the Ultra right-wing Tribune Editorial Board, for putting partisan politics aside long enough to take Hastert to task. Your readers appreciate this fresh new approach.

If this keeps us, John Laesch (Hastert's Opponent) might just have a chance!