Members of Chicago City Council's progressive reform caucus are putting pressure on Mayor Rahm Emanuel to expand and enhance the powers of the city's Inspector General.
Aldermen Bob Fioretti, John Arena, Roderick Sawyer and Scott Waguespack said Thursday that candidate Emanuel would have supported their proposal, but Mayor Rahm Emanuel doesn't. The intoroduced five ordinances meant to enhance his powers.
"If we are going to root out corruption," Fioretti said. "We have to give IG strength."
The caucus members specifically want to give the IG subpoena power and total access to city documents. Counterparts in New York City, Baltimore and Philadelphia are able to subpoena.
Waguspack said he thought Emanuel's reluctance to empower the IG could be because Emanuel wants to protect former Mayor Richard Daley from scrutiny over how he awarded city contracts.
Current Inspector General Joe Ferguson's term expires in the fall and Emanuel is not expected to reappoint him.
