Today's Top 5: Rich candidates who struggled at the polls

MONEY FOR NOTHING Illinois has never seen a candidate with wealth like that of Republican governor candidate Bruce Rauner. He told us in this interview that the rumored $50 million he was prepared to put into his campaign is nothing more than a rumor, but he certainly could put in that much if he wanted. Illinois has, however, had quite a few very wealthy businessmen seeking to parlay their business success into political success, and they haven't had much luck. Our list of the day looks at five personally wealthy candidates from the past decade. One has a happy ending. Before clicking, can you name them? Click it to see the whole thing.

SHUT DOWN MY GOVERNMENT... PLEASE! Chicago Tribune cartoonist Scott Stantis has a serious case of government shutdown envy. With the federal government shutdown entering week 2 tomorrow, he turns his eye and ink toward Springfield. Click to see the whole cartoon.

PENSION RANSOM Capitol Fax publisher Rich Miller has about had it with a pattern emerging in Gov. Pat Quinn's quest for pension reform. When lawmakers didn't deliver a bill to him in July, he took their salaries hostage. Now that ADM is seeking tax breaks to keep its headquarters in Illinois, Quinn is holding discussion of the effort hostage until he gets pension reform. Writes Miller: "It's juvenile when they do it in Washington, DC, and it's juvenile when our own governor does it." Miller has seen a lot in Illinois politics, and he's got a good point. Read it here.

SOUND OFF We haven't seen the bill yet, it's sounding more and more likely that the General Assembly will debate and vote on a pension reform bill when it convenes for its fall veto session in two weeks. Now is the time to let your representatives in Springfield, along with Gov. Quinn and the four legislative leaders, know that any bill must bring adequate savings to get Illinois back on sound financial footing while also ensuring the health of the pension systems for the employees and retirees who depend on them. Our Sound Off tool makes it easy to send that message -- in your own words or in a message already provided. If you haven't used it yet, this is a great time to try it out. Click here.

GOOD NEWS. REALLY! Scott Stantis may be imagining a cartoon Illinois with a dormant and harmless government, but Andy Shaw of the Better Government Association is thinking about some recent successes that have made big differences in various levels of government in Illinois. Is it possible that asking a few questions can make a difference? You bet. Shaw updates some BGA investigation successes in this week's column.

SHINE A LIGHT We've seen over and over how government working in secret results in corruption and waste. The most egregious example of late has been the still-unfolding Metra scandal, which combined patronage, secrecy and tax dollar waste on a grand scale. We deserve better. That's the point of our Sound Off tool, which lets you demand better from your legislators in Springfield, Gov. Pat Quinn and the four legislative leaders, all in few simple clicks. We've got a message specific to the Metra scandal that we encourage you to send. You can use ours or write your own message on openness in government boards and commissions. Click here and Sound Off!

TODAY'S HEADLINES A new week brings new headlines. Here's our Top 5:

• 5. GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady says voters are growing weary of Gov. Quinn’s populist acts. (Chicago Tribune)
  4. Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka says so far she is in favor of the newest pension compromise proposal. (WBGZ)
  3. Meanwhile, Gov. Quinn won’t endorse the proposal despite acknowledging there are lots of good parts to it. (Associated Press)
  2. Quinn also said there will be no legislation with tax breaks for Archer Daniels Midland until lawmakers have sent him a pension reform measure. (Chicago Tribune)
  1. A Sun-Times analysis reveals Chicago alderman Ed Burke has cost the city more than $3.6 million with victories in his private law firm. (Chicago Sun-Times)