News in Chicago as the City has introduced an ordinance that will require the middlemen in obtaining building permits to acquire licenses and be subject to background checks. This comes just 2 months after 15 were arrested on bribery charges involving city inspectors. Days of not being able to go to city hall without money in your hands are hopefully behind them. If adopted, the new ordinance will take affect in 120 days. When prompted by the alderman to produce a social security number or other traceable means of identification; several who have had past legal problems protested saying they would be excluded from the new program even if they had paid for their wrongdoings. The new system, he assured them will not discount those who show previous problems, even felonies as long as they are accounted for. These middlemen, known as expediters are instrumental in speeding up approval of paperwork by making sure all things are in order before seeking out the permit. Most of them are honest and perform a valuable service. The ones that aren’t will hopefully be weeded out by the new screening process and the payment of fees for the licenses, $300 for individuals and $600 for businesses.