Posted: Nov. 30, 2012 1:55 pm Updated: Jan. 13, 2013 1:15 am

Two times in one year.

Another Illinois legislator was indicted by federal prosecutors Thursday, as much of the media focus on state government was on pension reform, gambling expansion and even medicinal marijuana.

Lawmakers were taken by surprise when Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, was indicted on federal bank fraud and other charges. Ford is facing 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each count. According to prosecutors, Ford fraudulently obtained a $500,000 increase and a two-year extension on a line of credit from ShoreBank, which was taken over by federal regulators in 2010.

Prosecutors allege that Ford falsely stated that he would use the funds for his real estate business. He allegedly used the money for car loans, credit cards, payments to an Indiana casino and his 2006 campaign for state representative.

This is the second indictment of a state lawmaker within the last year, continuing to stain the credibility of Illinois government.

In March, Rep. Derrick Smith, D-Chicago, was charged with accepting a $7,000 bribe in exchange for his support in helping a day care center obtain a state grant. The Illinois House voted 100-6 to remove him from office in August, but in November he was re-elected. Lawmakers have few options to remove him again, except hope that he resigns from office or is convicted.

Interesting to note, while Smith dodged reporters and refused to answer questions, Ford is taking a different strategy. He immediately spoke out in the media telling the Chicago Sun-Times, "There's no bank fraud in my blood."

It will be interesting to see if lawmakers look to remove Ford from office.

While Smith was removed following his indictment, his accusations involved his position in the Illinois House. In the Ford announcement, federal prosecutors said the charges did not relate to his work in the General Assembly.

The indictments of Ford and Smith bring up references to George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich, who are both serving time in federal prison. With each new indictment of a current or former public official -- even if not related to the office -- the public trust of those currently in state government continues to diminish.

Gov. Pat Quinn, for instance, has an approval rating of 25 percent, according to a poll released the Thursday by Public Policy Polling.

The poll found that Quinn would lose to Republican state Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and Republican Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford in head-to-head matchups, and he would get trounced by Attorney General Lisa Madigan is she chooses to enter the Democratic primary in 2014. Quinn would lose to everyone matched up against him according to the poll except U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, who trailed Quinn by only 1 percent.

-- mhopf@whig.com/221-3391