SPRINGFIELD – Your charity program may qualify for state grant money if you drum up support. Who better to get in your corner than your state representative?

Endorsement letters are a common practice in Illinois politics. But one lawmaker’s alleged attempt to make a buck off backing a state-grant application leaves many questions, including whether there’s yet another avenue for politicians to line their pockets in corruption-rich Illinois.

State Rep. Derrick Smith was indicted last week on a federal bribery charge for accepting $7,000 in exchange for his support of a grant application by a nonprofit set up by the federal government in a sting, according to prosecutors.