Madigan re-elected to 18th term as Illinois House Speaker
Madigan re-elected to 18th term as Illinois House Speaker
The longtime speaker has held the gavel for 34 of the past 36 years, and maintains procedural powers unheard of in other states.
Longtime Illinois House Rep. Lou Lang resigns, joins lobbying firm
Longtime Illinois House Rep. Lou Lang resigns, joins lobbying firm
The former deputy majority leader resigned his House seat two days prior to being sworn into the 101st General Assembly. A Springfield lobbying firm hired him.
Madigan poised to seize speakership yet again
Madigan poised to seize speakership yet again
After sweeping victories for Illinois Democrats in November, Mike Madigan is all but assured an 18th term as speaker of the House of Representatives when new members are sworn in Jan. 9. Madigan has already broken the record for longest-serving state legislative speaker in U.S. history.
Ald. Burke prosecution ends battle against auditing Chicago’s $100 million workers’ comp program
Ald. Burke prosecution ends battle against auditing Chicago’s $100 million workers’ comp program
Mayor Rahm Emanuel ordered an audit of the city’s $100 million-a-year workers’ compensation program following Ald. Ed Burke’s resignation as finance committee chair. Burke has long fought program oversight.
Chicago Ald. Ed Burke gives up control of city finances after felony extortion charge
Chicago Ald. Ed Burke gives up control of city finances after felony extortion charge
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Jan. 4 that longtime Ald. Ed Burke resigned as chairman of the city’s finance committee. The move came the day after federal agents served Burke an attempted extortion charge.
Longtime Chicago Ald. Ed Burke charged with extortion
Longtime Chicago Ald. Ed Burke charged with extortion
Federal prosecutors claim Burke used his position as alderman to solicit business for his law firm, which specializes in Cook County property tax appeals. Felony attempted extortion could come with up to 20 years in prison.
Fixing Illinois? Pritzker needs a New Chicago Way
Fixing Illinois? Pritzker needs a New Chicago Way
Fixing Chicago’s outdated governance would benefit the entire state. Pritzker should use his new job – and the megaphone that comes with it – to help make that a reality.
Term limits popular with local voters, but Illinois state lawmakers try to blunt reforms
Term limits popular with local voters, but Illinois state lawmakers try to blunt reforms
Since 2014 alone, voters in 11 suburban Cook County communities approved term limits on elected leaders. A bill in the Illinois General Assembly seeks to curb those reforms.
Illinois law allows law enforcement to take custody of mistreated pets
Illinois law allows law enforcement to take custody of mistreated pets
Local law enforcement will can take temporary custody of pets left in life-threatening weather conditions.
Bipartisan township consolidation bill heads to governor’s desk
Bipartisan township consolidation bill heads to governor’s desk
The bill would make it easier for McHenry County residents to dissolve the county’s 17 townships at the ballot box – and find tax relief through cost savings.
FBI raids office of powerful Chicago Ald. Ed Burke
FBI raids office of powerful Chicago Ald. Ed Burke
Burke has served on the Chicago City Council for nearly 50 years, and has long been the subject of ethical complaints from government watchdogs.
Illinois keeps 18 as legal age to buy smokes
Illinois keeps 18 as legal age to buy smokes
After narrowly clearing the Senate, the Illinois House of Representatives failed to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill to make 21 the legal age to buy tobacco.
Bipartisan anti-corruption bill bottled up in Illinois Senate
Bipartisan anti-corruption bill bottled up in Illinois Senate
After unanimous approval from the Illinois House of Representatives, the Illinois Senate has remained conspicuously silent on a bill meant to address one man’s dominance of a little-known network of government authorities.
Senate narrowly overrides Rauner ‘Tobacco 21’ veto
Senate narrowly overrides Rauner ‘Tobacco 21’ veto
A bill that would raise the legal age to 21 for purchasing tobacco and e-cigarette products will return to the Illinois House of Representatives after Senate lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto.