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30 years later: How Madigan kept the Cubs in the dark

08/08/2018
Thirty years ago Aug. 8, the Chicago Cubs played their first game under lights at Wrigley Field – after first battling Chicago politicians for the right to do so.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Edward “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak, ISFA: Illinois Sports Facility Authority, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, Tom Tunney

Rahm denies Cubs night game request, continues long-standing city feud

07/28/2017
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has emphatically denied the Cubs’ request for more night games at Wrigley Field – continuing the decades-old hostile relationship between the team and city government.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Rahm Emanuel, regulations

Madigan has spent nearly $170,000 in campaign funds on baseball tickets in 2017

04/19/2017
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan reportedly uses his large quantity of Cubs and White Sox tickets as gifts for his political volunteers, but his history with professional sports teams in Chicago isn’t so generous.

TAGS: Chicago Cubs, Mike Madigan

Illinois politicians dub March 8 ‘Cubs Day’ despite contentious history

03/09/2017
Springfield lawmakers passed a ceremonial resolution March 8 congratulating the Chicago Cubs on winning the 2016 World Series. But that pat on the back doesn’t make up for the adversarial relationship politicians have held with the Cubs and other professional sports franchises in Chicago.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Mike Madigan, regulations

Chicago politicians angry over losing World Series ticket perk

10/26/2016
A new ethics ruling prohibits aldermen from getting World Series tickets at face value — a perk not afforded to most of the public.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, good government

How Madigan left the Cubs in the dark

10/21/2016
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s grip on the state’s legislative process once delayed the Cubs’ quest for lights at Wrigley Field – and 30 years later, the Cubs are still feuding with politicians.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Mike Madigan, regulations

Chicago politicians get cheap tickets for Cubs playoff games

10/06/2016
Granting favors to politicians is the cost of doing business for sports team owners in Chicago.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, Tom Tunney

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Center for Poverty Solutions / Research Report

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education


Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

View Report

Report Archive

Budget + Tax / Your Story

Allan Luzbetak

Labor / Policy Point

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014
Illinois Policy In the News

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016

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