Feds charge former ComEd vice president with scheme to bribe Madigan

By Austin Berg

09/05/2020

The sweeping federal corruption investigation threatens to derail Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive tax hike amendment, which voters will decide Nov. 3.

TAGS: bribery, ComEd, corruption, federal investigation, Mike Madigan

Illinois House investigative committee to review Madigan’s role in ComEd scandal

09/02/2020

The special investigative committee will determine whether Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan should be disciplined after being implicated in the ComEd bribery scandal.

TAGS: bribery, ComEd, corruption, federal investigation, Mike Madigan

Audit: Chicago saves $1 million after Ald. Burke quits finance committee

09/02/2020

Chicago’s longest-serving alderman used his power as chair of the City Council Finance Committee to pad staffs, give himself a security detail.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, Ed Burke

Extortion conspiracy, tax evasion charges filed against former Cook County commissioner

08/27/2020

Jeffrey Tobolski is the latest Illinois politician charged in a wide-ranging federal corruption probe into bribes, insider deals, cronyism and red-light cameras.

TAGS: corruption, extortion, federal investigation, tax fraud

Link in the chain of Illinois power, corruption, taxes

By Vincent Caruso

08/26/2020

With the "fair tax" campaign, lawmakers aim to sell voters a shovel to entrench the status quo by advertising it as a weapon with which to fight against it.

TAGS: corruption, fair tax, federal investigation, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, Terry Link

Corruption costs Illinois an estimated $556M per year

By Bryce Hill

08/25/2020

Illinois’ high levels of corruption damage the state’s economy, costing it $10.6 billion since 2000. States with higher levels of corruption average lower levels of economic growth.

TAGS: corruption, economic growth, ethics, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, tax burden

Political patronage? Not in Illinois, Pritzker argues in court

By Brad Weisenstein

08/20/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker sees no patronage problem in his administration – not that there’s no patronage, just that he apparently doesn’t see it as a problem.

TAGS: corruption, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, patronage, watchdog

Democratic state lawmakers demand ethics reform in wake of Madigan scandal

08/17/2020

Pressure continues to build to repair Illinois’ broken ethics laws, as more Democrats demand reform and more lawmakers face corruption charges.

TAGS: corruption, Democratic Party, ethics, federal investigation, lobbying, Mike Madigan

‘Fair tax’ supporter indicted for tax evasion

08/13/2020

Four long-time Illinois General Assembly members who pushed through the “fair tax” referendum have been charged with crimes. A fifth faces a bribery investigation.

TAGS: corruption, federal investigation, tax fraud, Terry Link

Illinois government unions give Madigan $10 million reasons to stay together

By Mailee Smith

08/13/2020

The state’s government unions have heavily funded the election committees run by longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan – who then uses his influence to pass union-friendly bills.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, corruption, Democratic Party, Mike Madigan, unions

corruption

Feds charge former ComEd vice president with scheme to bribe Madigan

Illinois House investigative committee to review Madigan’s role in ComEd scandal

Audit: Chicago saves $1 million after Ald. Burke quits finance committee

Extortion conspiracy, tax evasion charges filed against former Cook County commissioner

Link in the chain of Illinois power, corruption, taxes

Corruption costs Illinois an estimated $556M per year

Political patronage? Not in Illinois, Pritzker argues in court

Democratic state lawmakers demand ethics reform in wake of Madigan scandal

‘Fair tax’ supporter indicted for tax evasion

Illinois government unions give Madigan $10 million reasons to stay together

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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