Now that the 103rd Illinois General Assembly is sworn in, an early order of business will be to establish the rules of the chambers. Those rules need more reform to ensure another Mike Madigan doesn’t gather too much power.
With Madigan out, now is the time to reform the House Rules
The House Rules allowed Madigan to accumulate unprecedented power in the Illinois speaker’s office and helped enable a culture of corruption in Springfield. With Madigan out, reformers have a shot at changing the House Rules.
How to dismantle the Illinois Machine
If Illinois House members change their rules, they can give Illinoisans more say in how their state government works.
Illinois police serve search warrant at Madigan’s Springfield office, looking for evidence of sexual assault, battery by former state lawmaker
State police executed the search warrant in an attempt to find evidence of criminal behavior by former Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks.
‘Fair tax’ backer pleads guilty to tax fraud
Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval once headed the powerful Senate Transportation Committee. He now faces up to 13 years in prison on corruption charges involving a controversial red-light camera company.
Feds indict champion of Illinois gas tax hike, ‘fair tax’ on tax fraud and bribery
The former chair of the influential Senate Transportation Committee is the fourth Illinois politician indicted on federal charges amid a sweeping FBI probe.
Bill would stop Pritzker from paying state workers on the side
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has used his private fortune to pay $3 million in state expenses, including boosting salaries of 16 top staffers. Some lawmakers want the ‘unethical’ practice to stop.
Madigan celebrates 35th anniversary as Illinois House speaker
Illinoisans will soon cast a vote on the biggest ballot question in the history of Madigan’s record-breaking speakership.
Madigan confidant used state worker’s silence on rape to prove political loyalty
Silence on a rape and about ghost workers were evidence of political loyalty that should save a state worker facing discipline, according to an email uncovered in an open records request.
Feds investigating former Cook County assessor, Madigan rainmaker Joe Berrios
The probe potentially opens up a new front in authorities’ investigation of House Speaker Mike Madigan: the property tax appeals game from which he has made millions.