Madigan celebrates 35th anniversary as Illinois House speaker

By Austin Berg

01/12/2020

Illinoisans will soon cast a vote on the biggest ballot question in the history of Madigan’s record-breaking speakership.

TAGS: credit rating, Daley, debt, fair tax, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, graduated income tax, house rules, House Speaker, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, legislative map, lobbying, Mike Madigan, patronage, progressive income tax, property taxes, redistricting, Richard Daley, Springfield, tax burden, U.S. Census Bureau

FBI secretly recorded Madigan at his law office

By Austin Berg

01/29/2019

Madigan has long been criticized for his control of a lucrative law firm specializing in Cook County property tax appeals.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, Danny Solis, Ed Burke, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, House Speaker, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan

Madigan’s power runs deeper than the speaker vote

By Austin Berg

01/10/2019

Many things have changed in state government during the past 36 years. Madigan has held constant.

TAGS: Anne Stava-Murray, house rules, House Speaker, Mike Madigan

Madigan re-elected to 18th term as Illinois House Speaker

By Austin Berg

01/09/2019

The longtime speaker has held the gavel for 34 of the past 36 years, and maintains procedural powers unheard of in other states.

TAGS: house rules, House Speaker, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois House of Representatives, Mike Madigan

Madigan poised to seize speakership yet again

By Austin Berg

01/08/2019

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.

TAGS: Anne Stava-Murray, house rules, House Speaker, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois House of Representatives, Mike Madigan

Illinois looks for leadership, but familiar faces remain

By Austin Berg

11/15/2018

It’s understandable that Illinoisans complain about longstanding “Democrat rule” in the state legislature. But the real problem might be more about personnel than partisanship.

TAGS: house rules, House Speaker, JB Pritzker, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan

Incoming Illinois House Democrat calls for ‘no’ vote on Madigan for speaker

By Austin Berg

11/13/2018

Illinois House Rep.-elect Anne Stava-Murray is making an unprecedented call to dump the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history.

TAGS: Anne Stava-Murray, House Speaker, Mike Madigan, Scott Drury

Who votes for Mike Madigan?

By Austin Berg

10/11/2018

The speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives remains a key campaign issue despite national headlines.

TAGS: House Speaker, Illinois House of Representatives, Mike Madigan

Madigan nears title of longest-serving House speaker in U.S. history

By Austin Berg

11/30/2016

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan told reporters he has “overwhelming support” to be re-elected to his longtime post come January. Another two-year term would bring his total tenure as speaker of the House to 34 years.

TAGS: House Speaker, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Mike Madigan

Amid complex budget talks, Madigan gamesmanship a constant

By Jim Long

06/01/2015

Long before his General Assembly failed to pass a balanced budget, House Speaker Mike Madigan’s spin machine was churning.

TAGS: House Speaker, Mike Madigan