Madigan quits as party chair day after picking his House successor

By Brad Weisenstein

02/22/2021

Mike Madigan quit as Democratic Party of Illinois chairman a day after picking his successor for the Illinois House, four days after resigning as representative and one month after he was ousted as the nation's longest-serving Statehouse speaker.

TAGS: Democratic Party, Edward Guerra Kodatt, House Speaker, Mike Madigan

How to dismantle the Illinois Machine

By Joe Tabor

01/29/2021

If Illinois House members change their rules, they can give Illinoisans more say in how their state government works.

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

Madigan leaves trial lawyers with parting gift: up to 2 years of 9% interest

By Brad Weisenstein

01/26/2021

Lame duck lawmakers and the outgoing Illinois House speaker are trying to hand trial lawyers some extra cash. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is being urged to veto the bill.

TAGS: House Speaker, interest rates, Mike Madigan, tort

Madigan’s reign ends as longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history

By Austin Berg

01/13/2021

Illinoisans watched the politically impossible become the politically inevitable.

TAGS: Chris Welch, corruption, House Speaker, Illinois House of Representatives, Mike Madigan

Illinois House in limbo until speaker is elected

By Joe Tabor

01/12/2021

With Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan reportedly short of the 60 votes needed to hold on to the speakership, Illinois House members will have to line up behind a new candidate before they can get down to business.

TAGS: House Rules Committee, House Speaker, Mike Madigan, voting

Illinois was most corrupt of 10 largest states under Madigan’s reign

By Joe Tabor

01/12/2021

Illinois averaged over one federal public corruption conviction a week during the Madigan era. That is the most convictions per capita among the top 10 most populous states between 1983 and 2018.

TAGS: bribery, corruption, House Speaker, Mike Madigan

51 House Democrats back Madigan for speaker in caucus vote

By Austin Berg

01/11/2021

See who your representative backed in a historic fight for the Illinois House speakership.

TAGS: corruption, House Speaker, lame duck session, Mike Madigan

Madigan suspends campaign for House speaker

By Austin Berg

01/11/2021

The most powerful speaker in American history may finally be stepping aside amid a wide-ranging federal corruption probe.

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

Pritzker demands answers from Madigan as more Illinois lawmakers seek resignation

11/20/2020

Madigan already had lost enough support to end his 35-year run as House speaker, but the gap continued to widen as Illinois’ governor added his rebuke.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, House Speaker, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, Mike McClain

Madigan opposition hits critical mass as his confidant, 3 others charged in ComEd bribery scandal

11/19/2020

The indictments are the closest yet to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s inner circle. Now enough Democrats are pledging they won’t support him to cost him the speaker’s gavel.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, house, House Speaker, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Jay Doherty, madigan, Mike Madigan, Mike McClain, reform

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...

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Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

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Allan Luzbetak

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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