1,179 bills became law last session – just 5% had a price tag

By Joe Barnas

02/19/2019

Fiscal notes serve as price tags on bills in the General Assembly. Lawmakers’ habit of omitting them limits their ability to make well-informed decisions.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, Dale Righter, Fiscal Notes, Illinois General Assembly, progressive income tax, taxes

Proposed amendment would place term limits on top Illinois lawmakers

By Vincent Caruso

01/31/2019

A lawmaker would only be allowed to serve in the powerful role of Illinois House speaker for a maximum of eight years under a proposed constitutional amendment recently introduced in the General Assembly.

TAGS: Illinois General Assembly, Mike Madigan, term limits, Tim Butler

Illinois House passes rules giving Madigan extraordinary power – again

By Joe Tabor

01/29/2019

On Jan. 29 the Illinois House of Representatives voted on new House Rules, but none of the new rules addressed the unparalleled power the Speaker of the House is given over the legislative process.

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

Taxpayer victory: Illinois House cuts committee bloat

By Austin Berg

01/29/2019

A glut of $10,000-a-head committee chair positions has been a key tool for House Speaker Mike Madigan to maintain power over members.

TAGS: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois House of Representatives, 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, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois House of Representatives, Mike Madigan

Lame-duck House passes state government pay hikes

By Joe Kaiser

01/08/2019

In the final hours of the 100th General Assembly, some state lawmakers are pushing to send a bill to incoming Gov. J.B. Pritzker that would give pay raises to state department heads.

TAGS: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois House of Representatives, pensions, state worker pay

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, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois House of Representatives, Mike Madigan

With 517 laws passed last year, odds are some will help Illinois taxpayers in 2019

By Mindy Ruckman

12/19/2018

New Year brings new laws as the 100thGeneral Assembly ends. Here are a few wins for Illinois taxpayers.

TAGS: Illinois General Assembly, law, licensing, local government consolidation, occupational licensing, pensions, regulations, school district consolidation

Obscure official made more than $2M off Illinois development authorities, connected side business

By Austin Berg, Eddie Damstra

07/07/2018

Andrew Hamilton and his consulting firm have collected more than $2 million from eight regional development authorities since 2010.

TAGS: Andrew Hamilton, Bruce Rauner, Illinois General Assembly, regional development authorities

Illinois General Assembly passes state budget out of balance by as much as $1.5B

By Adam Schuster

05/31/2018

Lawmakers voted to approve the 1,245-page budget less than 24 hours after it was revealed to the public.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, budget, Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan