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

Cap spending now: Illinois taxpayers need a responsible budget this year

By Adam Schuster

05/04/2018

Lawmakers should voluntarily adopt a spending cap to give taxpayers the certainty they deserve.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, bonds, budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, credit rating, Illinois General Assembly, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Spending, spending cap, taxes

Bill restricting government promotional spending advances in General Assembly

By Vincent Caruso

03/08/2018

An investigation in December 2017 found that a convention for municipalities and public agencies ran taxpayers nearly $120,000 in exhibition and hospitality costs. A proposal making its way through the General Assembly would bar state funds from contributing to these excesses.

TAGS: David McSweeney, Illinois General Assembly, Spending

Illinois House adjourns for month-long spring break

By Austin Berg

03/08/2018

House members won't return to the Statehouse until the second week of April.

TAGS: Illinois General Assembly, lawmaker pay

Full month’s pay for a day’s work? New bill ends loophole for state lawmakers

By Brendan Bakala

01/30/2018

House Bill 4273 would eliminate a loophole in state law that allows lawmakers to receive a month's pay for a day of work.

TAGS: Illinois General Assembly, lawmaker pay, pensions