Madigan aides sought out, assisted alleged ‘sham’ candidates in primary election

By Austin Berg

02/01/2019

Madigan’s 2016 primary opponent filed a lawsuit alleging the House speaker recruited “sham” candidates in order to dilute opposition.

TAGS: Jason Gonzales, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan

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, House Speaker, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan

Cook County assessor candidate calls for ban on aldermen serving as property tax attorneys

By Vincent Caruso

08/24/2018

The Democratic nominee in the Cook County assessor’s race is voicing support for a ban on city aldermen doubling as property tax appeals attorneys, an arrangement that encourages conflicts of interest.

TAGS: Ed Burke, Fritz Kaegi, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, Patrick Daley Thompson, Patrick O'Connor, property taxes, Toni Preckwinkle

30 years later: How Madigan kept the Cubs in the dark

By Joe Kaiser

08/08/2018

Thirty years ago Aug. 8, the Chicago Cubs played their first game under lights at Wrigley Field – after first battling Chicago politicians for the right to do so.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Edward “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak, ISFA: Illinois Sports Facility Authority, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, Tom Tunney

Lawmakers file bills barring state lawmakers from working as property tax lawyers

By Vincent Caruso

02/06/2018

A number of state and local lawmakers in Illinois practice property tax appeals litigation. But a pair of bills recently filed in the General Assembly would end their ability to benefit at the expense of taxpayers.

TAGS: Ed Burke, Grant Wehrli, Jim Oberweis, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes

Controversial assessments have history of appeals by Burke and Madigan

By Brendan Bakala

01/24/2018

An order currently under consideration by Chicago City Council challenges the assessments of seven properties, four of which have been the subject of property tax appeals by the law firms of Chicago Alderman Ed Burke or Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

TAGS: Ed Burke, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes

Chicago aldermen move to challenge lowball assessments on some of Chicago’s priciest properties

By Brendan Bakala

01/19/2018

Alderman Ricardo Munoz's proposal highlights seven expensive properties in or around the Loop that aldermen contend were underassessed, shifting the property tax burden to other property owners.

TAGS: Chicago, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes

Rauner announces plan to ban lawmakers from working as property tax lawyers

By Austin Berg

01/18/2018

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and state Rep. Robert Martwick are all involved in the clout-heavy cottage industry of property tax appeals.

TAGS: Ed Burke, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes, Robert Martwick

Study: Illinois among states prone to lawmakers with conflicts of interest

By Vincent Caruso

12/20/2017

The Land of Lincoln is rich with lawmakers’ penchant for self-enrichment, according to a report from the Center for Public Integrity.

TAGS: Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes

Investigation: Madigan firm the biggest player in commercial property tax appeals

By Austin Berg

12/08/2017

A new investigation by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Illinois reveals the mismanagement of the Cook County property tax system, and the politically connected firms who profit from it.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, cronyism, Ed Burke, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes, ProPublica, Steve Brown

Budget Solutions 2020: A 5-year plan to balance Illinois’ budget, pay off debt and cut taxes

Gov. J.B. Pritzker inherited a $2.8 billion budget deficit the moment he stepped into office. Next year, that deficit is projected to be $3.4 billion1. It’s the same story every budget season. But Illinois’ budget crises could be a thing of the past if the state would adopt pension reform, right-size its union contracts and...

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Budget Solutions 2020: A 5-year plan to balance Illinois’ budget, pay off debt and cut taxes

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Harry Jackson

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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