Rauner’s reform demands: From 44 to 0

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

06/27/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner has compromised over and over to strike a deal, to the point of abandoning every reform he once demanded. But no matter how much Rauner gave, House Speaker Mike Madigan never budged.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, collective bargaining, income tax, Mike Madigan, pensions, property taxes, term limits, turnaround agenda, workers compensation

Day 6: Illinois House and Senate adjourn special session after 11 minutes

By Eric Kohn

06/26/2017

Six days of special session have cost Illinois taxpayers an additional $300,000 for less than 100 minutes of work.

TAGS: Barack Obama, Bruce Rauner, budget, Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, special session

Day 5: Illinois House and Senate adjourn special session after only 17 minutes

By Eric Kohn

06/25/2017

Five days of special session have cost Illinois taxpayers an additional $250,000 for less than 90 minutes of work.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Christine Radogno, Illinois General Assembly, Jim Durkin, Mike Madigan, special session

Day 4: Illinois House and Senate adjourn special session after only 16 minutes

By Eric Kohn

06/25/2017

Four days of special session have cost Illinois taxpayers an additional $200,000 for less than 80 minutes of work.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Christine Radogno, Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, special session

Day 2: Illinois House and Senate adjourn special session after only 23 minutes

By Eric Kohn

06/22/2017

Less than 43 minutes of work over two days has cost Illinois taxpayers $100,000.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, special session

Madigan dupes another governor

By Austin Berg

06/22/2017

Madigan has stared down Gov. Bruce Rauner for more than 700 days and Rauner just blinked.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, income tax, Mike Madigan, taxes

Fact-checking Madigan: Rauner’s agenda is packed with budgetary items

By Michael Lucci

06/01/2017

Though Illinois Democrats insist Gov. Bruce Rauner’s reform agenda has nothing to do with the state’s budget, Rauner’s original proposed spending reforms would allow the state to balance its budget without hitting up taxpayers for more revenue.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, collective bargaining, consolidation, local government consolidation, Mike Madigan, pensions, prevailing wage, workers compensation

Madigan, Cullerton will hit the pension lottery

By Austin Berg

06/01/2017

After just one year of retirement, Madigan’s annual pension will shoot up to more than $130,000.

TAGS: GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, pensions

Illinois fiscal collapse began long before the 2-year budget impasse

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

06/01/2017

Illinois’ budgetary mess preceded Gov. Bruce Rauner’s tenure, with years of gimmicks, borrowing and broken promises.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, budget, Mike Madigan, Rich Miller, Rod Blagojevich

Illinois House has spent less than 6 hours in session this month

By Austin Berg

05/19/2017

House members have spent as much time playing softball and basketball as they have in session since the beginning of May.

TAGS: Barbara Flynn Currie, budget, Illinois House of Representatives, lawmaker pay, Mike Madigan