Happy birthday: The solution that never was to Illinois’ pension crisis

By Austin Berg

12/06/2018

Illinoisans should know lawmakers in the past made big moves to fix the state's worst-in-the-nation pension crisis. It’s politically possible. They just need a little reminder of our history.

TAGS: Mike Madigan, municipal pensions, Pat Quinn, pension guarantee, pensions

Illinois looks for leadership, but familiar faces remain

By Austin Berg

11/15/2018

It’s understandable that Illinoisans complain about longstanding “Democrat rule” in the state legislature. But the real problem might be more about personnel than partisanship.

TAGS: house rules, House Speaker, JB Pritzker, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan

Incoming Illinois House Democrat calls for ‘no’ vote on Madigan for speaker

By Austin Berg

11/13/2018

Illinois House Rep.-elect Anne Stava-Murray is making an unprecedented call to dump the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history.

TAGS: Anne Stava-Murray, House Speaker, Mike Madigan, Scott Drury

Lame ducks: What Illinois taxpayers should watch for in veto session

By Mindy Ruckman

11/13/2018

Lawmakers, including 37 lame duck legislators, on Nov. 13 convened in Springfield for a veto session likely to feature political pensions and unfunded mandates.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, fall veto, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, municipal pensions, pensions, tobacco, Tobacco 21, veto

Illinois’ richest governor, meet the nation’s most powerful state lawmaker

By Austin Berg

11/08/2018

Pritzker’s money could offer Madigan’s House members cover should they dare to go against the speaker.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

Union dues at work: AFSCME gives $1.4 million to Madigan

By Mailee Smith

11/06/2018

State records show AFSCME has funneled at least $1.4 million to Michael Madigan and Madigan-controlled committees in the past five years – including at least $823,200 just this year.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, dues, Mike Madigan, unions

Nearly half of Illinois House candidates face no opponent

By Austin Berg

11/01/2018

House Speaker Mike Madigan has drawn Illinois’ legislative maps for three of the past four decades.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, election, fair maps, Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Senate, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

Who votes for Mike Madigan?

By Austin Berg

10/11/2018

The speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives remains a key campaign issue despite national headlines.

TAGS: House Speaker, Illinois House of Representatives, Mike Madigan

AFSCME funnels union dues to Mike Madigan

By Mailee Smith

09/27/2018

State records show AFSCME Council 31 funnels membership dues into its political action committee, which just gave a record-breaking $767,800 donation to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, campaign finance, Janus v. AFSCME, Mike Madigan

53 representatives sign on to letter opposing progressive tax

By Chris Lentino

09/06/2018

Taxpayers across Illinois oppose a progressive tax but many state lawmakers still refuse to stand up against House Speaker Mike Madigan’s progressive tax push.

TAGS: graduated income tax, income tax, Mike Madigan, progressive income tax, taxes