6 key reasons to say ‘no’ to Flynn Currie pension bill in the Illinois House

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/17/2017

Illinois state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie has introduced a pension bill that is unfair to new and current workers, is potentially unconstitutional, bails out Chicago Public Schools’ pensions, and perpetuates Illinois’ broken pension system.

TAGS: Barbara Flynn Currie, budget, Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Jim Durkin, pensions

Democracy in Illinois is a shell game

By Austin Berg

04/13/2017

House Speaker Mike Madigan and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin used shell bills to avoid the March 31 deadline for bills to pass out of committee. Madigan passed 936 shell bills. Durkin passed 528. Meanwhile, thousands of substantive bills died without so much as a committee hearing.

TAGS: ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Jim Durkin, Mike Madigan

Illinois comptroller issues self, lawmakers paychecks despite appeal of circuit court’s ruling

By Greg Bishop

04/12/2017

Rank-and-file lawmakers have received paychecks of more than $50,800.

TAGS: Christine Radogno, Jim Durkin, John Cullerton, lawmaker pay, Leslie Munger, Lisa Madigan, Mike Madigan, Susana Mendoza

Luxembourg’s ambassador sends letter to Illinois House leaders

By Brendan Bakala

03/31/2017

Luxembourg’s ambassador to the United States has voiced objections to an Illinois House bill that would label Luxembourg a tax haven and subject corporations expatriated there to restrictions on investments and business dealings with the state of Illinois.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Christian Mitchell, grand bargain, Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Investment Policy Board, Jim Durkin, John D’Amico, Katie Stuart, Lawrence Walsh Jr., Martin Moylan, Mike Madigan, Sam Yingling, Silvana Tabares, Stephanie Kifowit, Sue Scherer

Unbalanced Budget Response Act would allow Rauner to make cuts to balance the budget

By Amy Korte

03/28/2017

Illinois House Bill 3868 would give Gov. Bruce Rauner the authority to trim costs and reorder the state’s spending priorities to balance the budget.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, budget, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, debt, Fitch Ratings, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Constitution, Jim Durkin, Mike Madigan, spending, unpaid bills

What Illinois college students should know before meeting with Rauner, lawmakers

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

02/13/2017

What’s making college unaffordable for Illinois students isn’t budget gridlock, it’s soaring administrative costs in higher education.

TAGS: higher education

Madigan makes history while Illinois’ middle class races toward extinction

By Austin Berg

01/12/2017

At the end of his term in 2019, Madigan will be the longest-serving House speaker of any state in modern U.S. history.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Madigan set to become longest-serving House speaker in modern U.S. history

By Austin Berg

01/11/2017

Chicago Democrat Mike Madigan will hold the speakership for a record 17th time.

TAGS: ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Mike Madigan

Madigan’s rules: How Illinois gives its House speaker power to manipulate and control the legislative process

By Joe Tabor, Ted Dabrowski

01/04/2017

The little-known legislative rules that govern the legislative process in the Illinois House of Representatives give the House speaker extraordinary power to orchestrate the legislative or political outcomes he or she wants. Those rules allow the speaker to influence the makeup of legislative committees; how lawmakers vote; and when, if ever, the bills get voted...

Madigan declines to attend leadership meeting with Rauner

By Eric Kohn

11/14/2016

The Nov. 8 election saw Madigan lose his supermajority in the Illinois General Assembly. Now, two Democrats are calling on the speaker to present his solution set for a state in fiscal crisis before pledging to vote for his re-election as House speaker.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan

Jim Durkin

6 key reasons to say ‘no’ to Flynn Currie pension bill in the Illinois House

Democracy in Illinois is a shell game

Illinois comptroller issues self, lawmakers paychecks despite appeal of circuit court’s ruling

Luxembourg’s ambassador sends letter to Illinois House leaders

Unbalanced Budget Response Act would allow Rauner to make cuts to balance the budget

What Illinois college students should know before meeting with Rauner, lawmakers

Madigan makes history while Illinois’ middle class races toward extinction

Madigan set to become longest-serving House speaker in modern U.S. history

Madigan’s rules: How Illinois gives its House speaker power to manipulate and control the legislative process

Madigan declines to attend leadership meeting with Rauner

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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