Buried in the House rules lawmakers passed in January are a dozen new committees, bringing the total number of standing committees in the House to 45. Committee chairs receive a $10,326 stipend annually.

The speaker’s law firm makes millions in the clout-heavy game of Cook County property tax appeals.

No other state in the country grants as much power to its House speaker as Illinois does to Mike Madigan.

The Illinois House should change its legislative rules to diminish the control they give the House speaker over the legislative process, which far exceeds the power that other states grant their legislative leaders.

The Senate on Inauguration Day took action to limit the power of its legislative leaders. Meanwhile, House Democrats re-elected Mike Madigan as House speaker, ensuring he will become the longest-tenured legislative leader in modern American history.

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