Illinois lawmakers want voters to have recall power over Madigan

12/10/2020

Two state lawmakers want to amend the Illinois Constitution so voters can recall elected leaders. There is a simpler path to fix the state’s corruption.

TAGS: Jason Barickman, Mark Batinick, Mike Madigan, recall

Madigan’s fiscal legacy: How the longest-serving state House speaker built Illinois’ mountain of debt

By Adam Schuster

08/26/2020

Decades of institutionalized financial mismanagement left Illinois with the nation’s worst fiscal health. Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has been at the center of nearly every bad decision along the way.

Corruption costs Illinois an estimated $556M per year

By Bryce Hill

08/25/2020

Illinois’ high levels of corruption damage the state’s economy, costing it $10.6 billion since 2000. States with higher levels of corruption average lower levels of economic growth.

TAGS: corruption, economic growth, ethics, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, tax burden

Unemployment mess leads lawmaker to push for Pritzker’s recall

05/27/2020

Citing the lack of action on the state unemployment claims system overwhelmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a state lawmaker begins the process to remove Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker from office.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker

Chinatown developer who recorded Madigan, Solis charged with fraud

03/18/2020

The developer’s recordings helped federal investigators charge Chicago Ald. Ed Burke and deepened the investigation into Illinois state corruption.

TAGS: corruption, Danny Solis, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, fraud, Mike Madigan

Blagojevich comes home to America’s most corrupt city

02/26/2020

Chicago and the state of Illinois are notorious around the country for high-profile corruption convictions. Rod Blagojevich settles back in after the former governor’s imprisonment for corruption.

TAGS: Chicago, conflict of interest, conviction, Cook County, cooling off period, corruption, ethics, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jeff Tobolski, lobbying, Martin Sandoval, Patrick Doherty, prison, red light cameras, revolving door, Rod Blagojevich, SafeSpeed, watchdog

Suburban mayor opposes adding 1,500 jobs as Illinois struggles with employment

02/24/2020

Amazon bought the old commercial property, but Bolingbrook’s mayor opposes putting 1,500 jobs on it. Illinois’ job growth was below the national average in 2019.

TAGS: Amazon, Bolingbrook, economic growth, employment, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor force participation rate, Roger Claar, unemployment, zoning

Records involving Madigan sought by federal probe into southwest Chicago suburb

By Brad Weisenstein

02/21/2020

Federal investigators are seeking records from a small village near Chicago. The subpoena names Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, his political lieutenants and former ComEd lobbyists.

TAGS: Chicago, Commonwealth Edison, conflict of interest, corruption, ethics, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, Kevin Quinn, Marty Quinn, Michael McClain, Mike Madigan, red light cameras, revolving door, Timothy Mapes

Illinois home to more public corruption convictions than any other state since 2000

02/20/2020

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s release from federal prison may be making room behind bars for other Illinois politicians. Illinois is the top state for corruption, and federal agents are busy looking for more.

TAGS: corruption, ethics, revolving door

Blagojevich returns to an Illinois as corrupt as he left it

By Austin Berg

02/20/2020

Illinois’ political leadership learned nothing from the Blagojevich nightmare. And now it may be coming back to bite them.

TAGS: Commonwealth Edison, commutation, corruption, Donald Trump, ethics task force, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, Mike Madigan, Rod Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich

Illinois lawmakers want voters to have recall power over Madigan

Madigan’s fiscal legacy: How the longest-serving state House speaker built Illinois’ mountain of debt

Corruption costs Illinois an estimated $556M per year

Unemployment mess leads lawmaker to push for Pritzker’s recall

Chinatown developer who recorded Madigan, Solis charged with fraud

Blagojevich comes home to America’s most corrupt city

Suburban mayor opposes adding 1,500 jobs as Illinois struggles with employment

Records involving Madigan sought by federal probe into southwest Chicago suburb

Illinois home to more public corruption convictions than any other state since 2000

Blagojevich returns to an Illinois as corrupt as he left it

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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