iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app

Mike Madigan

Madigan Pitches Fix For Country's Worst-Funded State Pension System

Reuters | Posted 05.01.2013 | Chicago

By Karen Pierog CHICAGO, April 30 (Reuters) - Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on Tuesday proposed a comprehensive plan to fix t...

No Deal In State Pension Crisis Talks

Posted 01.06.2013 | Chicago

Despite a hopeful breakthrough in the Illinois pension crisis, legislative leaders ended talks Saturday without a deal. "There's no resolution to...

Illinois Dragging Its Feet On Worst-In-Nation Pension Crisis

AP | SARA BURNETT | Posted 12.30.2012 | Chicago

CHICAGO -- Illinois, a state with a reputation for political wheeling and dealing, backroom handshakes and 11th-hour bargains, is dragging its feet on...

Election Winners and Losers in Illinois

Kyle Hillman | Posted 01.09.2013 | Chicago
Kyle Hillman

Elections have consequences and none more so than in Illinois. While the obvious places of change (State House & Senate and Congressional races) became clear throughout Tuesday night, the less obvious is becoming clearer everyday after.

State GOP Sets Up 'Fire Madigan' Web Store

Posted 08.27.2012 | Chicago

Turns out Gov. Pat Quinn might not be the only Illinois Democrat who'd prefer to forget a markedly less-than-stellar showing at the State Fair earlier...

Mike Madigan's 11 Favorite Republicans

Doug Ibendahl | Posted 08.13.2012 | Chicago
Doug Ibendahl

The main reason we need direct elections is accountability. Regardless of who gets on the State Central Committee, at least they will all be accountable to Republican voters in a real election.

Recently Arrested Chicago Democrat Wins Primary

Reuters | Posted 05.20.2012 | Chicago

By Andrew Stern CHICAGO, March 20 (Reuters) - A Democratic state lawmaker from Chicago charged last week with accepting a bribe overw...

Lawmakers To Voters: Elect Recently Arrested Politician

Posted 03.19.2012 | Chicago

A coalition of West Side Chicago Democrats rallied on Sunday behind state Rep. Derrick Smith, the lawmaker who was arrested last week on the federal c...

Joseph Erbentraut

Two Lesbian Activists Square Off In Statehouse Race

HuffingtonPost.com | Joseph Erbentraut | Posted 02.22.2012 | Chicago

When long-time Chicago lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activist Kelly Cassidy was appointed last spring to the Illinois Statehouse of Represent...

Report: Governor, State Legislature 'Must Act Now' On Unpaid Bills

Posted 01.30.2012 | Chicago

A budget watchdog group that has repeatedly criticized the state's handling of its finances once again called on lawmakers to do something about Illin...

Pension Reform: Mike Madigan's Last Chance for a Positive Legacy

Keith Koeneman | Posted 01.15.2012 | Chicago
Keith Koeneman

If Speaker Madigan does nothing on pensions and fiscal reform, the history of his political career is already written: three decades of power as the State of Illinois declined.

Michael Madigan Attends John Boehner Fund-raiser In Lemont

Chicago Sun-Times | Posted 10.24.2011 | Chicago

Talk about strange bedfellows. Two weeks ago, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) came to Hinsdale to raise money for Republicans to fight the...

Illinois Gambling Expansion: Lawmakers Consider Adding Casinos, Slot Machines

AP | CHRISTOPHER WILLS | Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers are taking a new look at expanded gambling as a way to reduce the state's massive budget deficit. Lawmak...

Blagojevich Rips Tax Hike, Madigan Spokesman Calls Him A 'Sociopath'

Chicago Sun-Times | Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago

SPRINGFIELD -- Besides his taped, profanity-laced conversations and impeachment, Rod Blagojevich is remembered for keeping a lid on the state income t...

'Do Or Die' For Massive Illinois Tax Hike

AP | DEANNA BELLANDI | Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Democrats in the Illinois House voted Tuesday to raise income taxes by two-thirds in a desperate and politically risky effor...

Joe Berrios WINS County Assessor Race: Defeats Reformer Claypool

Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago

Democrat Joe Berrios won the hotly contested Cook County Assessor race Tuesday, defeating Independent Forrest Claypool. Berrios currently serves on ...

Blagojevich Drama A Campaign Distraction For Illinois Democrats

AP | DEANNA BELLANDI and CHRISTOPHER WILLS | Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Alexi Giannoulias had planned to talk jobs. The Democrat in a tight race for President Barack Obama's former Senate seat wan...

GOP's Snark-Heavy Fundraiser For Madigan's 'Opponent'

Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago

Thursday evening, the Illinois Republican Party is hosting a fundraising event for Patrick John Ryan, the challenger to Democratic House Speaker Micha...

Vacation Time in Springfield?

Matt Farmer | Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago
Matt Farmer

The real fixes for our state's budget crisis -- fixes that will likely include both an income tax hike and some deep spending cuts -- are being put off, for reasons purely political, until after Election Day.

Madigan's University Of Illinois Admissions Clout: Relatives Of House Speaker's Donors And Friends Accepted

Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago

A Chicago Tribune investigation revealed Wednesday that House Speaker Michael Madigan used his influence to gain admission for relatives of his campai...

Illinois Pension Reform: Legislature Approves Massive Overhaul

Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago

Facing the most serious unfunded liability in the country, and the prospects of a tanking bond rating, Illinois legislators passed sweeping reforms to...

Democrats Pick 17 Finalists For Lt. Governor Nomination

Chicago Sun-Times | Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago

Following a statewide cattle call of more than 100 aspiring lieutenant governors, Democratic party officials picked 17 names to advance to the finals ...

Quinn Budget Contains No Funding For Lieutenant Governor's Office

Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago

The already bleak future of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in Illinois got a bit bleaker last week with Governor Pat Quinn's new budget announc...

Pat Quinn's Budget Address: The Morning After

Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago

Pat Quinn criticized his own budget address while proposing it on Wednesday, and after the speech many writers and politicians were happy to share the...

Sorry, Carol, Forrest Missed His Chance for 2010

Marcel Pacatte | Posted 05.25.2011 | Chicago
Marcel Pacatte

Carol Marin is the latest to try to make us all feel sorry for poor little Forrest Claypool and his quixotic attempt to worm his way onto the ballot as an independent for Cook County assessor.