Springfield lawmakers passed a ceremonial resolution March 8 congratulating the Chicago Cubs on winning the 2016 World Series. But that pat on the back doesn’t make up for the adversarial relationship politicians have held with the Cubs and other professional sports franchises in Chicago.
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.
Senate Bill 63 would make signature requirements to get on the ballot uniform for all candidates.
The Illinois State Board of Elections is accusing state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, who is now running for mayor of Calumet City, of misusing thousands of dollars of campaign funds.
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.
Chicago Democrat Mike Madigan will hold the speakership for a record 17th time.
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...
2017 will usher in more transparency and opportunity in areas from criminal justice to government employee expenses to pensions.
This year was full of corruption and mismanagement from public officials, but four instances in particular stand out.
January 2017 will see a new General Assembly, but the lame duck session casts a long shadow over the new legislature.