Illinois ethics panel begins with small ethical lapse

12/23/2019

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed a former state lawmaker to his panel on ethics and lobbying. Trouble was, the lawmaker had recently worked as a lobbyist.

TAGS: Christine Radogno, ComEd, ethics, ethics task force, federal investigation, Heather Steans, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, JB Pritzker, lawmakers, lobbying, Michael McClain, Mike Madigan, revolving door, Rod Blagojevich, Springfield

Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno resigns

By Austin Berg

06/29/2017

The longtime lawmaker from Lemont, Illinois, will step down in the wake of the Senate’s failed “grand bargain.”

TAGS: Christine Radogno, Illinois Senate

Day 5: Illinois House and Senate adjourn special session after only 17 minutes

By Eric Kohn

06/25/2017

Five days of special session have cost Illinois taxpayers an additional $250,000 for less than 90 minutes of work.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Christine Radogno, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Jim Durkin, Mike Madigan, special session

Day 4: Illinois House and Senate adjourn special session after only 16 minutes

By Eric Kohn

06/25/2017

Four days of special session have cost Illinois taxpayers an additional $200,000 for less than 80 minutes of work.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Christine Radogno, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, special session

Constitutional amendment term limiting legislative leaders advances

05/19/2017

A bill that would apply term limits to legislative leaders in the Illinois House and Senate cleared a major hurdle May 19, and is scheduled for a second reading May 22.

TAGS: Christine Radogno, Illinois Senate, term limits

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

The latest budget proposal for Illinois: A no-tax-hike plan

By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner

04/08/2017

The Taxpayer Bargain finally shifts the budget conversation in favor of taxpayers over politicians, with a plan that balances the state budget without tax hikes.

TAGS: budget, Christine Radogno, Dan McConchie, grand bargain, Illinois Senate, John Cullerton, Kyle McCarter

‘Grand bargain’ would cut private sector pay and continue government worker perks

By Michael Lucci

03/28/2017

Illinois state government works to prioritize special interests over taxpayers – and the budget deal being negotiated in the Senate would continue that.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, budget, Christine Radogno, grand bargain, manufacturing, outmigration, property taxes, taxes

Illinois Senate’s spending “cap” doesn’t protect taxpayers, core services

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/08/2017

The Senate’s “grand bargain” contains a one-year spending “cap” that won’t improve fiscal responsibility. A real cap must come with structural spending reforms to return spending to a level that taxpayers can afford.

TAGS: budget, Christine Radogno, grand bargain, Illinois Senate, John Cullerton, spending

Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools

By Chris Lentino

03/06/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner has suggested funding CPS with tax increment financing, or TIF, funds; this would temporarily bail out the district, but more needs to be done to address serious concerns about Chicago’s TIF program.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Christine Radogno, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, grand bargain, Illinois Senate, John Cullerton, TIF: Tax Increment Financing