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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute News


Emails detail Madigan's use of ComEd as crony job service

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Emails between indicted former employees of ComEd show hiring at the company was based on what Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan wanted.

Illinois cell phone taxes highest in nation

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Nearly one-third of the cell phone bills in Illinois are taxes

Pritzker demands answers from Madigan as more Illinois lawmakers seek resignation

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Madigan already had lost enough support to end his 35-year run as House speaker, but the gap continued to widen as Illinois’ governor added his rebuke.

Madigan opposition hits critical mass as his confidant, three others charged in ComEd bribery scandal

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
The indictments are the closest yet to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s inner circle. Now enough Democrats are pledging they won’t support him to cost him the speaker’s gavel.

Man who recorded Madigan, led Burke charges, pleads guilty

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
A Chinatown developer made the recording in 2014, which is still a piece to a lengthy federal investigation.

Pritzker renews push to end federal oversight of state hiring

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
The federal court system has been watching Illinois for patronage hiring since 1972. There’s little evidence the problem is fixed.

Illinois ballots don't give voters plain language behind 'Fair Tax' amendment

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
The amendment’s ballot language misleads voters about what a graduated income tax would do if passed Nov. 3 in Illinois.

Madigan gives $2 million to Illinois Democratic Party, its largest donation in history

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Undaunted by his implication in a bribery scandal, Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan within the past month transferred $3.25 million to the state party.

Sen. Terry Link latest 'Fair Tax' supporter to resign amid corruption charge

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Five key supporters of the progressive tax in the Illinois General Assembly are facing corruption probes. Four have been charged. Three have resigned.

Investigative committee begins hearings into Madigan misconduct

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
It’s the third time in 20 years a committee has been formed to investigate misconduct by a state lawmaker. Day 1 was brief.

Pritzker hits Metro East with new restrictions on businesses

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Some activities allowed under the state’s Phase 4 reopening plan have been pulled back.

Pritzker again pushes criminalizing businesses for failing to follow his COVID-19 orders

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is again turning to criminal penalties to gain compliance with his coronavirus mandates. He is targeting small business owners for mask violations.

Pritzker benches fall football, puts COVID-19 restrictions on other amateur sports

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Fall’s most popular high school sports lost out as public health, sports and academic leaders put pandemic restrictions on youth, high school and adult amateur sports starting Aug. 15.

AT&T gets subpoena in Madigan probe

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Federal investigators are looking into Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s relationship with multiple corporations.

Federal investigators digging deeper into Pritzker's $331K property tax break

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Pritzker infamously removed toilets from his Gold Coast mansion in what the Cook County inspector general called a “scheme to defraud” taxpayers.

Illinois gas tax set for automatic increase July 1

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
State lawmakers last summer doubled Illinois’ gas tax to help pay for capital projects. Each year the gas tax automatically rises, shielding lawmakers from responsibility for hikes.

63 former state lawmakers receiving more than $100K pensions

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois’ broken pension system puts $100,000 a year or more into the hands of 63 former state lawmakers. It has paid more than $1 million to 95 of them.

Pritzker’s toilet removal contractor gets nearly $9M in COVID-19 work

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
The contractor who removed toilets from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mansion in a $331,000 property tax scandal received a nearly $9 million COVID-19 contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The contractor hadn’t worked with the Corps in 76 years.

Illinois tops list for harshest COVID-19 restrictions in America

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois was ranked as the most restrictive state in the U.S. in a survey of COVID-19 actions that impact everyday life.

Local government spending could soon be easier for Illinois taxpayers to track

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
A bill to make more public records readily available would better show taxpayers how local governments spend money.