PHOTO BY ALAN SOLOMON/TNS A name from the past has been leading the charge for Jason Gonzales’ Democratic primary campaign against Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Blair Hull, the hugely wealthy but unsuccessful 2004 Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, directly accounts for $100,000 of the $300,000 which the Illinois United for Change PAC has raised […]
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan
Posted inOpinion
Rauner’s TV ad is all bark, no bite
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s much-anticipated TV ad isn’t as over-the-top negative as we might have thought it would be. “Exactly,” was the response from a Rauner official I spoke with after watching the ad and making that above observation about its somewhat muted tone. “There’s plenty of time for that if it’s necessary,” the official added. […]
Posted inOpinion
Will Rauner compromise or compete with Madigan?
Last December, Bruce Rauner appeared on a WLS Radio talk show program and revealed that he planned to form a new campaign committee to counter the power of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. “We’re gonna raise a PAC, we’re gonna raise a fund dedicated to the state Legislature, members of both parties who take the […]
Posted inOpinion
Paying for the Obama presidential library
It’s been assumed all along that Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s proposal to spend $100 million to help build Barack Obama’s presidential library was designed to put the Republicans on the spot and perhaps provoke an over the top, maybe even racial response, which would help gin up Democratic turnout a bit this November. President […]
Posted inOpinion
Madigan and Rauner tool up
Worries about low Democratic turnout in an off-year election for an unpopular governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner’s millions in campaign spending are obviously driving much of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s personal legislative agenda this year. “If you’re an African-American on the South Side, what motivates you to vote for Pat Quinn when […]
Posted inOpinion
Miller on Madigan
The rich irony of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan denouncing somebody else for attempting to be a “kingmaker” is so obvious and laughable that I can’t help but wonder why a guy who’s been a take no prisoners kingmaker himself for so long in this state would ever think of saying such a thing. You […]
Posted inOpinion
Did Lisa lie?
“Ask her,” Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan told a Sun-Times reporter last week. The journalist wanted to know why Madigan’s daughter Lisa would consider running for governor knowing that the father had no plans to step down as Speaker. So I tried to ask her. But I didn’t get very far. Attorney General Lisa Madigan, […]
Posted inOpinion
Cartoonish charades at Statehouse
Nobody ever really knows what’s going through Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s head except for Madigan himself. So, the actual purpose of two highly choreographed gun control and pension reform debates last week ordered up by Madigan weren’t completely clear to anyone. That’s by design, of course. Madigan prefers to keep people in the dark […]
Posted inOpinion
Madigan machine moves heaven and earth
There’s nothing quite like the spectacle of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan when he’s out to get somebody. Just ask state Rep. Skip Saviano, R-Elmwood Park. The two men used to be allies, even friends. Saviano supported Madigan’s daughter when Lisa ran for state attorney general. But then Lisa turned against Saviano’s political mentor, the […]
