THE ILLINOIZE: Monday Free for All...Ethics (or lack thereof)...Madigan...Transit
June 9, 2025
Good morning, Illinois.
We hope you had a great weekend. After last week’s post-session haze, 2026 races may be coming into focus.
The House and Senate are out. There’s nothing on the Governor’s public schedule today.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR MONDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets, because good journalism isn’t free)
Ethics legislation stalls in Springfield as Senate president tries ‘brazen’ move that would have helped his election case (Chicago Tribune)
In the closing hours of the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session, Senate President Don Harmon tried to pass legislation that would have wiped clean a potential multimillion-dollar fine against his political campaign committee for violating election finance laws he championed years ago.
Harmon’s move came against the backdrop of the former Illinois House speaker’s upcoming sentencing for corruption and abuse of power and almost instantly created a bipartisan legislative controversy that resulted in the bill never getting called for a vote.
The Oak Park Democrat’s maneuver, characterized by critics as “brazen” and self-serving, also raises anew questions about how seriously political leaders are trying to improve ethical standards in a state government the electorate already holds in low regard.
Blowback to Harmon’s action, particularly from inside the House Democratic caucus, was so severe it derailed an entire package of new election measures that would have required severe warnings about penalties for noncitizen voting, mandated curbside voting access for the disabled, broadened the ability of voters to cast ballots in centralized locations and provided more detailed public information about voting results.
“This is a terrible look,” said state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat who recalled being one of several who spoke out in a closed-door House Democratic caucus meeting. “I don’t recommend that anybody in our caucus take a vote like that. There was not a single person in that caucus that could defend that vote. … There was a visceral reaction to it in caucus — both to the substance of it and the lack of forewarning.”
But in an interview with the Tribune, Harmon repeatedly maintained his effort was justified and disputed criticism that it was self-serving.
Michael Madigan's wife makes video plea to judge: 'He loves me … I'm a part of him' (Chicago Sun-Times)
In a poignant video filed with Chicago’s federal court Friday ahead of her husband’s sentencing, the wife of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan worried what life would be without him by her side, saying, “I really don’t exist without him.”
Shirley Madigan talked about dating her husband, how he came to be a father to former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and how she came to struggle with various health issues. Without Michael Madigan, she said, “I would probably have to find care.”
“He loves me,” Shirley Madigan said of the once-powerful Southwest Side Democrat. “Not only does he love me, but I’m a part of him. … There’s some days I keep him going.”
“He keeps me going sometimes too,” she explained. “But I think that the impact that I’ve had on him has been much, much larger.”
Shirley Madigan appeared in the video sitting on a couch. A blue facemask hung around her neck, and she wore purple gloves. Family photos could be seen in the 8-minute video. And at one point, Michael Madigan could be seen helping his wife from her seat.
“It was very difficult for me not to be at the trial,” Shirley Madigan said. “Because he knows that I want to be there. And he wants me there. You know? Even if it’s just to look at.”
Shirley Madigan missed most of her husband’s trial, and in the video she discussed suffering from COVID-19, pneumonia and an irregular heartbeat.
The video began with Shirley Madigan comparing her marriage to the tale of “The Velveteen Rabbit,” in which the question is asked “how do you know when you’re real?”
Here’s the video.
Related: Madigan attorneys say feds’ call for 12.5-year sentence is ‘draconian’; prosecutors say he’s worth $40 million in new court filings (Chicago Tribune)
‘This is a real cliff’: Cuts loom as Illinois lawmakers can’t agree on transit reform, revenue (Daily Herald)
For months, the Regional Transportation Authority has warned of massive service cuts if the Illinois General Assembly fails to rescue transit from a $771 million “fiscal cliff” in 2026, the result of federal COVID-19 aid drying up.
On May 31, the Senate passed a bill with reforms and funding but the House balked and the legislative session ended with transit issues unresolved.
That means 40% reductions to Metra, Pace and CTA trains and buses, right?
Maybe, maybe not. Let’s unpack the knowns and unknowns.
What will the House do?
“We will continue to meet through the summer, and work toward the goal of significant transit reform so we can ultimately fund a system that works for everyone,” said Democratic state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado of Chicago, a key player in the transit debate this session.
Democratic state Rep. Mary Beth Canty of Arlington Heights thinks it’s likely House members find consensus on governance reforms. Those include replacing the RTA with a more powerful Northern Illinois Transit Authority, which would control funding and create a unified fare system.
“Then what we have to do is start talking through all the funding opportunities. There are going to be some that are OK for folks, but we want to make sure we’re not causing unnecessary harm to the residents of Illinois,” Canty said.
Insiders predict the issue may come down to the fall veto session, which may be a little dicey.
“This is a real cliff. This is a real crisis; we need this resolved ASAP,” Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Ram Villivalam said.
Related: Legislative leaders discuss next steps for failed transit reform push (Capitol News Illinois)
Editorial: The transit failure: If crisis is to be averted this summer, lawmakers will need something better than ‘spitballing’ (Daily Herald)
TOP STORIES LAST WEEK ON THEILLINOIZE.COM
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
Illinois’ $55.2B budget ‘incomplete,’ Civic Federation president says (Capitol News Illinois)
Why Illinois' budget grew from $40 billion to $55.2 billion in 6 years (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Illinois rental assistance program sees funding cut for 2026 budget in another blow to state, city housing programs (Chicago Tribune)
Property tax foreclosure reform is put off by Illinois legislators (Chicago Sun-Times)
Elburn village president hopes to challenge Foster for seat in Congress (Daily Herald)
Editorial: A new chance for school choice in Illinois (Chicago Tribune)
Rauner: Don’t lower the bar for Illinois students (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Pritzker’s record-high budget: More spending, more taxes (Daily Herald)
Opinion: State's slow-growth economy produces disappointing revenues (Champaign News-Gazette)
Opinion: Public officials must cut the fat before begging for taxpayer bailouts (Chicago Tribune)
A message, but no setback: For Bears project, legislative inaction seems to say more about how rather than where (Daily Herald)
Opinion: The conversation about new sports stadiums in Chicago just got simpler (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: GOP won’t let Welch escape criticism for backing sports complex at alma mater (Shaw Media)
Opinion: Senators Durbin, Simon and importance of public service (Quad-City Times)
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