Month: January 2019

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Illinois House Democrats Are The Only Legislative Caucus To Not Have Leadership Term Limits

At least 31 House Dems, including 3 members of Speaker Madigan’s leadership team, have stated they support or are open to some form of leadership term limits

 

“The people of Illinois do not vote for legislative leaders, but they strongly support the concept of term limits. That’s why Illinoisans deserve the opportunity to amend the constitution via a binding ballot referendum and term limit the four legislative leaders. Governor Pritzker, all members of the State Senate, all House Republicans, and at least 31 House Democrats, including 3 members of Speaker Madigan’s leadership team, have voiced support for some form of leadership term limits.

“There is a bipartisan super-majority that supports leadership term limits. The votes are there to pass a constitutional amendment referendum in both chambers. It’s time for the General Assembly to finally act on this critical issue and take one step towards restoring the people’s control over state government.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

 

Three of the four legislative caucuses in the Illinois General Assembly have instituted some form of leadership term limits.

Through a unanimously-adopted resolution of their chamber rules, Illinois Senate Democrats and Republicans imposed a five-term, ten-year limit on the Senate President and minority leader for the 101st General Assembly. The Senate first enacted this term limit in the 100th General Assembly. That resolution was also unanimously-adopted.

Illinois House Republicans have enacted term limits on their caucus leader via their caucus rules.

And even Governor J.B. Pritzker has stated he supports leadership term limits.

That leaves the Illinois House Democrats – the only legislative caucus without some form of leadership term limits. The House Democratic caucus has been led by Speaker Michael Madigan for decades – 18 terms as Speaker of the House and several more terms as minority leader – but that doesn’t mean House Democrats are opposed to leadership term limits.

At least 31 House Democrats, including 3 members of Speaker Madigan’s leadership team, have affirmatively stated that they support or are open to some form of leadership term limits or term limits on all legislators.

Here are House Democrats in their own words:

Kelly Cassidy: “Yes… I have cosponsored legislation creating leadership term limits.” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Asst. Majority Leader Linda Chapa LaVia: “Chapa LaVia pointed out… that she has voted for term limits for the legislative leadership.” (The Beacon-News, 2/10/17)

Deb Conroy: “I am supportive of leadership term limits.” (Daily Herald candidate questionnaire, 10/15/18)

Melissa Conyears Ervin: “I believe voters could benefit from having new voices and new ideas on a regular basis. But if term limits are going to be applied to the legislature, they should be applied so they include statewide officials, as well.” (Chicago Sun-Times candidate questionnaire)

Terra Costa Howard: “I think term limits sound like a really good idea to voters who are frustrated with unresponsive governments and legislative deadlock.” (Daily Herald candidate questionnaire, 10/10/18)

Jerry Costello, II: “Costello said he supports term limits for the leadership of the General Assembly.” (Republic-Times, 7/18/18)

Asst. Majority Leader Fred Crespo: “I support term limits for legislators as well as constitutional officers.”  Daily Herald candidate questionnaire, 10/13/16)

Anthony DeLuca: Introduced a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would prohibit State Representatives and State Senators from serving more than 3 terms in their respective chambers  (HJRCA 1, 101st G.A.)

Mary Edly-Allen: “While term limits on leaders may help, the only way to keep so much power out of the hands of so few is to overhaul our campaign finance system and limit the amount of money in our elections.” (Daily Herald, 10/31/18)

Sara Feigenholtz: “Yes, [I support term limits for legislative leadership positions].” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Robyn Gabel: “I support term limits for leadership and proposed such legislation in 2011.” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz: “I believe in term limits for legislative leadership because those positions are not directly elected by the voters of Illinois.” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Mike Halpin: “Halpin ok with term limits for leadership positions” (WHBF-TV, 9/12/16)

Fran Hurley: “I do support term limits on leadership positions.” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Stephanie Kifowit: “I am open to considering proposals for leadership term limits.” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Theresa Mah: “I do support term limits for legislative leaders.” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Asst. Majority Leader Natalie Manley: “If a term limit proposal ever appears on a ballot, I will support whatever decision my constituents make.” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Joyce Mason: “I am supportive of term limits for legislative leaders.” (Daily Herald candidate questionnaire, 10/23/18)

Rita Mayfield: “I support term limits at every level: local, county, state and federal.” (Daily Herald candidate questionnaire, 10/13/16)

Bob Morgan: “I support term limits for legislative leaders to ensure that voices from across Illinois are heard in the lawmaking process.” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Marty Moylan: “I support term limits for legislators.” (Daily Herald candidate questionnaire, 10/12/18)

Michelle Mussman: “I support giving voters a say in a constitutional amendment to establish term limits for statewide and legislative offices.” (www.votemichelle.org/issues)

Diane Pappas: “I believe in a democracy it should be up to the voters, not the legislature, to decide whether Illinois should adopt term limits via a referendum placed on the ballot.” (Daily Herald candidate questionnaire, 10/12/18)

Delia Ramirez: “I am open to considering legislation that establishes term limits but cannot offer unilateral support on this issue without seeing the specific language for the legislation being proposed.” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Lamont Robinson, Jr.: “Voters should decide their representation, but we should lean towards limiting decades-long legacies from developing. I think 20 years is plenty of time to perfect your craft and really make improvements in your districts. I will commit to sponsoring legislation to that end.” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Anne Stava-Murray: “Term limits for legislative leaders are necessary to avoid dangerous consolidations of power.” (Daily Herald candidate questionnaire, 10/22/18)

Karina Villa: “Villa supports term limits for all state representatives, including Madigan.” (Daily Herald, 9/24/18)

Mark Walker: “Yes, I think there should be term limits on legislative leaders and I would vote in favor of this.” (Daily Herald candidate questionnaire, 10/12/18)

Ann Williams: “I’m open to limits on leadership, though I don’t believe there will ever be another leader who will serve as long as the Speaker so I don’t think the issue will be very relevant in the future.” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Lance Yednock: “What [Yednock] is certain about is term limits… [Yednock] believes a decade is enough time for one individual to hold office but is open to discussing alternative limits.” (The Times, 10/20/18)

Sam Yingling: “I have always supported term limits…Yes, [I support term limits for legislative leadership positions].” (Chicago Tribune candidate questionnaire)

Republican State Rep. Tim Butler is currently carrying a leadership term limit constitutional amendment in the House, HJRCA 12. Democratic State Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant is currently carrying a similar measure in the Senate, SJRCA 3. Last session, Senate Republican leader Bill Brady also carried a similar measure, SJRCA 2, that had bipartisan support.

There is a bipartisan supermajority that supports leadership term limits. It’s time for the General Assembly to finally act on this critical issue and take one step towards restoring the people’s control over state government.

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ICYMI: Corrupt Chicago Alderman Referred Legal Business To Mike Madigan, FBI Recorded The Meeting

“From what I’m hearing, there’s lots more to come out on the speaker.”

In a bombshell report from the Chicago Sun-Times, a court affidavit revealed Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan was the subject of a secret FBI recording.

In 2014, Chicago Alderman Danny Solis arranged a meeting between Madigan and a real estate developer concerning legal business with Madigan’s property tax appeals law firm, Madigan and Getzendanner. Solis is alleged to have told an associate of the developer that “if [the developer] works with the speaker, [the developer] will get anything he needs for that hotel… [the developer]’s going to benefit from being with the speaker . . . okay?”

Speaker Madigan has denied any wrongdoing, but one reporter is saying that he’s heard “there’s lots more to come out on the speaker.” The revelation dominated yesterday’s news:

Chicago Sun-Times: FBI secretly recorded Mike Madigan at his law office pitching firm’s services

The FBI secretly recorded Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan trying to get business for his private law firm from a developer brought to him by Ald. Danny Solis, who was weighing the developer’s request to build a hotel in Chinatown, according to a federal court affidavit obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

…Madigan’s law firm’s legal fees were discussed during the meeting — and the Southwest Side Democrat  made it clear he wanted more than a short-term deal with the developer.

“We’re not interested in a quick killing here,” Madigan said during the meeting. “We’re interested in a long-term relationship.”

 

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Corruption in Chicago — and what nobody has to say

…A developer in 2014 wanted to build a hotel in Chinatown, but he needed a zoning change. So he asked Ald. Danny Solis (25th) for a letter of support.

Solis hemmed and hawed through the summer. Then he invited the developer and an associate of the developer to a meeting with Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, who runs a law firm that does property tax work.

At some point in the meeting, according to the affidavit, Madigan said his law firm would like to do tax work for the developer. Solis chimed in to say there was “no better firm” to do such work.

Three days later, the developer’s associate called Solis to tell him the developer had agreed to hire Madigan’s law firm.

 

Chicago Sun-Times: Pritzker has little to say about Madigan being recorded by feds

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday that public officials should avoid outside occupations that conflict with their public responsibilities — but he said he did not know whether House Speaker Mike Madigan had done so.

And the newly seated Democratic governor declined to offer any opinions on a report by the Chicago Sun-Times that revealed Madigan was recorded by authorities in his private law office as they investigated Ald. Danny Solis.

 

Chicago Tribune Editorial: ‘Operation Illinois Politics’: The FBI is on the prowl

The investigation has reached blockbuster status: The FBI has surreptitiously recorded the speaker of the Illinois House as well as Chicago’s two most influential aldermen — City Council committee chairmen who’ve overseen zoning and finances.

…Some of those federally-enshrined chats were with the second alderman, Edward Burke, whom the U.S. Department of Justice has accused of attempted extortion. Prosecutors have released only fragments from a few of the thousands of Burke telephone conversations they wiretapped with judicial permission.

Then there’s that other pol who spoke into a little microphone. The opening of a news story that reverberated Tuesday through this city’s, this state’s, corridors of power: The FBI secretly recorded Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan trying to get business for his private law firm from a developer brought to him by Ald. Danny Solis, who was weighing the developer’s request to build a hotel in Chinatown, according to a federal court affidavit obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

 

Chicago Tribune: House Speaker Michael Madigan’s public and private roles back in spotlight after bombshell involving Ald. Danny Solis

…Madigan has faced several probes over his decades in office, including into allegations of government staffers doing political work, patronage hiring at Metra, and a university union contract dispute involving a top campaign donor. While critics have raised questions about Madigan’s ethics, he has never been charged.

But it’s Madigan’s public career as House speaker and private career as founder and rainmaker of one of Chicago’s top property tax appeals law firms that has come under the most consistent scrutiny over the years. The Tribune’s 2010 “The Madigan Rules” series showed that in some cases, Madigan took public actions that benefited his private clients, and he and the firm have faced criticism over the years for representing clients that also have business before the state.

…Some of Madigan’s decisions as speaker have the potential to affect someone who has hired Madigan’s firm in hopes of having a tax bill lowered. The Tribune has reported that as a public official, Madigan got a private road behind a shopping mall repaved, helped secure state funding for an expanded tollway interchange and intervened for a developer looking for state cash. In each case, Madigan was a private lawyer for businesspeople who stood to benefit.

 

Crain’s Chicago Business: Mike Madigan shocker rocks state, city politics

Mike Madigan says he did nothing wrong. But the news that he was taped by Ald. Danny Solis, 25th, as part of a federal corruption probe is providing another stunning shock to Illinois politics and further roiling an already unpredictable race for mayor.

In separate statements, both Madigan and his longtime private attorney, Heather Wier Vaught, dismissed allegations in a Chicago Sun-Times report that Solis arranged a meeting with a zoning applicant who needed Solis’ backing for a Chinatown hotel project. Solis reportedly told the developer that hiring Madigan’s law firm to handle property tax appeals would clear the way for the zoning approval, but though the zoning was secured, Madigan’s firm was not retained and the hotel never was built.

 

Illinois News Network: After news of Madigan’s secret FBI tape, Pritzker wants to ‘see the investigation play out’

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he wants to “see the investigation play out” after news that a federal investigation into the Chicago City Council included a secretly recorded conversation between House Speaker Michael Madigan and a developer who wanted to build a hotel in Chinatown.

Chicago Ald. Danny Solis, who spent two years cooperating with investigators arranged the meeting between Madigan and the developer at Madigan’s law office 2014. Madigan was recorded pitching his legal services and seeking a longterm relationship with the developer, according to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times. Madigan denied wrongdoing through his attorney.

 

WGN Chicago: FBI secretly recorded Mike Madigan at his law office, report says

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan was secretly recorded by the FBI trying to secure a developer’s business for Madigan’s private law firm, according to a published report.

…Madigan denies any wrongdoing.

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ILGOP Statement On Sun-Times Report That The FBI Secretly Recorded Speaker Mike Madigan At His Law Office

In affidavit, FBI agent alleges a Chicago alderman said that if a developer hired Madigan’s law firm, then the developer would benefit from official action of Speaker Madigan and the alderman

 

“Like Ed Burke, developers and wealthy real estate holders don’t consider Speaker Madigan for legal work just because he’s a competent lawyer. Madigan acquires legal clients because he is one of the most powerful political leaders and lawmakers in the State of Illinois. That’s wrong. The fact remains that it is an incredible conflict of interest for Madigan to simultaneously serve as Speaker of the Illinois House and as a property tax appeals attorney. The people of Illinois will not see real reform of our broken and punitive property tax system until lawmakers ban that practice.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

In a bombshell report from the Chicago Sun-Times, a court affidavit revealed Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan was the subject of a secret FBI recording.

In 2014, Chicago Alderman Danny Solis arranged a meeting between Madigan and a real estate developer concerning legal business with Madigan’s property tax appeals law firm, Madigan and Getzendanner. Solis is alleged to have told an associate of the developer that “if [the developer] works with the speaker, [the developer] will get anything he needs for that hotel… [the developer]’s going to benefit from being with the speaker . . . okay?”

Alderman Solis is the subject of a recently-revealed federal investigation following the corruption indictment against Alderman Ed Burke.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

The FBI secretly recorded Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan trying to get business for his private law firm from a developer brought to him by Ald. Danny Solis, who was weighing the developer’s request to build a hotel in Chinatown, according to a federal court affidavit obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

The affidavit makes clear for the first time that the federal investigation that has snared powerful Chicago Ald. Edward M. Burke extends beyond City Hall and into the Illinois statehouse, examining politicians’ longstanding practice of merging personal and political business.

…Madigan, who isn’t facing any criminal charges, was recorded by an associate of the developer during a meeting at Madigan’s law office that Solis had arranged, according to the affidavit. That associate, who’d been secretly working for the feds, made a “video and audio recording” of the meeting, which occurred in 2014.

…An FBI agent alleges in the 120-page affidavit: “I understand Solis to mean that by hiring Madigan’s private firm, [the developer] would ensure that Solis and Madigan would take official action benefitting [the developer] in their capacity as public officials.”

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Underwood & Casten Missing from Freshman-led Letter Urging Pelosi Work To End Government Shutdown

“Speaker Nancy Pelosi controls the House, and it’s her duty to show up and negotiate with the Republican-controlled Senate and President Trump. But Pelosi has refused to even consider a compromise to end the partial government shutdown, and Congresswoman Underwood, Congressman Casten, and other Illinois Democrats have enabled her with their silence. It’s time for Underwood, Casten, and others to stop playing political games and join their Democratic colleagues in standing up to Speaker Pelosi. If they do, this partial shutdown would be over, Dreamers would be protected, and we would have stronger border security.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

A letter, sent yesterday by freshman Congresswoman Elaine Luria (D-Va.), encouraged Speaker Nancy Pelosi to compromise with President Trump, protect Dreamers, and initiate a process to enact increased border security measures. Thirty Congressional Democrats wrote, “We promised our constituents that we would seek bipartisan solutions, and we feel that this proposal would gain bipartisan support and allow a transparent process to evaluate the true needs of border security and provide much-needed reform to our immigration system.”

Illinois Congressmen Dan Lipinski and Brad Schneider even signed onto a similar letter urging Pelosi to make a deal. Neither freshman Congresswoman Lauren Underwood nor Congressman Sean Casten signed onto either letter.

Additionally, neither Underwood nor Casten joined some of their freshman Democratic colleagues in voting to immediately pay federal workers while a deal is negotiated. Instead, they voted against all three motions to pay federal workers while the government is shutdown. If eight of Illinois’ thirteen Democratic members supported the motion, the effort to pay federal workers potentially could’ve been enacted into law.

Voters in IL-14 and IL-06 deserve better than Pelosi pawns currently representing them in Congress.

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ILGOP Statement on Gov. Pritzker’s Executive Order Concerning Taxpayer-Funded Abortion

Yesterday, Governor J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order concerning taxpayer-funded abortion and stated Illinois will be the “most progressive state in the nation” on abortion under his administration. Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot issued the following statement in response:
“Making Illinois the ‘most progressive state in the nation’ on taxpayer-funded abortion is not something to be proud of. Rather, it’s tragic. At a time when our state budget is strained already, allowing this new and unfettered entitlement program to continue is beyond fiscally irresponsible. The Illinois Republican Party is deeply disappointed in Governor Pritzker’s executive order and will continue to oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.”

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Newspapers, Republicans Call on Governor Pritzker To Follow Through On Fair Map Pledge

ILGOP Chairman Schneider: Pritzker must fulfill his promise to voters on fair maps and oppose obstruction from Madigan, Cullerton

“An overwhelming majority of Illinois voters supports independent redistricting reform, but Speaker Madigan and President Cullerton have, through lawsuits and obstruction in the legislature, blocked all efforts to let the people have their voices heard. Governor Pritzker must follow through on his fair map pledge, work around Madigan and Cullerton, and empower rank-and-file Democrats to stand up to their leaders and enact meaningful change. Republican lawmakers are ready to work with Democrats on this critical issue to finally get the job done. It’s time for the people to truly be able to choose their representatives, not the other way around.” – ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider

Yesterday, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin has filed a constitutional amendment, HJRCA 10, that mandates the creation of an independent redistricting commission to draw legislative district boundaries. All 44 House Republicans support the measure. Only 27 Democrats are needed to pass this measure. In the past, a similar measure sponsored by former State Rep. Jack Franks received near-unanimous support in the Illinois House. The Senate sponsors of that bill were Senators Heather Steans, Melinda Bush, and former Senator Dan Biss.

And in the Senate, a past version of an independent redistricting reform proposal received bipartisan support from 39 Senate Democrats and Republicans, enough to pass the measure out of the chamber, but President Cullerton refused to call the legislation for a vote.

Governor J.B. Pritzker has stated he supports an independent redistricting commission. Pritzker even went so far as to pledge he would veto any new legislative district map drawn by the General Assembly: “Yes, I will pledge to veto [any state legislative redistricting map proposal that is in any way drafted or created by legislators, political party leaders and/or their staffs or allies]. We should amend the constitution to create an independent commission to draw legislative maps…”

Several leading Illinois newspapers have also recently editorialized on the need for an independent redistricting commission.

From the Chicago Sun-Times: In the glow of victory, Governor, listen to the GOP on gerrymandering

…Already, Republican lawmakers in Springfield have tossed a bill in the hopper that would replace political gerrymandering with legislative districts drawn by an independent commission. The bill is patterned on a failed citizen initiative for a Fair Maps Amendment that was shot down by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2016.

…We know we’re asking Madigan and his pals — as well as the new governor — to behave nobly, to put democracy above partisan self-interest. And we know Republican legislatures, such as Wisconsin, have been anything but noble. They have worked overtime to skew election results through gerrymandering and other means.
But what’s right is right. It’s that simple.

The makeup of the Illinois Legislature — and of every state legislature — should reflect the will of the voters, not party bosses.

From The News-Gazette editorial: Another battle for fair maps

…Nonetheless, CHANGE Illinois hasn’t given up, and it’s determined to continue to apply pressure on legislators to initiate this important change. Further, it’s possible that Pritzker could play a key role in helping to bring about that change, although it’s equally possible that Madigan and Cullerton will ignore anything he has to say.

At any rate, Doubek said she and her allies remember Pritzker’s pledge not to sign off on a gerrymandered legislative map, and they intend to remind him of it on a regular basis.

…But Madigan is a ruthless political tactician who is determined to retain gerrymandering. Using the courts, he’s twice defeated efforts to put a proposed Fair Map constitutional amendment to a public vote.

Further, one ought not get too excited about Pritzker’s anti-gerrymandering pledge because, unfortunately, campaign promises don’t count for much.

When he was governor, Democrat Pat Quinn made the same pledge Pritzker did, only to meekly sign Madigan’s gerrymandered 2011 maps into law.

From The Dispatch-Argus editorial: Seize the day, give elections back to voters

Clearly, mapmaking is a power that Madigan has no intention of ceding. So how to go forth? First, lawmakers can stop leaving the fight to others; that includes the U.S. Supreme Court. Those applauding the court’s decision to again hear a pair of gerrymandering cases this term should be careful what they wish for. The court’s new makeup has court observers worrying that the majority will protect, not reject, partisan maps.

That means Pritzker and Illinois lawmakers must take the matter out of justices’ hands by crafting a constitutional amendment that creates an independent commission to draw districts that let voters choose their political leaders and not the other way around, as well as answers the constitutional objections raised in past court challenges.

They must then demand en masse that Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton call identical bills — without amendments — for a vote. And Pritzker must sign it.

From the Chicago Tribune editorial: What will J.B. Pritzker do with his clout?

…Pritzker will stroll into office with this friendly legislature he helped install. That advantage could elevate him higher even than Madigan, the nation’s longest-serving House speaker. Will Pritzker protect his own reputation and be a governor who demands performance? Will he use his leverage to insist on a truly balanced budget? On pro-growth strategies to keep residents and employers from fleeing? On reforms voters have been clamoring for, such as fair redistricting maps and term limits for politicians?

…California Democrats led on redistricting reform. A dozen other states have followed with fairer models that include less partisan influence. Illinois voters have been begging for those changes from a recalcitrant legislature. Unless Pritzker takes a leadership role on that issue, the next legislative map, drawn in 2021 after the 2020 census, likely will be a repeat exercise in incumbent protection and hyperpartisan politicking. Democrats fashioned the last set of maps for state and federal offices behind closed doors. They drew incumbents’ homes, their churches, their friends and their voting bases into each district on a block-by-block basis. It was patently undemocratic and self-serving — politicians choosing their constituents rather than the other way around.

From the Daily Herald editorial: Time for Pritzker, Democrats to follow fair-map vow

…Voters have other ideas. More than 563,000 of them signed petitions to put a question on a 2016 ballot for a constitutional amendment to have an 11-member board devise maps. It failed in the state Supreme Court that split sharply along party lines.

This year, scores of lawmakers signed on as sponsors to put a fair-map amendment on the ballot, but it never got called by legislative leaders for a vote. Pritzker has vowed to veto any gerrymandered maps. He needs to go further by championing a new process for drafting maps in the first place. Since we’re back at Square One, let’s create a process to leave map-drawing to a commission that’s independent of politicians and lobbyists, rather than simply bipartisan.

…There’s a risk in taking the high road and playing the game in a new way. We know that, but we hope Pritzker, and Illinois Democrats, do it anyway.

In the fall of 2016, a public opinion poll from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute found that voters in Illinois – 72% in total, a record high – overwhelmingly support an independent redistricting commission.

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ICYMI: The Burke case and the need for property tax reform in Illinois

ILGOP Chairman Schneider renews call to prohibit lawmakers from performing property tax appeals legal work, agrees with Chicago Mayor Emanuel’s proposed ban for City Council

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider authored a guest column in the Daily Herald discussing the need for property tax reform, specifically prohibiting the practice of lawmakers at any level of government from operating law firms on the side that perform property tax appeals. Chicago Alderman Ed Burke and House Speaker Mike Madigan are among those lawmakers.

From Chairman Schneider’s guest column:

…Nowhere else is the property tax system so corrupt and unethical. The recent indictment of property tax attorney and Chicago Alderman Ed Burke for extortion of a Burger King franchise in his ward is simply the tip of an enormous iceberg. The public has known for years that the entire property tax system is fundamentally broken, yet no reforms have been enacted by our elected officials to correct it.

Either we demand a fairer system of property taxation in Cook County, and elected officials who actually look out for their constituents, or we are doomed to lose even more residents to the Republican-run, taxpayer-friendly states of Texas, Tennessee, Indiana and Florida.

Don’t let this moment pass with a cynical acceptance of Chicago’s corrupt culture. We must reform our property tax system and end conflicts of interest. We can no longer allow the very people who write public policy to profit from it.

Legislators and policymakers — the Ed Burkes and Mike Madigans of Illinois — should be prohibited from performing property tax appeal legal work as long as they are elected officials. It is impossible for them to perform the public work the people entrusted them to do without considering the profitability and interests of their own private law firms. They should be free to choose one or the other, but not both…

Recently, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled an ethics reform package following the Burke indictment that would “preclude council members from representing developers and property owners in the kind of property tax abatement work Burke did through his outside law firm.” Chairman Schneider supports Mayor Emanuel’s proposed ban and urges Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly to take up legislation that would enact similar rules for state lawmakers.

Crain’s Chicago Business also published an editorial calling on Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker and Chicago’s next mayor to outlaw the “indefensible” practice of “[representing] businesses on their property tax appeals and hold immensely powerful political offices.”

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ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider Statement On Gov. Pritzker Unpaid Spending Promises, Budget Uncertainty

Moments ago, Governor J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order authorizing pay increases for thousands of state employees without specifying the costs to taxpayers. Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider issued the following statement in response:

“Governor Pritzker has barely been in office for 24 hours, and he’s already signed an executive order spending an undefined amount of taxpayer dollars on state employee pay increases. Yesterday, we heard promises from Pritzker that he would work with Democrats and Republicans to balance the budget. Yet today, Pritzker unilaterally made reckless spending promises without specifying the costs, creating more budget uncertainty. It’s clear – the Pritzker agenda is the same agenda that has dragged our state down for decades – borrow, tax, spend, repeat.”

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ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider Statement On Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Inaugural Address

Schneider calls out Pritzker for false promises, pledges to hold Democrats accountable during upcoming policy debates

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement in response to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s inaugural address:

“It’s clear that Governor Pritzker’s agenda will be the same agenda that has dragged our state down for decades – borrow, tax, spend, repeat. Over the course of the election and again today, Pritzker promised billions of dollars in new spending, programs, and regulations, all of which our state cannot afford.

“And just a few short months ago, Pritzker broke with his party boss, Mike Madigan, when he promised to support legislative leadership term limits and an independent redistricting commission – two initiatives supported by the Illinois Republican Party – but we didn’t hear anything about them today. Why? Because they were only a ploy to win votes. Pritzker never intended to end the status quo in Springfield. Rather, he’s reinforcing it.

“Over the coming weeks and months, we will hold Pritzker, Madigan, Cullerton, and all Democrats accountable for their false promises because we know that they are the main culprits behind Illinois’ fiscal demise. We won’t be afraid to speak out against the latest policy disasters Illinois Democrats are embracing.

“The numbers prove it – Illinois taxpayers are fleeing our state in droves. We must change course before it’s too late or else there won’t be any taxpayers left. As the next debates begin in Springfield, Illinois taxpayers will know that the Illinois Republican Party is on their side.”

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Crain’s Calls On Pritzker To Support Outlawing Property Tax Appeals Work For Lawyer-Lawmakers

“[Pritzker and Chicago’s mayor] first ought to tackle the ethics issues and conflicts of interest highlighted in the Burke case once and for all.”
“We know the practice of lawmakers at any level of government serving as property tax appeals lawyers is a conflict of interest, and it must end. Governor-elect Pritzker should call on lawmakers to immediately take up legislation outlawing the practice. With our state’s terribly high property taxes, the people of Illinois deserve elected officials who are wholly committed to reforming our government and tax system for everyone, instead of using their position for self gain.” – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider
Today, Crain’s Chicago Business published an editorial calling on Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker and Chicago’s next mayor to outlaw the “indefensible” practice of “[representing] businesses on their property tax appeals and hold immensely powerful political offices.” Crain’s also called it a “no-brainer” for Pritzker.

From Crain’s Chicago Business editorial:

This is why outgoing Gov. Bruce Rauner, for all his faults, wasn’t wrong to advocate for term limits and to suggest that House Speaker Michael Madigan’s day job, like Burke’s, presents such a clear conflict of interest to his role as a public servant that it defies logic. In fact, it is well past time for it to be illegal to do what Burke and Madigan have done for decades—handling property tax appeals for businesses standing to benefit from or be harmed by government actions.

If the city or state were on autopilot, with finances in good shape, it might not matter so much. But with job one for both the newly elected governor and soon-to-be-elected mayor being to fix the city and state’s fiscal house—which likely involves overhauling state and city tax frameworks—they first ought to tackle the ethics issues and conflicts of interest highlighted in the Burke case once and for all.

If our elected leaders are going to go for the type of grand bargain that seems required—more taxes, fewer services—they should offer taxpayers something in return, like good government, or at least better government.

Incoming Gov. J.B. Pritzker would earn goodwill from both parties if he targeted what has now been shown in the starkest manner possible to be indefensible: the ability to represent businesses on their property tax appeals and hold immensely powerful political offices. Start there. It’s a no-brainer.

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