Your morning assignment
Thursday, Jan 21, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I have to give a speech this morning, so there isn’t much time to post until around 10 o’clock. After that, I am going to the Carlos Hernandez Gomez funeral. I hope to get a couple of posts up in between.
For now, though, take a close look at a big story today in the Chicago Tribune: The Madigan Rules - House Speaker Michael Madigan says he follows a personal code of conduct to avoid conflicts of interest. Even so, some clients of his private law firm have benefited from his public actions…
In his rise to the pinnacle of Illinois politics, House Speaker Michael J. Madigan built a reputation for wielding control over every bill, every budget line and every Democratic representative elected to oversee them.
Away from the public eye, the state’s ultimate power player enjoyed a similar rise in his private career: rainmaker for one of Chicago’s most successful property tax law firms.
In a first-of-its-kind examination, the Tribune found these two careers repeatedly intersect, and in some cases Madigan took public actions that benefited his private clients.
As a public official, he 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.
His list of clients multiplied as Madigan consolidated political muscle over the last two decades. Now, many of his decisions as speaker have the potential to affect someone who has hired Madigan & Getzendanner in hopes of having a tax bill lowered. The Chicago firm represents banks the state regulates, investment houses that have overseen billions of dollars in public pensions, developers who want roads — all subject to decisions made by a state House in the firm control of their tax lawyer.
The Trib also has more details of some of the deals…
In 2005, while serving as the executive director of the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System, Jon Bauman says he was surprised one day when his secretary announced a call from the speaker of the House.
“He talked about these gentlemen from a Chicago-focused fund who were trying to start something,” Bauman said of Madigan. “He understood minority-owned and/or Illinois-based funds may be of special interest to us, and he asked that we give the guy and his fund a look.
“I told him he was correct, we were working with particular emphasis on those kinds of funds and I appreciated his call and would be in touch,” Bauman said. Records show pension fund managers did have a meeting with the broker, John Cooke, who represented the Arches at Oakwood Shores, a low-income housing project developed by Granite Development Corp. and The Community Builders. Both firms have been tax clients of Madigan & Getzendanner. […]
Bauman cooperated with federal agents building a corruption case against members of the Blagojevich administration for, among other things, corrupting pension contracts. After Blagojevich’s indictment and impeachment last year, Madigan introduced legislation to fire Bauman, saying he cooperated only to save himself.
Bauman said he now wonders whether his ouster was retaliation for not hiring Madigan’s client. He said Madigan did not disclose his professional relationship with the developers and he did not know about it.
Madigan press secretary Steve Brown responds…
For about 11 months, a team of at least four Chicago Tribune reporters have been pouring over documents, conducting interviews and studying files. In many instances their question was “tell us how Mike Madigan used his public office to enrich his law practice.”
The following document speaks for itself. It was provided to the Tribune reporters in response to their questions and revised based on additional conversations.
You can read the document mentioned by Brown by clicking here.
Please, take your time and give this all a thorough read.
Thoughts?
- Knome Sane - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 8:57 am:
Where’s the beef? This is not a bad article, only an article meant to bend the perception that Madigan is shady. Madigan was spot on regarding the preditory lending issue and they slam him for it!
- One of the 35 - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:09 am:
The Speaker has always been, and remains a very careful, and precise man. His thoroughness makes him a formidable adversary in the political and governmental arenas.
- Steve Brown - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:10 am:
Rich:
Thanx for linking the Madigan response document to the item. It offers good bit of information.
I’ll be interested in your readers’ take.
BTW this is actually the fourth time Chicago media (including the Tribune) has taken a swipe Madigan’s law firm.
Finally it is interesting to mention this story notes the paper looked at 20K+ assessment files. It does not question any decision concerning the correction of assessment mistakes.
- Justice - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:12 am:
Having watched Madigan over the years I have always believed he stood for the citizen and worked hard to see that things were handled for the benefit of ALL the citizens of this great state of Illinois.
In his usual thorough fashion he answered the questions raised, and has, in my opinion, done nothing to place a shadow over his ethical conduct.
Sure, there are those who want to ingratiate themselves with Madigan, but that doesn’t translate to him being dishonest.
If I were the Tribune I’d be more concerned as to why the Republican members of the legislature has been sitting on their hands complaining that nothing is getting done?
- OneMan - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:17 am:
Seems a bit of a stretch on the Tribs part…
That being said it brings up an interesting questions, should someone in Madigan’s position be a ‘rainmaker’ for a law firm that does anything with the government?
I think it also begs questions about his relationship with the firm. Would we be comfortable with a statewide constitutional officer having this sort of relationship?
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:22 am:
…in the opaque world of Illinois politics, direct connections are often elusive and state law makes it difficult to sort the public interest from private agendas.
Then it ought to be even more difficult to claim that someone is committing a crime in at opaque world, right? What you are writing here is that even an honest legislator can be charge with what you are charging Madigan with, because of the difficulties within our laws.
Unless you expect Mr. Madigan to now pass the laws you wish to find him guilty of breaking, it sounds like the Tribune’s charges against the Speaker are dishonest and written only to stimulate a less opaque world.
Is that how it is? The Tribune wants to see more reform in government, so they make claims against the Speaker in order to demonstrate the flaws they see within the current system?
What’s next? Is the Tribune going to flood some homes in order to prove that the state needs to improve flood control?
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:26 am:
The article doesn’t slam Madigan for calling out predatory lenders, it slams him for lack of disclosure of his clients who were competitors. It’s called “opportunism.”
Justice: His actions on gerrymandering and backing dummy “attack” candidates to skirt the campaign finance laws make him dishonest alone (I could go on and on but that’s outside the scope of the Tribune article).
A fourth grader would know that people in power (let alone the most powerful person in Illinois) should not have “moonlighting” jobs. When a bully, or a bully’s friend, approaches you ominously on the playground, they don’t have to say “I’ll beat you up if you don’t give me your desert.” Though in this case it looks like Madigan made a few such playground visits (phone calls) himself.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:29 am:
I mean moonlighting jobs where there is going to be a likely appearance of impropriety — if he wants to run a snow plow business, go ahead (though recuse yourself from anything having to do with snow removal!). Yes, I realize this means the jobs need to pay a lot more or we won’t attract/keep qualified people no matter how much people like power (hi Pat Quinn).
- BigDog - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:30 am:
Lots of grey areas all around here, but to me this is the perfect example of why we should have limits on how long someone should be able to serve in a leadership position.
- You Kidding Me? - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:33 am:
Is this the same Mother Tribune that was implicated by the FBI in seeking favorably action from Blago (and his Chief of Staff John Harris)on the sale of the Cubs?
Kinda ironic don’t you think ?
- Tom - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:34 am:
I can only assume the Tribune started on this course 11 months ago becaue they thought Lisa was going to run for Governor. Since they spent some much time on the story they had to print something. What they printed was weak if they are trying to allege anyting improper. Lisa is not running so you can now just go about your bankruptcy.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:39 am:
It seems to me the ChiTrib may have utilized a tenderfoot investigator with only minimal experience at ferreting out information resulting in thinly supported allegations that were then passed by a blind bookkeeper. I believe a competent forensic accountant would have discovered that the connections are simply not there. I mean, really, claiming connections in which actions occured years before MJM’s firm represented any of the principals could be uncovered with only a cursory review of the historical data.
I am not a fan of MJM. I don’t necessarily think he has concern for all the people in this date when it comes to maintaining his power base over large scale state wide issues. If the ChiTrib wants to bring MJM down they best be about it competently and accurately. Doing so with such thin/non-existent proof could be evidence that the ChiTrib either assumes its’ readers are idiots or they are idiots themselves.
I don’t know what MJM would do if ChiTrib continues down this path. I wouldn’t want to be on the business end of MJM in this situation.
- Will County Woman - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:52 am:
The Tribune, like other media, has been under criticism for publishing stories about some politicians and not others. Only so many stories can be written about Blago and Stroger. Stories about them have been done to death. If there is one politician that has often been given a pass and flying off radar, it is Mike Madigan , according to some.
There is likely to be increasing media scruitiny on Mike Madigan for two reasons:
1. Blago has been gone for nearly a year, yet problems in state government still remain.
2. Redistricting
I suspect that #2 is of great(er) concern to many and as a result there is a sense out there that Mike Madigan needs to be stopped at this point.
Sorry Mike Madigan ‘n’ fans, but this was/is inevitable especially after Blago’s ouster.
Expect more scrutiny.
- MOON - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:54 am:
I agree with Knome Sane….”Where’s The Beef “… I know first hand that the Trib. has been working on this article for approximately 1 year. After reading the article I suggest the Trib. change their headlines to read ” THE MOST HONEST POLITICIAN IN ILLINOIS “.
Is it any wonder the Trib. is bankrupt…….. what a waste of time and money!!!!!!
Pingback Trib: Madigan refuses to give records, financial details and interview on ethics. Wow, he’s the bizarro Blagojevich. | Bubbly Creek | blogs.vocalo.org - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:55 am:
[…] Top Story: The Trib investigates one of the more mysterious and elusive politicians in Illinois: Mike Madigan. A must-read. UPDATE: Madigan responds on Capitol Fax. […]
- my view - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:56 am:
Whether you like the guy or not — you have to admit this article is a sham. Anyone can string together a bunch of circumstances together, points at Madigan and say “Well, he must be corrupt.” That’s not journalism. This is something I would expect from The Enquirer, not the Tribune (although my impression of the Tribune is sinking like the Titanic).
Madigan may not be a saint, but his actions, according to this article, do not make him a sinner. If anything, this article makes me think he may not be as bad as many claim.
- my view - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 9:58 am:
One more thing…The Trib stated Madigan refused to comply with a FOIA request, but it looks like he provided them specific answers to all of their questions. How can they claim he didn’t respond if in fact he did?
- Montrose - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:00 am:
I agree with the majority of commenters. The Tribune just doesn’t have a story here.
An insider story on how Madigan has an iron grip on his members would be interesting and more damning, but that iron grip means they would never have the access they would need to write that story well.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:09 am:
If the Trib is trying to imply that he sold his office, he didn’t get much for it. There’s not a lot here.
Madigan’s firm makes him a good living, I’m sure, but he doesn’t strike me as being about money. The guy likes collecting and exercising power.
If I were going to look for connections between money and legislation, I’d check out the long-time major contributors that allow him to build his House empire.
- anon - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:10 am:
What a joke of an article. Why is Madigan always the “bogeyman?” I live in Mike Zalewski’s ward (great alderman) and there a lot of foreclosures. Mike Madigan was really trying to pass a predatory lending bill some time back before the housing bubble actually happened. Governor Blagojevich, with pressure from elected officials and community activists, protested that it would hurt minorities. It never passed. In fact, Madigan was the only elected official I remember that actually tried to stop Blago’s antics. You never see any reporting on that. The man may have too much power but he is not a crook. The Tribune should investigate what is happening with a lot of folks losing their homes.
- shore - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:16 am:
Pat Brady has a real shot to hit a grand slam for the state gop this fall. His people need to use stories like this to hit every democrat incumbent running for office for their ties to this. A standard press release with a name changed for each different legislator would do.
- Not sure - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:18 am:
I, for one, am glad the Tribune took the time and made the effort to try to lift the veil on this topic. This is a state that just witnessed its last two governors give away prisons, UFC legislation, Medicaid rate bumps and sweetheart pension business for personal benefit.
Now nobody will confuse Madigan with Blagojevich, as both the story and the memo make abundantly clear. But remember that property tax appeals is a highly politicized arena. There’s a reason we had a state senate president resign to become the Cook County assessor. It’s part of an almost impenetrable thicket of arcane regulations and obscure (but highly political) boards that determine zoning, TIFs and property taxes. It’s almost as if the entire system is set up as a series of tollbooths, and in each case you better know the password, however it is you come by it — whether you get it from a buddy or pay off the guard.
The fact that the Tribune story is more sizzle than steak is also directly related to the laughable disclosure requirements for state legislators. The Tribune noted, “He also declined requests for his appointment calendars, memos and e-mails, citing state public records law that exempts the legislature.” Well, how do you think it was that the Tribune, Sun-Times, AP and other news outlets connected the dots with Ryan and Blagojevich??? Precisely with “appointment calendars, memos and e-mails.”
It’s not an accident the legislature passes laws that apply to the governor’s office (and pretty much the entire executive branch) and not to the legislature. I get it. But then don’t hide behind the excuse that, “Well, the law doesn’t require me to do that,” when reporters come knocking.
- Coach - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:20 am:
How can the Trib claim this analysis is unprecedented when the Sun-Times ran a similar (albeit not as extensive) analysis just a few months ago?
- Scooby - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:24 am:
The Supreme Court just struck down the prohibition of independent expenditures by corporations and labor unions in federal races. It still doesn’t allow for the direct contribution by prohibited sources to campaign committees but they can now spend money on their own. It will be interesting to see how this affects the Illinois soap opera that is ethics reform.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:25 am:
Coach, there are old newspaper rules:
–If you’re competitor has a story you don’t, first try to knock it down.
– If you can’t, ignore it.
– If you can’t ignore it, bury it.
– If you decide to do the story yourself, pretend no one else ever has.
- Amalia - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:30 am:
good morning Madigan supporters!
- Coach - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:32 am:
Notice that Madigan copied his letter to the general counsel at Equity Group Investments (Zell’s company) and also the deputy general counsel at the Tribune Co. By doing so, I wonder if Madigan is suggesting that the Tribune’s inquiry and subsequent story give rise to a legal (or political) concern on the part of Equity Group and Tribune Co.
- Commonsense in Illinois - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:34 am:
As a former Legislative Liaison for 25 years, I recall receiving two phone calls from Speaker (or Minority Leader) Madigan regarding constituents. He never asked for special treatment, just that the situation and/or decisions of lower ranking bureaucrats be reviewed to make sure they were correct. Speaker Madigan’s approach was then and I’m sure remains the same much different than other elected officials who believe they can browbeat state employees into reversing decisions because they’re a state legislator. Sorry Tribune, but from my experience, the Speaker’s personal ethics are untouchable.
- Vibes - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:40 am:
Poring, not pouring, Steve.
- Coach - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:44 am:
Wordslinger, I understand the newspaper ego dynamic. Still, the Tribune basically told its readers a bold-faced lie by declaring its analysis “a first-of-its-kind examination.” Even by Tribune standards of self-promotion (hello, vastly overblown U of I clout series) I’m surprised by this assertion. This Trib analysis is NOT a first-of-its-kind examination - the Sun-Times published its own examination several months ago - and yet the Trib says that it is.
- Easy - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 11:08 am:
right..beyond reproach…it just happens that the appeals for all his clients go before Joe Berrios–who then lobbies Madigan for his own clients (i.e. video gaming). I believe it is quite safe to say there at least exists the appearance of a conflict of interest on that issue alone–let’s wait and see what gets uncovered. At the very least, we can agree there has been some bad judgment.
- Westy - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 11:21 am:
C’mon Madigan defenders. This ain’t exactly the Watergate break-in, but to pretend like there’s nothing of substance in this story is foolish.
When you’ve become a millionaire while serving on(excuse me, running) a legislative body, you gotta expect stories like this. Ed Burke has been hit countless times with similar pieces. It’s about time someone put Madigan under a similar microscope. The media have mostly ignored his “business” activities for years.
With the Speaker’s buddy Joe Berrios about to take over the Cook County Assessor’s Office, you can bet this won’t be the last time Madigan’s law firm gets a scrubbing from the press.
- R Rotunda - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 11:21 am:
Since when is the legislature exempt from FOIA ? In the past, the Speaker was sued for FOIA violations for refusing to disclose the hours of his staff– presumably to determine when they worked on campaigns. The “the legislature is exempt from FOIA” defense was never raised in that matter. With all the new powers that were given to the attorney General’s office in the FOIA bill that was just signed is the office going to investigate or at lest issue an opinion clarifying it for him .
- siriusly - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 11:22 am:
Madigan’s response memo is detailed and forthcoming in all of his answers. There are honest politicians in Illinois. They might be obstructionist at times (in Madigan’s case he was obstructionist at the right times to Blago), they might be stubborn and power-hungry - but many of them are still honest and law abiding.
The Tribune’s attempt to inaccurately paint Madigan as “shadowy” or “secretly getting wealthy on taxpayer dollars” is shamefully wrong based on what I read here. The top item they point to is the road at Ford City / Tootsie Roll. HELLO - ITS IN HIS LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT. And according to his memo, that project was requested before his client even owned the property.
This, like the U of I “scandal”, are further attempts for the Tribune to show that it is the white night in light of the Tribune’s playing footsie with Blago for state funding, they are desperate to show that some politicians are the problem - of course Business is never to blame.
Ironic that Madigan copies Tribune Legal Counsel Don Liebentritt on the memo, he like many Zell people, was with Equity Properties during the time period in question here.
I suspect that next we’ll see an expose showing that Senator Durbin voted for bills that he thinks the people of Illinois support, just because he wanted to curry favor with the voters. Oh the humanity!
I’m so glad I don’t pay for the Tribune anymore. What a disappointment that publication has become.
- LN - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 11:36 am:
“In most cases it could not be determined whether Madigan played a significant role. It all plays out in a system that thrives on personal relationships and quiet conversations.”
…personal relationships and quiet conversations that were nowhere to be seen in the piece. They buried this 3 grafs to the end, but for me it’s the headline.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 11:36 am:
Do some of you people even know what a Freedom of Information Act Request is? You respond to it with DOCUMENTS, not self-serving answers.
And yes, Sirusly, the U of I was a scandal — ask the parents of every rejected applicant if they think otherwise.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 11:38 am:
Boy, I’m glad to see Yellow Journalism isn’t dead!
I think Tom hit the nail on the head: having spent nearly a year investigating Madigan and found no evidence of wrong-doing, the Tribune and its team were just to embarrassed to admit they came up empty-handed.
So, they just arranged a collage of unconnected facts, pasted them together with inferences and innuendo, and called it “reporting.”
Maybe Madigan’s clients benefited from his actions, but I’m sure you can find just as many examples of his clients NOT benefiting from his actions: like his support for a tax increase. HELLO?!? He’s the Speaker, lots of folks benefit or lose every monrning that he gets out of bed.
But I think Madigan’s response makes it pretty clear its a coincidence.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 12:03 pm:
Can Michael Madigan stop individuals from flocking to him and his law offices for services, because they perceive they will receive special rulings and favors? No. Has Michael Madigan made some serious money practicing law because individuals flock to him and his law offices for services, because they perceive they will receive special rulings and favors? Yes.
I haven’t seen attorney Getzendanner in 20 years since he stopped practicing in my field of law, but he is one sharp lawyer.
Is this all illegal or unethical? From what I’ve seen in the articles and in the detailed written response, no, although some matters may fall into a gray area, leading to a perception that something may be wrong. From the written response, it doesn’t appear that something was necessarily wrong.
Should he disclose his legislative calendar and appointment books? Yes. If FOIA does not apply to those documents, then they should. Transparency should be the rule, not the exception.
Should Michael Madigan disclose the names of his law firm clients? No, he is actually prohibited from doing so according to Supreme Court Rules and the law. There are some limited exceptions which call for disclosure, but I don’t see them applying here.
Still, that private road behind Ford City Mall looks pretty suspicious. So does the Cooke/TRS meeting. If there is something more than suspicion, then disclose it.
Overall, it seems Mr. Madigan has carefully toed the line for the time period in question.
- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 12:44 pm:
They are looking at the wrong stuff. Of course Madigan is getting filthy rich off of his government positions, that’s what all dirty politicians do. So since 1983 his net worth has massively increased while the state he is running has gone down the toilet, big deal.
No independent candidate able to get on the ballot since 1980 and a Lee v. Keith ruling that proved Illinois election law was unconstitutional. Running Republican ringers against himself to protect his power. Knocking candidates off the ballot over silly objections to the point where Ralph Nader is suing the Democrat Party for election racketeering. Endorsed a corrupt Governor twice. Poverty rates almost double than when he took over. High school graduation rates that have not improved. Literacy rates in the schools have declined. The entire education system is about to fall apart under his watch and because of his refusal to hold unions accountable for their job performance. Unemployment rates higher than ever. Stagnant median incomes in Illinois with ever higher tax bills. Some of the most punitive tax laws that hurt poor people disproportionately are found in IL. Manufacturing base that has left the state. Fewer jobs now that when his power began. JOBS JOBS JOBS.
Michael Madigan needs to go for a lot of reasons, but this article doesn’t provide much to show why. Madigan is keeping Illinois in the 19th Century and is and has been a bigger cause of the current mess than Rod Blagojevich was.
Wake up Democrats. Madigan is ruining your party, this state, and way too families and lives.
- WOW - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 12:48 pm:
Which water cooler has the majic cool-aid in it today? I need to get me a cup of it. I agree that the Tribune, as usual, does not close the deal with their article. I agree to that for different reason’s. It doesn’t look back far enough or at the right things. I am not a reporter and don’t like the Tribune but they need to get some old school reporters before they go after the Speaker. Look back to the State constitutional convention whan Mike and Rich Daley worked to help create vast empires for themselves in the laws that they created. Write the whole story.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 12:52 pm:
Apparently the new standard for Democrats is “if you aren’t stupid enough to get caught on tape being explicit about your quid pro quo, it’s allright.” Hey, works for contributions to judges…
- Bill - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 1:00 pm:
==like his support for a tax increase.==
Now Doggie,
You know that if Mike really supported a tax increase we would have one by now.
- Knome Sane - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 1:02 pm:
Let’s be clear here. The Trib knows that people, even well read people, won’t commit to an article that spans four full pages. They suggest or imply that where there is smoke, there is fire. But, as many of these commenters have stated, they didn’t make a case against the speaker and furthermore, if they were honest, and changed the tone of the article with a few different word choices the headline would have read: “Meet Mike Madigan, Honest Politician”
- Not sure - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 1:04 pm:
Everything else aside, though, I have to say I absolutely love this line. It may well apply to the article itself: “Madigan’s reputation as the political grandmaster looms so large, supporters say, he’s often suspected of maneuvering behind the scenes when he’s not.”
- MOON - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 1:06 pm:
WOW
Why dont you write the “WHOLE STORY” for us Kool Ade drinkers. If you had any grasp of the facts you would know that the Con Con had nothing to do with Madigans command of the power he now has.
You tell us how Con Con helped Madigan and for that matter Daley. I need your insights as does everyone else!
- Budget Watcher - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 1:12 pm:
Whether or not readers think there’s substance to the story is kind of secondary to the intent of publishing this kind of story. The recent elections in Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey would seemingly confirm that there’s an intensifying dissatisfaction with our governments’ leadership. Mike Madigan represents to many of us the epitome of what’s wrong with the current political system, especially here in Illinois…one that puts political considerations before good government. The citizens are in a foul mood and the Tribune, I think, wrote a story that may be thin, but resonates with the angry masses.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 1:55 pm:
The citizens are in a foul mood and the Tribune, I think, wrote a story that may be thin, but resonates with the angry masses.
A lot of folks are unwilling to fly commercially after Christmas. Do you think the Tribune is going to start writing “news” about Michael J. Madigan’s involvement in lost luggage at O’Hare?
- FOIA schmoia - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 2:08 pm:
=== Since when is the legislature exempt from FOIA ? ==
The General Assembly isn’t exempt from FOIA, but FOIA does not automatically deem every document a public record. Under the federal and State FOIA laws, records maintained by an individual, including correspondnece, personal calendar, etc. are not public records.
They probably sent a FOIA request to the Clerk, the House FOIA officer, for Madigan’s personal papers. The Clerk wouldn’t have those documents and would probably deny any FOIA. And thanks to Rich, we now know that Madigan did respond to them, just not in the context of FOIA.
- frankie f - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 3:00 pm:
one issue that i didn’t think the trib’s article fully addressed, but hinted at, and that i would be interested in hearing madigan address directly, is if and how is the speaker’s control of what bills get called for a vote impacted by his relationships with his private work? that’s not included, addressed or referenced in his code of conduct, despite being the speaker for so long. abstaining from casting votes with obvious conflicts of interest is great — but that should be a baseline. what about merely what bills get called for votes? many (if not most, I’d imagine), lawmakers have bills for district projects or initiatives that never get called/considered/stuck in a capital bill or the budget …. of course, they don’t have the special power that speaker madigan, elected by members of his caucus, does. i don’t know the answer — i’m asking a genuine question here. i just thought that perhasp would have made a better issue to discuss.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 3:43 pm:
Bill -
If you want to blame someone for the fact that we haven’t passed a tax increase, blame the teacher’s unions, not Mike Madigan.
If Mike Madigan was as omnipotent as you and the rest of the Tin Foil Hatters believe, St. Patrick’s Day would be a State Holiday.
Madigan pushed through a tax increase in 1997, and unless you think he controlled Pate, you can hardly blame Madigan for the fact that it failed.
I support the current call for a tax increase, as does Madigan, but the advocates can’t find ONE single vote for a tax hike?
Instead, the teacher’s unions — who purportedly support better funding for schools — are spending all of their money trying to defeat Pat Quinn, their #1 champion.
If memory serves, in 2002 they shunned Paul Vallas, who supported a tax hike, in favor of Rod Blagojevich, who adamantly opposed one.
Again, in 2006, the teacher’s unions supported Blagojevich over Topinka, who was atleast OPEN to an income tax hike.
- Dunkin "Doh"nuts - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 5:04 pm:
Yeah, it really seemed to be stretching. No trade off could be shown, not even hinted at very well, and the best they can do is say he gets clients for the law firm AND slam him for being at the very forefront of the fight against predatory lending, which was a major factor in the Sept. 2008 bank crisis? Clearly, the authors had an agenda and seemed disappointed they couldn’t find anything better.
- Dunkin "Doh"nuts - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 5:08 pm:
Oh, and “tax me more”–why don’t you blame the man for all terrorist attacks and global warming while you’re at it.
That is why I laugh at folks like you. Blame those mean, dirty city Democrats for everything under the sun and hope something will stick. It hasn’t worked for almost 40 years. Maybe you should try something else.
- vibes - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 6:01 pm:
Interesting that — according to mjm’s #8 response — his firm provided a tax appeal to Rep. Monique Davis at no charge. It’s not as if leaders need more influence over members, but something like this should have been reported somewhere.
- Quinn T. Sential - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 7:07 pm:
Lot’s of inuendo, but the rubber never really meets the road, and this story is more of a hover craft as a result. Just something they sort of floated, and out there, with very little to back it up.
While they were inuendizing however it seems they skipped right past the elephant in the room at this point; which is the impending coronation of Berrios as the Assessor. As if the current Board of Review scam is not enough of a rigged carnival game already, installing Berrios in the seat of power will introduce loaded dice to the crap table for anyone that does not hire M&G to do their dirty work.
- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 10:40 pm:
Silly dohnuts, everyone knows Bush and the Republicans are responsible for terrorism and global warning.
Hardly anything under the sun has been thrown at the Chicago political machine the past 30 years because they’ve rigged the game. Republicans complaining about poverty rates? Are you serious? Hasn’t happened. Little has stuck because it hasn’t been thrown.
What has happened is 11% for Whitney in 2006. Ignore that if you want. The internet age is upon us and voters can change on a dime. How many Rs and Ds now compared to 40 years ago? Lowest percentages ever.
- Steve Brown - Thursday, Jan 21, 10 @ 11:23 pm:
A lot of thoughtful responses
At this hour I note there a zero comments to the John Kass rant on the Trib website. As any reader of the story wil note the Trib confirms that after looking at 20,000 tax files they do not report on any special treatment for Madigan clients.
They confirmed this to us in response to a direct question. It is a simple, but important fact to keep in mind.
Perhaps Kass did not read the whole piece.
Ironically, I tried to post this comment — which would have been the only one on Kass’ column, but the Trib system blocked it.
HMMMMMMM!
- HMMMMMMM...indeed - Friday, Jan 22, 10 @ 8:23 am:
Brownie, you missed the 78, mostly negative (anti-MJM) Trib comments on the main story.
Your repetitive, petulant twist re “looked at 20000 files and couldn’t find ’special treatment’ is irrelevant, as if “special treatment” in the Crook County Assessor’s Office could be neatly defined in the first place.
The Tribbies didn’t allege “special treatment.” They alleged that your Supreme Leader is inappropriately mixing his legislative and lawyer roles to his personal financial benefit.
Perhaps you didn’t read the whole piece.
BTW, which contract is paying you for the flacking on this little problem?