* Jeanne Ives press release…

It’s the Chicago Machine Democrat Way. Have Mike Madigan pick your voters through gerrymandering. And then you pick the voters who you will allow to address you.

Rep. Sean Casten announced a series of town halls that are invite only. Tickets required.

“Sean Casten is a master illusionist,” said congressional challenger Jeanne Ives. “He doesn’t practice representative government; he and the selected voters he casts for only simulate it.”

She’s repeated that invite-only claim on other occasions.

* BGA…

Ives said Casten has held numerous “invite-only” town halls.

But her own press release on the subject makes clear she was referring to a public event page the congressman’s team created that allowed anyone interested in attending to reserve a seat for free. Those events, and the sign-up link, were advertised in advance online.

We rate her claim Pants on Fire!

…Adding… Good point in comments…

Kinda ironic that Ives brings up gerrymandering when Casten won a district drawn to be Republican

* Press release…

State Representative Mark Batinick challenged his opponent, Harry Benton, today to provide a simple “yes” or “no” on whether he supports Mike Madigan’s continuation as Speaker. Representative Batinick recently called for Speaker Madigan to resign in light of multiple federal investigations involving the Speaker’s inner circle of confidants.

“Our first vote as a state representative is to elect a Speaker of the House,” said Batinick. To reform Illinois, we must take that vote seriously and be honest with the voters. I have consistently voted no in allowing Speaker Madigan’s unchecked power to continue and call upon my opponent, Harry Benton, to provide a straightforward answer as well.”

Rep. Batinick has been a leading advocate for reform and to end the culture of corruption in Springfield. Batinick has supported legislation to bring substantive structural changes to how government operates, including term limits, fair maps, revolving-door bans, and other measures to increase government transparency – pieces of legislation that Speaker Madigan refuses to bring to a vote.

“Candidates cannot change Springfield by embracing the status quo and allow Speaker Madigan to continue as the House leader,” stated Batinick. “I am running to reform the culture of corruption in Springfield, and that starts by voting no on Madigan. Voters deserve to know if Harry Benton will continue to empower Michael Madigan. How Mr. Benton responds to the question will tell voters everything they need to know about his candidacy for state representative.”

* WGN Radio…

David Krupa is a DePaul University sophomore running for 13th Ward Committeeperson in an effort to lessen the power of House Speaker Mike Madigan in the ward. When David joined John in October, he explained what Madigan’s office did to harm his campaign for Alderman. And he talks about some of the issues he wished to address.

He didn’t, however, talk about the allegations of sexual assault and abuse against Krupa. Indeed, the program’s host John Williams referred to himself as a “champion” of Krupa’s.

* This, however, is intentionally funny. Rex Huppke titled this segment: “Federal investigators appear to be at least Madigan-adjacent”…

These might be sweaty holidays for Democratic Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Four people interviewed by federal investigators told the Tribune they have been “asked about connections between Commonwealth Edison lobbyists and Madigan, lobbyists giving contracts to people tied to the speaker, and city, state and suburban government jobs held by his associates.”

During the fall legislative session, Madigan was asked if the feds are targeting him.

He said: “I’m not a target of anything.”

Yeah. And I’ve got a sleigh and some real estate up at the North Pole to sell you, buddy.