* AP…

Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, who has ruled the state party for over three decades, has become the Republicans’ favorite target for attacks, even as they try to get him to capitulate to Rauner’s conditions for a budget.

Last week, after Madigan cited a scheduling conflict for missing a negotiating session, the Illinois Republican Party launched a “Boss Madigan” website criticizing his tenure as the country’s longest-serving state House speaker and highlighting lawmakers loyal to him to pressure them to break ranks with their leader. Republicans have also urged House Democrats not to support Madigan for another term as speaker next month.

The media has reported on that website several times. But reporters haven’t even mentioned the startling introduction of Republican Party video trackers at the Statehouse. And Rep. Sam Yingling wasn’t the only legislator targeted by the trackers. He was apparently just the only one who said something goofy enough to post on YouTube. If this continues, it will do infinitely more damage than any website or e-mails.

Republican operatives also hand-delivered an anti-Madigan packet to Democrats’ Statehouse offices last week, which was odd and took some Dems by surprise (and kinda creeped them out).

GOP types have also been actively trying to privately convince Democrats to vote against Madigan’s reelection. So far, to no avail.

* Meanwhile, here’s the latest ILGOP press release…

* Mike Madigan Says State Government is a Democracy, but Runs it Like a Dictatorship