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* Um…
Imagine, this $7M could be used for disabled kids! Replace Shirley Madigan on the Illinois Arts Council via @forbes https://t.co/A9OqQdJV5L
— Allen Skillicorn (@allenskillicorn) July 20, 2017
Replacing her on the Arts Council wouldn’t free up that money for anything or anyone else. If Rep. Skillicorn wants to eliminate all state arts funding, well, that’s quite another thing and he should say so.
* On to the linked Adam Andrzejewsk story…
The Illinois Arts Council – led by the matriarch of the most powerful political family in Illinois – conferred grants without official meetings, ignored rampant conflicts of interest, and funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to asset-rich organizations – including media outlets – which don’t need public money.
Although Michael Madigan has served as the Illinois House Speaker for 34 years, interrupted for just two years in the 1990s, his wife, Shirley Madigan, has clinched a position on the Illinois Arts Council since 1976. She has served as the chair of the council since 1983.
Governor Bruce Rauner must move immediately to end Shirley Madigan’s tenure on the Illinois Arts Council. Rauner has an historic opportunity to appoint thirteen fresh faces and take a reform majority on this important council of twenty-one. Two weeks ago, Shirley Madigan’s latest term expired alongside twelve other board members.
Over the past three years, Shirley Madigan’s Arts Council rarely met. Instead of holding tri-annual board meetings – as they’ve pledged to do – the council never met during the entire fiscal year of 2016. Still, without the sunshine of a public meeting, the council paid-out grants, salaries, and operational expenses. Only later did the board ratify the payments.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 11:32 am
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Like Skillicorn supports disabled kids. Didn’t he vote to uphold Rauner’s veto of all funds for disabled kids?
Comment by Michael Westen Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 11:34 am
” … the council never met during the entire fiscal year of 2016.” Wasn’t their budget signed on June 30, 2016, the last day of the fiscal year? IF they had held meetings, she’d be criticized for spending $ without an approp. Mr. Forensic Audit for the “win” …
Comment by Smitty Irving Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 11:42 am
Because (Mrs.) Madigan. Does Skillikorn think the replacement will approve grants for disabled persons art.
There is a policy discussion to be had about spending priorities, but the rhetorical right always has to have a boogieman to vilify.
Pragmatically, this debate is a waste of time. Of course, that’s not stopped these folks before.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 11:42 am
Hard to disagree that some fresh faces could be needed on that board. That’s all Adam Ant needed to say honestly.
Comment by Saluki Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 11:43 am
Do Skillerkorn and Ives have a race to see who is least irrelevant or is it more like they’re want a 6 figure job with IPI/Rauner administration?
Comment by JC is just saying... Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 11:44 am
Yeah, classy move- attack Madigan’s wife- “Madigan!”
Comment by downstate commissioner Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 11:45 am
“…led by the matriarch of the most powerful political family in Illinois…”
Forbes needs to fire its typists and hire some writers.
Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 11:50 am
Feeling Mike Tyron’s absence everyday.
Skillicorn is proving himself to be the same uninformed booger eater as a legislator that he was as a frequent commenter her. Good on him for taking the stairs, though!
Comment by LizPhairTax Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 11:52 am
“Tri-annual?” Isn’t that once every three years?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:08 pm
I really think we need to hear from Grant Wehrli on this one.
Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:13 pm
Not only did they not meet in 2016, they had no official meetings since before August 2014.
“How does a governmental body confer and distribute millions of dollars in federal and state funding over a two-year period without an official meeting? The Edgar County Watchdogs sued the Illinois Arts Council for violations of the Freedom of Information Act and found no official meetings from August 2014 until October 2016.”
also
In the past five years, Shirley Madigan’s Arts Council awarded $32.8 million in grants. Our OpenTheBooks.com findings reveal 37 cents on every $1 in grants flowed to just 20 well-heeled, asset-rich organizations. In total, these 20 rich organizations received $12.1 million despite controlling financial assets of at least $3.1 billion. None of these entities can argue they needed taxpayer funding.
Seven of the top ten largest grant recipients were television and radio station nonprofits – not traditional arts groups. It’s easy to see that the Madigans want to curry political favor with radio and television media – $7.3 million to 21 stations buys a lot of favorable coverage.”
I am not sure I would classify this as” unclassy attack” on the Speaker’s wife.
They are spending state money and with that comes accountability and transparency which have been lacking.
I am sure if Diana Rauner was in charge the usual suspects would be all over this story.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:16 pm
“Surely you can’t be serious. I am serious, and stop calling me, Shirley.”
Skillicorn is like a broken watch– but Shirley Madigan should be jettisoned from anything remotely close to political. I mean, c’mon.
And Skilli looks wonderful in a dress. Thanks, Illinois Review!
Comment by Deft Wing Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:20 pm
I’m guessing this is in response to all of the criticism Diana Rauner has received lately. Pathetic.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:29 pm
===It’s easy to see that the Madigans want to curry political favor with radio and television media – $7.3 million to 21 stations buys a lot of favorable coverage.===
Lol, you’re absolutely right as usual LP. Why, I can’t turn on my television without another puff piece about Illinois’ favorite grandpa Mike Madigan. Look, there’s Chuck Goudie interviewing Grandpa Mike after he helped some neighbor kids build a tree house. Mary Ann Ahern covered Grandpa Mike’s Halloween costume party. Yep, all that fancy arts spending sure guarantees Grandpa Mike favorable coverage.
The media loves him so much that Grandpa Mike has an approval rating of 110%. So much favorable coverage, so much winning.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:51 pm
I can’t speak for all the grants the Illinois Arts Council gives out, but in many cases it’s just a pass-through to other pass-throughs, giving federal money to local arts councils and other organizations that then dole it out to small non-profits, schools and those “starving artists” Andrzejewski is so concerned about.
Comment by Commander Norton Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 12:55 pm
Matriarch? She’s his wife. Are all wives now “matriarchs?”
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 1:38 pm
Better look back at some of the folks that have served on that bored (yes on purpose) before… Mrs Daniels etc
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 4:18 pm
===Loyola University – where Shirley Madigan received her master’s degree – has received $95,100 in grants since 2012.
That’s not a conflict of interest. There are some valid points in the article and a 34 year chair is way to long, but the article is a mess.
It’s secondary purpose seems to be to attack public radio and television which are labeled as media outlets. Technically true, but avoids the issue that they are the only “media outlets” that do much in terms of art and art education.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 4:27 pm
I’m starting to get the sense that Representative Skillicorn might be about as sharp as a marble.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 4:29 pm
Let’s see, Adam A being in any way a part of any story? Nothing to see here, move on.
Comment by Elliott Ness Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 5:49 pm
You should pay close attention to Adam Ant, he’s a big hitter.
In the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary, he got nearly twice as many votes as Dan Proft for a runaway fifth place finish.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 6:57 pm
But words linger, Dan Proft is now Governor
Comment by Archpundit Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 7:15 pm
–But words linger, Dan Proft is now Governor–
LOL, seems like maybe a co-regency with Tillman.
We’ll see how long that strange and self-destructive decision lasts. Off to a bumpy start.
It seems to me Rauner bought off the far-right to keep them quiet and mask his obvious complicity in the tax increase.
But history shows they’re a disaster when it comes to winning statewide elections.
Who’s the last right-wing Republican to win statewide?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 20, 17 @ 7:43 pm