NW Illinois News

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan's conviction on corruption charges has highlighted longstanding issues within Illinois' political system. For decades, Madigan held significant power as both Speaker of the Illinois House and Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party. His influence was characterized by critics as a political crime syndicate that relied on backroom deals and cronyism. This conviction is seen as a pivotal moment in addressing political misconduct in the state.

Senator Andrew Chesney, one of the original petitioners for an investigation into Madigan's activities, expressed his views following the verdict: "As one of the three original petitioners who triggered an in-house investigation into suspected political wrongdoing by then Speaker of the House Mike Madigan, today’s guilty verdicts in federal court come as no surprise and serve as vindication for all of us who repeatedly spoke out against Madigan’s pay-to-play politics. I can only hope that these verdicts will send this clear message to Democrats who continue to engage in dirty politics: Even the most powerful of political figures is not above the law."

In other developments, Senate Republicans are urging Governor JB Pritzker to prioritize fiscal responsibility ahead of his upcoming budget address. The state faces a $3.2 billion budget deficit after years of increased spending under Pritzker's administration, driven by federal COVID funds and one-time revenues. Concerns have been raised about potential tax hikes to manage this deficit, despite previous assurances from Pritzker that such measures would be a "last resort." Senator Chesney commented on this issue: "I fear the Governor plans to once again raise taxes on Illinois families to cover reckless spending programs. The people of Illinois are already struggling and I am calling on the Governor to commit to NOT raising taxes."

Additionally, Senator Chesney shared news about his recent community outreach initiative where he delivered thousands of valentines across 34 stops in Northwest Illinois' 45th Senate District. He thanked participants for their contributions: "I want to thank everyone who donated valentines for this year’s Valentines for Seniors program...the smiles on the seniors’ faces were priceless as we made sure they knew how valued and appreciated they are."