Tag Archives: madigan

Connected to Chicago (02-23-2020) Special Guest- Christopher E.K. Pfannkuche

Feb 21, 2020 | mattmellin

John Dempsey fills in for Bill Cameron this week, and welcomes to the show Christopher E.K. Pfannkuche. Pfannkuche is running for Cook County State’s Attorney. Pfannkuche gives us insight into new developments in the Jussie Smollet case, His thoughts on Kimm Foxx, and insight into the State’s Attorney’s office role.

In this week’s round table segment, John is joined by Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, and Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times. The Round Table opens up with news this week of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich receiving a Presidential pardon, which freed him from prison early this week…

This weeks Connected to Chicago segment is with Nick Gale. Nick gives us insight into Rod Blagojevich’s release from prison after having his prison sentence commuted by President Trump. Blagojevich was freed after serving eight years of a 14 year sentence.

We look back at how the journey began for Blagojevich and the renewed scrutiny surrounding wire taps that caught Blagojevich talking with current Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Rauner on Madigan lawsuit: “ I hope they get to the truth of it”

Aug 14, 2018 | kimberlykaczmarek

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has long been a political target of Gov. Bruce Rauner, but the governor ratcheted it up a notch Monday, saying, “I hope he’s been doing something illegal and I hope he gets prosecuted.”

Rauner’s comments came as reporters asked him about a lawsuit in which Madigan is accused of recruiting “sham” candidates to run against him for state representative in 2016 as a means of hurting opponent Jason Gonzales.

Rauner said Monday that he doesn’t know “much about the case itself,” nor does he know Gonzales.

“Never spoken with him, never had interaction with him. I do know that Speaker Madigan has a pattern of putting up sham candidates in many elections, not just this one,” Rauner said, before adding: “So I hope they get to the truth of it and frankly I hope clearly he’s been doing unethical things, I hope he’s been doing something illegal and I hope he gets prosecuted.”

Read more at WTTW.

Listen to raw audio of Bruce Rauner’s Q&A here.

Madigan sues Joliet woman for immigration services scam

Apr 10, 2017 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) A southwest suburban woman operated a scam to get Illinois residents to pay her thousands of dollars for unlicensed immigration services, according to a lawsuit filed last week by Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Madigan filed the lawsuit Thursday in Cook County against Norma Bonilla, who is alleged to have defrauded at least four people out of more than $10,000 to secure immigration statuses for which they were not actually eligible.

“This scam exploited immigrants at a time when many are seeking assistance due to the recent federal executive actions,” Madigan said in a statement. “Preying on immigrants’ fears and confusion is an appalling scheme, and this lawsuit seeks to stop this fraud.”

Madigan alleges Bonilla is not a licensed attorney or employed by an immigration attorney or any agency authorized to provide immigration assistance services. She also never registered with the attorney general’s office, as required by state law, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit alleges that Bonilla met with customers in their homes, charging them more than $1,000 for immigration records for which the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services only charges $35. She also charged an additional $1,000 for her work, Madigan claims.

The lawsuit states Bonilla never followed through in obtaining the documents and violated the law by never providing clients with a written contract to explain her services or costs.

Madigan warned that Bonilla may still be running the scam, despite not being authorized to do so.

“It is critical to find honest and legitimate assistance and know the warning signs of immigration fraud,” Madigan said in the statement. “I encourage people to contact my office if you encounter a solicitation that seems questionable or if you have already been the victim of fraud. My office does not ask for immigration status.”

© Copyright 2017 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Latest: No progress from meetings on Illinois budget

Dec 5, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois legislative leaders have made little headway in the latest weekend meeting at Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s offices on a budget deal as Democrats broached the issue of how President-elect Donald Trump’s policy’s might alter some Illinois’ financial calculations.

House Democrat Greg Harris joined Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan at a Sunday meeting in Chicago. Harris told reporters afterward that planned Trump changes to subsidized health care could impact aspects of Illinois’ budget and needed to be factored in.

But Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno argued those and other issues amount to a tactic of — in her words — of “stall, stall, stall.”

Madigan complained to reporters the budget was discussed for just 14 minutes of a nearly 90-minute meeting Sunday. But Radogno said Democrats were “unprepared.”

The sides also reported no notable progress Saturday.

 

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Madigan sues Volkswagen over emissions software

Nov 8, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen, claiming the company violated state environmental laws by tampering with emissions controls in its diesel vehicles.

The complaint, filed Monday in Cook County circuit court, is seeking civil penalties against Volkswagen, according to a statement from the attorney general’s office.

The suit claims that Volkswagen equipped its 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter Volkswagen and Audi diesel-engine cars with software that allowed them to pass emissions tests when they actually emitted higher levels of nitrogen oxides than were legally allowed.

“Volkswagen promoted its cars as environmentally friendly, clean diesel vehicles that in fact, polluted our air and our communities by breaking state and federal emissions laws,” Madigan said in the statement.

Madigan and 42 other state attorneys general reached a separate $275 million settlement with Volkswagen earlier this year for violations of consumer protection laws related to the emissions software, prosecutors said. The software affected about 29,800 cars sold in Illinois.

That settlement provided payments to affected customers, required Volkswagen to buy back or modify affected vehicles and prohibited the company from “engaging in future unfair or deceptive acts and practices in connection with its dealings with consumers and regulators,” according to the attorney general’s office.

© Copyright 2016 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Some Top Politicians Spending Campaign Cash On Cubs Tickets

Oct 6, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

Uh oh! CBS 2 Chicago is reporting that some Illinois politicians have been caught spending campaign funds on Chicago Cubs tickets! Are you buying tickets to the games? They just might be on your tab.

Listen to Rahm Talks Politicians and Cubs Tickets from WLS-AM 890’s Bill Cameron.

Political committees led by Illinois politicians have spent more than $1 million on Chicago Cubs tickets in the last five years, CBS 2 Investigators have found.

Some of the biggest spenders include the committees of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton, Chicago Ald. Patrick O’Connor, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cicero Town President Larry Dominick.

Source: Top Political Committees Spending Campaign Cash On Cubs Tickets « CBS Chicago

Illinois State Senator Matt Murphy

May 26, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

The more than year-long war between House Speaker Michael Madigan and Gov. Bruce Rauner intensified Wednesday. The speaker passed a no-reforms budget — and Rauner’s office threatened to veto what it called the “phoniest phony budget in recent Illinois history.” The bill — which covers fiscal year 2017 — passed the House 63-53 Wednesday evening. It must now go to the Illinois Senate, where its fate is unclear. Illinois State Senator Matt Murphy joined John Howell to vent on the situation in Springfield.

Big John Howell Show Notes 4-29-16

Apr 29, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

On the heels of the Dennis Hastert case, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan wants to eliminate the statute of limitations for people accused of molesting children. Because he is protected by statute of limitations, Hastert can never be charged with sex abuse and many of the victims will never get justice because their abusers are protected by the same law. Madigan joined John to talk about the proposed change to the law, and also weighed in on regulation of Daily Fantasy Sports websites in Illinois. (Listen here)

Barbara Blaine the founder and President of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) joined John with reaction to the proposal to eliminate the statute of limitations for people accused of molesting children. (Listen here)

Gov. Bruce Rauner said Wednesday that if a bipartisan budget agreement can’t be reached by the end of May, he’d be willing to pay for a special legislative session out of his own pocket to continue negotiations. Rauner added that lawmakers must stay persistent in achieving long-term solutions that consider new forms of revenue and reforms from his “turnaround agenda” to create a balanced budget.

John Boehner left no doubt he’s not a fan of fellow Republican Ted Cruz, leaping off the sidelines of the presidential race to unleash a stunning verbal lashing of the Texas senator, reportedly calling him “Lucifer in the flesh” and a “miserable son of a bitch.” He reportedly said he’s played golf with front-runner Donald Trump, describing them as “texting buddies,” and said his relationship with Ohio Gov. John Kasich “requires more effort” but they’re friends.

SpaceX has announced a new plan to land a spacecraft on Mars. They would send one of their new Dragon 2.0 spacecrafts to Mars in 2018. It would be an unmanned flight, but still the biggest thing ever landed on the Red Planet and would be a dress rehearsal for future manned flights. Tom Jones joined John to talk about the new space project, Tom is a former NASA Astronaut and author of the new book “Ask The Astronaut.” (Listen here)

The Chicago Republican Party has taken down their illegal sign. It wasn’t because it was deemed illegal and they decided to comply with the long arm of the law. It was because a vandal tore the sign. Chris Cleveland says he’ll replace the sign, at a cost of $1500, which is three times the cost of getting it permitted.

In addition to the NFL Draft, next week Chicago is also hosting the James Beard Awards. Chicago Tribune restaurant critic Phil Vettel joined John with a preview. (Listen here)

If you’re looking for something other than the NFL Draft to do this weekend, BaconFest is going on at the UIC Forum this weekend. Seth Zurer one of the co-founders of BaconFest joined John with a preview. (Listen here)

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan

Apr 29, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

On the heels of the Dennis Hastert case, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan wants to eliminate the statute of limitations for people accused of molesting children. Because he is protected by statute of limitations, Hastert can never be charged with sex abuse and many of the victims will never get justice because their abusers are protected by the same law. Madigan joined John to talk about the proposed change to the law, and also weighed in on regulation of Daily Fantasy Sports websites in Illinois.

Rauner signs education stopgap; GOP leader predicts budget deal “by the end of May.”​

Apr 25, 2016 | WLS-AM Staff

By John Dempsey, WLS News

Rauner signs education stopgap; GOP leader predicts budget deal “by the end of May.”

Governor Bruce Rauner has signed a bill to provide $600 million in emergency assistance to Illinois colleges and universities, the first sign of a possible easing of the months-long legislative logjam between Rauner and Democratic Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

As he signed the bill, Rauner said “This legislation doesn’t solve our budget crisis or help our economy grow, but it does represent a first step toward compromise between Democrats and Republicans. Now is the time to build on this bipartisan momentum and focus on enacting a truly balanced budget for Fiscal Years 2016-2017 alongside meaningful reforms that create jobs and free up resources for education, social services and infrastructure.”

Before Rauner signed Senate Bill 2059, Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin (R) Western Springs, told “The Big John Howell Show” on WLS that he thinks the budget standoff can end by the end of May.

“I’m hopeful we can have an FY (fiscal year) 16 and FY 17 budget that we can accomplish by the end of May. We have members that are now saying ‘Enough’s enough. Let’s get this done.'”

Durkin is basing his optimism on last week’s bipartisan agreement on the education funding bill that Rauner signed this morning.

“I am hopeful, I mean I’m gonna be optimistic” Durkin told WLS. ” We finally had some movement within the last week where we had a bipartisan solution to a very serious problem, that is our higher-ed budget.

However Durkin’s Republican Senate counterpart, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R) Lemont, does not necessarily share his optimism.

On the Senate floor on Friday, Radogno said “These stopgap measures relieve some pressure, but we still have a lot of work to do and we shouldn’t break our arms patting ourselves on the back with this measure.”

Also powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan said Friday, “Only time will tell if Governor Rauner has further intentions of destroying our State institutions and human service providers.”

Madigan and Republican Governor Bruce Rauner are locked in a power struggle over Rauner’s plan to impose union-weakening business reforms, which Madigan says would destroy the middle class.

However despite Madigan’s comment, Durkin tells WLS “We had a leader’s meeting a few weeks back. First time in many months. And I felt that meeting was the most productive meeting we’ve had in over a year, which we actually agreed on things, things that we talked about privately. And we have certain things going on in Springfield that are meant to solve the budget.”

Here’s the interview on “The Big John Howell” show:

@ WLS-AM 890 News, 2016

UPDATE: To Combine or Not to Combine

Sep 29, 2015 | WLS-AM Staff

By Bill Cameron, WLS News

In state politics…one of the candidates in next year’s statewide elections is telling Bill Cameron she’s not ready to endorse one of the more popular money-saving ideas in Springfield.

You could save millions by merging the offices of State Treasurer and Comptroller, but City Clerk Susana Mendoza – a Democrat running for comptroller- tells WLS-AM she’s not so sure.

“You know, it’s an interesting time right now.  You see that the comptroller’s office right now is not independent of the Governor’s office.  So, maybe in the past, people were talking about ‘Oh, let’s just combine the offices and it’s all good,’ but I think right now you can see where there might be value in still having an independently elected office that ultimately is responsible for writing the checks and prioritizing not just payments but also the fiscal and moral health of the state,” said Mendoza.

But her primary opponent State Senator Dan Biss is for the merger and says the merged office could be that kind of check, and he adds this: “The kind of old political power structures that have always been happy to have as many different offices, as many different political patronage jobs as possible and I just don’t think that’s the best way forward for the state of Illinois.

@ 2015 WLS News

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