News that comes as a surprise to no one: An investigation by Illinois’ legislative watchdog has found that House Speaker Michael Madigan did not violate the state’s ethics act when he pressured Metra officials to give one of his Democratic foot soldiers a raise. It’s not because the speaker didn’t intervene on behalf of Patrick Ward, who has donated generously to the campaigns of both Madigan and his daughter, Attorney General Lisa Madigan. And it’s not because there’s nothing wrong with that, either. It’s because the state ethics act is a disgraceful fraud, designed to provide cover for politicians’ corrupt

http://politics.rebootillinois.com/2014/03/31/editors-picks/caitlinwilson/states-dependent-federal-government-funding-mean-state-taxes/2610/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=rebootillinois

Democratic Rep. Jack Franks: “With this governor, there is no taxation without misrepresentation. He would like to portray this as an issue of fairness, but I am confident that no one who is currently out of work would consider our state’s tax policies fair.” Franks and another Democrat, Rep. Scott Drury,  defied Speaker Madigan and voted against the millionaires’ tax, leaving the Democrats two votes shy of the 71 they need to move it forward. http://watchdog.org/138274/illinois-millionaires-tax-dies-tax-plans-much-alive/

Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, is sponsoring the bill that he says will direct 90 percent of state education dollars to districts based on their local need. The formula currently in use directs less than half of funds to districts based on local need. http://www.sj-r.com/article/20140410/NEWS/140419937/11143/NEWS?rssfeed=true

Legislation creating rules for unregulated rideshare companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar is moving through the Illinois Legislature. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140410/NEWS02/140419964?template=mobile

Ikea U.S. announced the purchase of a 98-megawatt wind farm under construction in Hoopeston, close to the Indiana border in central Illinois and about 110 miles south of Chicago. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140410/NEWS11/140419977?template=mobile

“This is about life. This is about liberty. And this is about the pursuit of happiness,” said Rep. Mary Flowers, the chief sponsor of House Bill 8. “Women who are pregnant deserve to be respected.” Comment: Job killing lunacy. via Illinois House OKs bill to give pregnant employees new rights – Chicago Sun-Times.

The Illinois Policy Institute submitted a proposal to City Hall on Thursday that would do away with the defined benefit plan, replacing it with a “hybrid retirement plan” that would require employees to contribute 8 percent of their salaries to a retirement investment account.   http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=229724