“The way we are not dependent on foreign oil is not to use it,” Rep. Sean Casten said. The congressman represents an emerging Democratic position that ties Russia’s aggression to America’s dependence on fossil fuels, foreign and otherwise, and positions green energy as key to American energy security.

What’s publicly known about federal efforts related to the now former speaker’s political operation stretches back to at least May 2019. Subpoenas or raids have touched lobbyists, legislators, private companies and members of Madigan’s political operation.

Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin said Wednesday “may be the darkest day in Illinois government history….This is not just an indictment against Michael Madigan, but it’s an indictment against the Democrat Party of Illinois that he ran for decades. But the public needs to get answers from the speaker, and also the Democrats and the governor, of why they did not take action against this man earlier.”

He said, in part, “The government is attempting to criminalize a routine constituent service: job recommendations… I adamantly deny these accusations and look back proudly on my time as an elected official, serving the people of Illinois.”

According to a statement from his office, Pritzker was informed that he was “only a witness” in the investigation, and agreed to speak on his experiences with and knowledge of Madigan.

Teachers continue to be in huge demand in Illinois, according to a new study published by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools. The study shows 88% of surveyed school districts in Illinois said they believe they have a teacher shortage, and 96% said they have a substitute teacher shortage.

After Biden’s speech Tuesday, Peoria U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood joined Americans For Prosperity for reaction. After trillions in COVID relief dollars that taxpayers are already on the hook for, he said the government should stop spending. “And if you listen to Biden tonight to talk about more government programs, more spending, that’s the last thing we ought to be doing is that.”

The indictment alleges Madigan orchestrated an illegal bribery scheme with utility company Commonwealth Edison in return for influence over favorable legislation in Springfield. It also accuses him of soliciting business for his private property tax law firm during a project involving state-owned land used for a commercial development.

The U.S. Labor Department estimates that state unemployment programs have paid out about $87 billion in phony claims since the start of the pandemic — or about 10% of the $872.5 billion the federal government has allocated to emergency benefits. Virtually no state was spared from bogus payments that went to criminal actors using money mules, identities of deceased people or personal identifying information culled from earlier data exposures.

“A trio of Republican-backed bills have popped up in the Illinois legislature that appear to increase parents’ access to what’s being taught in classrooms. One bill would require all Illinois schools to post textbooks and learning materials online for parental review. Another would require libraries to provide full lists of books if asked, and a third would give parents and students the power to formally oppose a unit of study they find objectionable. But a closer look at the bills, which mirror similar efforts targeting curriculum in other states, shows they could prohibit educators from using content that covers an

Jim Dey: “While both Pritzker and opponents of his mandate can claim a nonexistent victory in a court of law, it’s clear that Pritzker recognizes he was losing public support in the court of public opinion.”

Mark Konkol: “Pritzker seemed to acknowledged that political reality Tuesday when he confessed to being “loathe to accept” Ezike’s unexpected resignation…Dr. Ezike showed Illinoisans, regardless of their pandemic and political beliefs, empathy and grace amid so much turmoil. For that, Dr. Ezike deserves our thanks.”

Gov. JB Pritzker said cooperation would be vital to taking on the challenges facing Illinois and other states across the country. “Coming together to tackle our common problems is what democracy looks like,” the governor wrote on Twitter. “The unity agenda puts a spotlight on the opioid crisis, the mental health crisis, the need to do more for our veterans, and fighting cancer. Our solutions are stronger when we act together.”

On Tuesday, the defiance continued and the House voted to remove three Republican lawmakers: Reps. Blaine Wilhour, Adam Niemerg and Dan Caulkins. Wilhour refused to leave the chamber, which resulted in him losing the ability to vote on the floor. Democratic leadership gave him the option of participating via Zoom.

“So many Madigan allies had been slotted into jobs at the electric bureau at Chicago’s Streets and Sanitation Department that it would be called ‘Madigan Electric.’ But there weren’t enough city jobs for all of them. Another big landing strip was needed. And conveniently, the state’s biggest electric utility, Commonwealth Edison, needed Madigan’s cooperation to push through a big rate hike structure plus other measures pressed by their huge team of lobbyists. “

Dubbed Healthy Illinois For All, the proposal would add an estimated nearly 150,000 low-income people to the state’s Medicaid health insurance program. This group includes people who are undocumented or have been legal residents for fewer than five years and are 19 to 54 years old. These are the last populations in Illinois who aren’t eligible for Medicaid, or for insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

Investigators are looking specifically at thousands of dollars in contract payments allegedly passed on to former state Rep. Edward Acevedo, a onetime member of Madigan’s leadership team who’d recently left the General Assembly, two sources familiar with the probe said.

“‘Union people can make or break any administration regardless of whether they need our money or not because we represent the hearts and minds of Illinois,’ (President of the Chicago Federation of Labor Bob) Reiter said. In other words, hell hath no fury like a union scorned.”