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It’s time once again to dive into another round of quick takes on the people, places and events that were being talked about over the past week:
Gov. Moneybags antes up
Illinois’ billionaire governor made a small — by his munificent standards — cash contribution to his campaign treasury last week.
J.B. Pritzker contributed $25.5 million to finance his 2026 re-election campaign for governor even as he explores a presidential run in 2028.
News accounts said he deposited $25.5 million into his campaign fund over the past 10 days, jump-starting his bid for a third term.
The billionaire governor — whose wealth stems in part from the Hyatt hotel empire — remains the wealthiest Illinois candidate, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $3.9 billion.
Pritzker’s campaign spending has long shaped Illinois politics: He poured more than $171 million into his successful 2018 challenge to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, and another $152 million into his 2022 re-election fight against Republican Darren Bailey, who’s running again in the GOP primary for 2026.
If Pritzker wins in 2026, he would become the first Illinois governor since the late Jim Thompson — who served from 1977 to 1991 — to secure more than two terms.
But hovering over his re-election bid is a national question: Will he run for president in 2028? It seems certain that he will, barring some kind of unforeseen development.
He clearly hungers to run on the national stage. He was briefly interested in pursuing the 2024 presidential nomination after President Joe Biden decided last year that he would not seek a second term.
He also was interested in serving as Kamala Harris’ running mate on the 2024 Democratic ticket.
Hits keep on coming
Illinois’ lawyers disciplinary panel recently disbarred former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
The disbarment is a routine penalty for lawyers who are convicted of criminal activity.
Madigan, who’s 83, is currently serving a 7½-year term at a federal prison in West Virginia. After a lengthy investigation and trial, he was convicted of being the ringleader of the Commonwealth Edison bribery conspiracy.
Four alleged co-conspirators also were convicted in the case. They currently are serving prison terms or soon will be.
A news account said, “Michael Joseph Madigan’s name falls at number nine on the alphabetical November list of 19 attorneys who are being disciplined in the state.”
This is just the latest indignity for the one-time political powerhouse who dominated the General Assembly, the Illinois Democratic Party and politics in Illinois.
He was an elected representative for 50 years and House speaker for 36 years.
The Illinois Supreme Court signs off on the disciplinary cases. Ironically, that means that some of the Chicago-area justices Madigan helped put on the seven-member court signed off on the humiliating finale for Madigan’s legal career.
Madgan was “disbarred on consent” as a consequence of his conviction.
Although nominally a lawyer, Madigan was primarily a “rainmaker” for Madigan & Getzendanner, a firm that specialized in property-tax appeals.
That may sound dull. But the specialized practice and Madigan’s appeal to wealthy clients helped Madigan build vast wealth.
Name in the news
Speculation is always feverish about who will get what when an NFL head job opens up.
But one name that recently popped up on the radar screen was a big surprise — not because he’s not considered a rising star, but because he’s so young.
The Athletic recently published “Fifteen Top Candidates to Replace Brian Daboll as Giants Head Coach.”
The list includes the usual suspects, but one name stands out like a sore thumb: former Fighting Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. He’s currently the passing-game coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.
The Athletic said, “the 35-year-old is a staple of Sean McVay’s highly innovative offensive staff and could emerge as a surprise candidate this off-season.”
He’s been offered two separate offensive coordinator posts but turned them down to stay with the Rams.
A former assistant coach with the Fighting Illini and Iowa State, Scheelhaase has been with the Rams since 2024.
Hey, Pat!
Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was never really gone, so it’s misleading to say that he’s back.
Nonetheless, the energetic advocate of citizen initiatives and proposed constitutional amendments returned to the campaign trail last week with a proposal to address ever-higher property taxes.
News reports indicate his “latest idea is one which he says would save $4.5 billion for most Illinois property owners, and he would raise that money on the backs of those who make more than $1 million. This would be an extra three percent tax after you’ve earned your first million, via a constitutional amendment which the legislature must approve for November 2026.
“We need three-fifths of each house to vote it onto the ballot by May 3, and then we’ll have a referendum (campaign) for six months,” Quinn said.
Given his history, it would appear that 76-year-old Quinn would prefer to be running for state office in Illinois. But there are no open slots, so he’s returning to a familiar format to draw public attention.
Quinn has been a burr under the saddle of Illinois politicians — both Democrats and Republicans — for much of his career.
Following up on Quinn’s proposal, WAND-TV news reported that, “More than 60% of Illinois voters supported a statewide advisory referendum last year calling for a property tax constitutional amendment. Former governor Pat Quinn is using that momentum to push lawmakers to pass a property tax relief bill.”
Sixty percent? It should be 99 percent. There’s nothing that average citizens love more than levying higher taxes on people other than themselves to generate revenue that will benefit them.
The most interesting statistic to come out of the Quinn story is that Illinois has more than “77,300 millionaires who make up 1.2 percent of the state’s income taxpayers.”
Pope cleans up
What gifts do you give to a man who not only has everything but even has a pipeline directly to God?
That was the dilemma faced by Gov. J.B. Pritzker as he contemplated his recent meeting with Pope Leo.
It was made somewhat easier, because Pope Leo is a Chicago native and a White Sox fan.
Pritzker presented the Pope with art, books and a local “Pope” beer.
The art was made by women incarcerated at Logan Correctional Facility. The books were described as related to Illinois history, and the beer is a product of the Burning Bush Brewery’s Da Pope American Mild Ale.
Wacky county officials
The political fight between DuPage County Board members and County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek continues unabated.
When last we heard from board members, they had acquiesced to Kaczmarek’s demands to pay contractors who provided her office election services.
But that concession only seems to have whetted their appetites for more conflict with the county clerk’s office.
The board recently rejected Kaczmarek’s request for a supplemental appropriation of $268,000 to pay office expenses for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Meanwhile, board member Cindy Cronin Cahill announced that she’ll seek approval of a censure motion at the board meeting this week.
“This pattern of disregard for lawful oversight cannot continue,” said Cahill, who charged that Kaczmarek has refused to cooperate with the county board.
Kaczmarek is seeking a third term. She faces a Democratic challenger in the March primary.
