WBEZ is continuing to uncover big fuckery in Chi-Town

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Hired 35 People From House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Clout List

By Dan Mihalopoulos

June 11, 4:12 PM CT

Despite repeatedly promising to be “independent” of longtime Democratic boss Michael Madigan, first-term Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker filled many prominent roles in his administration with people recommended by the state House speaker and party chairman, a WBEZ investigation has revealed.

As Pritzker won the election in 2018 and was sworn into office last year, Madigan’s office sent him the names of scores of job seekers and the positions in state government they desired. Madigan’s successful recommendations far outnumbered those from other legislative leaders, with records showing the new governor made nearly three dozen hires and board appointments off the speaker’s clout list.

Illinois taxpayers are paying those Madigan-endorsed public officials a total of more than $2.5 million a year, according to WBEZ's analysis of Madigan's recommendations, which were obtained through public records requests.

Among the hires made at Madigan’s urging were some of the highest-ranking officials in the new Pritzker administration, including Illinois Commerce Commission head Carrie Zalewski.

Madigan recommended Zalewski to the governor, and Pritzker put her in charge of the ICC — which regulates public utilities such as Commonwealth Edison. She has remained in that position as federal investigators conduct an ongoing criminal probe into the giant power company’s ties to the speaker’s allies.

The top-level Pritzker appointees whose names appeared on the long list of Madigan favorites also include three directors of Illinois government departments, the state’s superintendent of education, the heads of the workers compensation and human rights commissions and two aides in the governor’s office.

Much Moar:

https://www.wbez.org/stories/pritzker-madigan/809f86d3-4eff-413f-8c5c-cc3210a9ed9d