CORRUPTION
A major criminal trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan began this week in Chicago. Madigan faces bribery and racketeering charges. The former speaker is charged, along with his longtime friend and confidant, Mike McClain.
A 117-page superseding racketeering indictment accuses him of leading what prosecutors call the “Madigan Enterprise,” dedicated to enriching himself and his political cronies, while also maintaining his party in power in Springfield. Both men have pleaded not guilty.
The federal trial has commenced with an extensive questioning procedure to select jurors for the trial. The Madigan trial is expected to receive extensive media coverage and to go well into December. Potential jurors are being asked:
- Whether they feel like there’s an issue with the political system in Illinois;
- Whether they feel that lobbying is a bad thing; and
- Whether they feel politicians shouldn’t mix business and politics.
Legal observers believe that evidence will be presented that will dig significantly into issues related to the perceived intermingling of money, power, and political clout in Chicago and Springfield.
Last year I filed HB4119, which would stop political campaign donations being used to pay for criminal defense. My bill is a commonsense approach to ensure campaign financing is used as intended and NOT to defend criminally bad behavior. This is about accountability, and we must hold elected officials to a higher standard.
ELECTIONS
McCombie Files Voter Integrity Bill, Calls for Proof of Citizenship. This week I filed legislation to require proof of citizenship during voter registration. This bill is a proactive step toward enhancing voter integrity and election security, which are cornerstones of a functioning democracy.
Protecting the democratic process means ensuring that every vote is legitimate and counted. Requiring proof of citizenship during voter registration is a commonsense safeguard that helps protect the integrity of our elections. With concerns about election fraud, this legislation is a necessary step to strengthen trust in the electoral process. As Illinois continues to feel the effects of the ongoing migrant crisis, it’s critical that we make changes to safeguard our elections and free from any doubt. Safeguarding our voting process protects the core of our democracy, and we must take every opportunity to make it better.
The bill, HB5887, has gained support from the House Republican Caucus and will proceed through the legislative process as a measure to protect both voter confidence and democratic integrity.
GAMBLING
CGFA report indicates strong growth in Illinois sports betting, video gaming. The 2024 report on “Wagering in Illinois,” part of a series published annually by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA), continues to display numbers showing strong growth in the key sectors of video gaming and sports betting.
The CGFA report reflects Illinois gaming activity in calendar year 2023 and fiscal year 2024, the 12-month period that ended June 30, 2024. Illinois video gaming terminal counts and revenues continued to swell, with 48,176 video gaming terminals in operation on June 30 of this year. These terminals were in operation at 9,170 Illinois host locations, which include taverns, restaurants, storefront gambling parlors, truck stops, and veterans’ and fraternal organizations’ meeting halls.
In FY24, the Illinois sports wagering handle was more than $12.8 billion, up 23% from FY23. Of this sum, 91.5% was repaid out to bettors, leaving collective adjusted gross receipts of $1.1 billion for all licensee sportsbooks during this 12-month period. The sportsbooks kept most of this sum, spent a small amount on their ongoing expenses (day-to-day sports betting is now almost all electronic, and is moving towards AI algorithms), and paid $166 million in tax revenues to the State and to Illinois local governments.
Illinois land-based casino adjusted gross receipts rose 13.4% in FY24 over the numbers reported in FY23. However, most of this increase did not reflect growth at existing casinos, but rather overall growth of the sector based on additional investment in new casino floor space. In FY24, new floor space was created by the opening up of two new casinos: (a) in Carterville, Illinois (near Marion in far southern Illinois; meant to be permanent), and (b) in Chicago (on the Near North Side, meant to be “temporary”). The Chicago temporary casino licensee, Bally, continues to work on the development of a future permanent 4,000-gaming position Chicago casino. This type of growth is expected to continue with other casino expansions, such as the opening of a permanent casino location in Rockford. However, in contrast to the numbers generated by these new floor spaces, existing casino floors are showing mature customer counts and flat or declining gaming activity.
The Illinois State Lottery continued to enjoy slow but real revenue growth in the most recently concluded fiscal year, with ticket sales moving up 7% from $3.61 billion in FY23 to almost $3.86 billion in FY24. In the context of overall U.S. inflation, this reflected stable customer counts and gross Lottery ticket take-ins. What is now the smallest sector in the Illinois gaming industry, bets placed on live and video horse racing, continued to decline in FY24. Illinois now has only two active horse racetracks, one each in (a) greater Chicago and (b) greater St. Louis, although horseracing bettors can also go to off-track-betting facilities to place interstate bets on races conducted in other states.
OCTOBER
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is a time to raise awareness about this disease that affects millions of individuals and families across the nation. In Illinois alone, approximately 12,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. This statistic shows the urgent need for education, early detection, and support for those affected.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, and while survival rates have improved significantly over the past few decades, early detection remains crucial. The American Cancer Society reports that when detected early, the five-year survival rate is about 99%. This is why regular screenings, such as mammograms, which can detect cancer before symptoms appear, are highly recommended.
Early detection not only saves lives but also reduces the treatment burden and costs associated with advanced stages of cancer. Women aged 40 and older are encouraged to have annual mammograms, while younger women should consult their healthcare providers about their individual risk factors. The Illinois Department of Public Health offers resources and programs to help women access screenings, especially those who may face barriers to care.
State Representative Jeff Keicher has been a strong advocate for increased access to breast cancer screenings and awareness in Illinois. He was a co-sponsor of HB 4180, which passed unanimously this spring to ensure that women across Illinois have access to life-saving screenings without having to worry about financial hurdles. The bill addresses a significant gap in coverage by requiring insurance companies to cover both Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Currently, MBIs aren’t covered, leaving many individuals without access to this advanced imaging technique. Rep. Keicher believes that by removing these financial barriers, more women will have the opportunity to detect breast cancer early, improving outcomes and saving lives.
I am also the sponsor of HR69, which brings important attention to metastatic breast cancer by marking October 13 as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Illinois. Metastatic breast cancer presents profound challenges, as it signifies the point where the disease has spread beyond its origin, complicating treatment efforts. Raising awareness through HR69 reflects our commitment to advance research in the fight against this aggressive form of cancer, while also honoring the remarkable strength and courage of those battling this relentless disease.
For more information on breast cancer resources and support in Illinois, read about the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) here: IL Breast & Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) (illinois.gov).
UPCOMING EVENTS
I have a rundown of fun fall events on my website’s event page, you can find that HERE!
Mark your calendars for a few of my own upcoming events:
