Favorable legislation flows to private clients of House Speaker Madigan : Illinois Political Boss Rules

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Chicago's largest operator of assisted living homes for the poor was looking to grow its business when it decided to add a new member to its legal team: the law firm of House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Within months of that decision, the most powerful lawmaker in Illinois and the chamber he controls voted in 2005 to create a state program that would send tens of millions of dollars to his new client.

Weeks ago, the same client caught another break when a legislative panel advised by top Madigan aides rejected an idea that could have killed its latest venture, a new care center in Lake County.

The case of Pathway Senior Living LLC illustrates how Madigan's public actions have repeatedly benefited his private clients.

As he balances who wins and who loses in the state's struggle to pay the health care bill for its poorest citizens, Madigan made decisions affecting the fortunes of many companies that put money in his pocket. Nursing homes, pharmacies and other assisted living companies in recent years all have hired the property tax law firm where he is the rainmaker-in-chief.

When the House and Senate last week passed a measure to cut Medicaid spending by $1.6 billion that was written by Madigan's office, just a week before the end of the spring session, all those industries were able to avoid the worst of the proposals that targeted them.

The convergence of Madigan's public actions and private business — in a Statehouse where key decisions are shrouded in secrecy — troubles ethics experts interviewed by the Tribune. The newspaper has previously reported that clients of the speaker's tax law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner, have benefited from state projects he helped secure.

The politically run economy of Illinois.