Austin Berg – Page 7 –

House Speaker Mike Madigan speaks Aug. 17, 2017 at the Democratic Chairman's Brunch in Springfield.

Berg: Yes, Speaker Madigan, you have a culture problem

December 14, 2018 at 2:05 p.m.

But House Speaker Mike Madigan's office doesn't have a sexual harassment problem. Just ask him. "What does this say about your office?" asked Illinois News Network reporter Greg Bishop. "Is...

Berg: Meet the Illinoisan at the center of a historic Supreme Court case

December 14, 2018 at 10:02 p.m.

Mark Janus learned about public service from a young age, growing up as a Boy Scout in Springfield. He eventually became an Eagle Scout, and now he's passed along his...

Berg: The most misleading myths in Illinois politics

December 14, 2018 at 8:43 p.m.

It's no secret there's a lot wrong with Illinois. Abraham Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12, is an annual reminder of how far the state has drifted away from the virtues of...

Berg: Illinoisans starving for certainty

December 14, 2018 at 7:42 p.m.

Gov. Bruce Rauner delivered his fourth and possibly final State of the State address in Springfield Jan. 31. The governor took direct aim at a few politically popular issues. One...

Berg: The audacity of broke

December 15, 2018 at 1:59 a.m.

It can be tough to comprehend Illinois' dismal finances. The state has the worst credit rating in the nation and has been bottom of the barrel on that measure for...

Berg: Like a good neighbor: Illinois sees record loss of people to nearby states

December 14, 2018 at 11:25 p.m.

New IRS data show the Land of Lincoln is bleeding a record number of people to its neighboring states. While it's not pretty, it's the truth. And Springfield refuses to...

Berg: There’s a difference between giving thanks and getting played

December 17, 2018 at 6:40 p.m.

Illinoisans are a giving bunch. In fact, no state sees a higher share of its population donate money to charity, according to a WalletHub study released in November. That's something...

Illinois' new bicentennial flag flies below the state flag in front of the Will County administration building, following a brief ceremony Dec. 4, 2017..

Berg: It’s Illinois’ birthday! Hey, wait … come back

December 17, 2018 at 5:33 p.m.

Illinois celebrated its 199th birthday Dec. 3. The eventual Land of Lincoln first became a state in 1818. Back then, nearly all of Illinois' fertile prairie was left unsettled. But...

Berg: In ‘Spring[field] Vegas,’ a toxic culture thrives in the dark

December 17, 2018 at 11:53 a.m.

Springfield does not operate with the pride of a state capitol. It's always been "Spring Vegas." And it's always been a toxic place for women. Maybe it's a lawmaker calling...

Berg: The Illinois tax trick that’s years in the making

December 18, 2018 at 12:41 a.m.

Illinois is home to a few powerful interests who believe one problem is at the root of the state's horrific finances. It's not the sinkhole of pension debt swirling beneath...

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