The Illinois House of Representatives…where good bills go to die.  Not only are bills bottled up in the Illinois House, easily 1/3 (if not more) of the states power is bottled up there as well – though not by the chamber, but by one man.  From sj-r.com:

Illinois House and Senate Republican leaders think Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan wields too much power, denying rank and file lawmakers the opportunity to vote up or down on key issues.

In a meeting with The State Journal-Register editorial board, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, and House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, said Thursday they believe the General Assembly will be able to approve a public works construction program that has eluded a compromise for years. At the same time, however, neither could explain which tax or fee increases Republican lawmakers will support to pay for the program.

Cross complained that Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, has bottled up bills without giving them chances for up-or-down votes in House committees, let alone in the full chamber.

Cross said that has happened to a number of Republican initiatives to control state spending and restrict the ability of lawmakers to raise taxes.

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