Madigan spokesman has outside consulting deals

CHICAGO (AP) - A published report says a top aide to powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is a contract employee with outside clients who depend on Madigan and the Legislature for funding. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Madigan spokesman Steve Brown's clients include a program for nursing assistants that saw its state funding more than double over two years. Brown's state contract provides a salary of $112,500 this year, plus benefits. Outside clients boost his yearly income to at least $196,000. The 66-year-old Brown says he doesn't lobby the Democratic speaker or other state lawmakers on behalf of clients. He says he discloses his clients to Madigan. Brown's clients include a not-for-profit group that helps dropouts, which has received $1.6 million in state grants over two years.