Powerful state House Speaker Michael Madigan has been making some odd moves lately. The Democrat was identified as being a guest at a fund-raiser for U.S. House Speaker John Boehner earlier this month. Boehner the night before was in suburban Hinsdale for a Republican fund-raiser that is rallying to fight the congressional map crafted by Madigan's own crew. Madigan's camp contends that he was a guest of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Chairman Terry Duffy, did not donate any money and went for the sake of "cooperation."

This revelation comes as Madigan, chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, was noticeably absent from a number of Democratic events, including Governor's Day at the Illinois State Fair and President Obama's multiple visits to the area for his birthday and his recent high-profile Midwest tour.