Mike Quigley

About Mike

Mike Quigley was elected to Congress to represent Illinois’ 5th District on April 7, 2009. A former cook County Commissioner, Mike has served his community for more than thirty years. His election to Congress was an opportunity to take his unique style of reform-minded politics, which Chicagoans have known for years, from Cook County to Washington.

In Washington, Mike has made government reform and fiscal responsibility the cornerstones of his legislative agenda. By starting from scratch and asking tough questions about what the government actually needs, his innovative “Reinventing Government” reports lay out detailed plans for streamlining the federal budget and reducing our deficit by $2 trillion over the next 10 years. Mike has voted for budgets that address the debt but maintain investments for future generations. He also supports comprehensive tax reform to broaden the base by clearing out most of the special interest tax breaks that cost more than a trillion dollars in lost revenue annually.

Mike has proposed smart policies…

To crack down on corruption and increase government transparency. He is the co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Transparency Caucus, and he has introduced landmark legislation that would significantly strengthen oversight at all branches of the federal government and utilizes 21st century technology to expand public access to information.

As the only Illinois member of the House Committee on Appropriations, Mike is using his position to prioritize investments in innovation and Chicago-area infrastructure, which will grow the local economy and spur job creation. He’s also fighting to put more cops on the streets, protect funding for vital housing and social services programs and is a leading voice for smarter defense spending and nuclear reduction. He currently serves on the Subcommittee on Financial Services and the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

For the 114 th Congress, Mike was also appointed to serve on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where he oversees the activities of the entire Intelligence Community. He is ranking member of the Emerging Threats Subcommittee and sits on the NSA and Cybersecurity Subcommittee.

He previously served on the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where he was the Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services, and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs.

Mike has established himself as a leader on many of our nation’s most challenging and significant issues. He continues to fight for full LGBT equality, a woman’s right to choose and commonsense gun law reforms that will make our communities safer. A member of the Sierra Club since he was 16, Mike continues pushing for strong environmental policies that protect our natural resources and address the growing threat of climate change. The Chicago Reader has said he is “arguably the greenest elected official in Chicago.”

For constituents who have known Mike since his days as the Commissioner from Cook County’ s 10th District, his efforts on Capitol Hill come as no surprise. Mike led efforts in the Cook County Board of Commissioners on the environment, LGBT rights, reform, transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility. He earned the reputation as an honest and effective leader on reform. Mike continues to work tirelessly to provide a better world for the next generation.

Mike strongly believes the only way to solve real problems is when we are willing to work across the aisle with colleagues who are serious about getting things done. To that extent, Mike meets weekly with a group of Democrats and Republicans who are committed to taking on tough issues and finding common ground.

Mike did his undergraduate work at Roosevelt University, earned a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago, and a law degree from the Loyola University School of Law, all in Chicago. He also served as an adjunct professor of political science at Loyola University Chicago and Roosevelt University, lecturing on politics, the environment and local government. He was a practicing lawyer for more than a decade.

Mike lives with his wife Barbara in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, where he has lived since 1982. His daughters, Alyson and Meghan, are both grown and out of the house but he has his dog, Scout, to keep him busy. In his free time, he roots for the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks and World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. He enjoys playing ice hockey in a weekly game at home in the district.