An apparent political deal has been struck on proposed changes in the state's public-records law that will give Attorney General Lisa Madigan just about all the strengthening in the law that she wanted.

  The key change in a bill that now will go to the House and Senate will give Ms. Madigan's office the power to resolve disputes over whether City Hall or other governments have improperly rejected a request to examine public documents.

   Madigan's decision can be appealed to the Circuit Court, but the standard of proof required to overturn it is high, according to Don Craven, interim executive director of the Illinois Press Assn., who termed the bill overall "a real step forward."

   Mr. Cravan had sharply criticized an early draft version of the legislation submitted by staffers for the Senate and House Speaker Michael Madigan, Ms. Madigan's father.  That led to considerable speculation about why the speaker might be blocking his daughter's top legislative priority as she gets ready to run for governor.

   Now, the Madigans are back in agreement.  Is anybody surprised?

   The Illinois Municipal League is said to still oppose the proposal.