Dupage Policy Journal

State Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) is demanding that Gov. J.B. Pritzker convene a special session of the legislature to deal with the growing corruption scandal longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) now finds himself embroiled in.

“Gov. Pritzker needs to call us back to Springfield to take up urgently needed ethics reform,” Grant said. “Since we can’t count on Madigan to do anything like that, I’m asking the governor to do what we all know is the right thing.”

After nearly four decades of being in control in Springfield, Madigan now finds himself at the center of an unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd. Federal prosecutors contend the company engaged in a “years-long bribery scheme” involving jobs, contracts and payments that were steered to him in his role as house speaker and chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.

To date, no charges have been filed against the state’s longest-serving lawmaker, but prosecutors have not been shy in asserting that the utility giant sought to “influence and reward” Madigan by providing financial benefits to those directly tied to him.

“ComEd has admitted their guilt, but with democrats it’s been nothing but silence about the allegations the speaker faces,” Grant added. “A few have come out, but really no one in leadership and everything they’ve said has had qualifiers.”

In publicly announcing the case against Commonwealth Edison public, U.S. Attorney John Lausch noted the investigation is ongoing. The Chicago Tribune reports federal investigators have moved to subpoena Madigan for information, including “possible job recommendations.”

Grant argues changing the culture in Springfield has to start with Democrats finding the courage to stand up to Madigan.

“Illinois Democrats remained silent when Speaker Madigan, year-after-year, refused to hear ethics reform legislation introduced by House Republicans,” she said. “They remained silent when he annually blocked legislation that would create term limits for Illinois legislators by holding it up in Rules Committee and they remain silent after Speaker Madigan is the subject of a federal criminal investigation. Simply put, Democratic silence is corruption.”