Dupage Policy Journal

Veteran state Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) has signed on as a cosponsor to a House Resolution that would officially strip embattled House Speaker Mike Madigan of all his power in that role.

“Serving as speaker is a privilege and Madigan has abused that privilege time and time again,” Grant said of the man who has held that post for 35 of the last 37 years. “This brand of dirty politics has no place in Springfield, and least of all in the Office of the Speaker.”

Arguably the most powerful lawmaker in Illinois, Madigan now finds himself at the center of a pay-for-play federal corruption probe involving utility giant ComEd.

H.R. 885 argues that the action of stripping Madigan, also chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, is needed because lawmakers in Springfield have lost all confidence in him and he is on record in asserting he has no plans to step down.

“On July 17, U.S. Attorney John Lausch, Jr. revealed the details of a deferred prosecution agreement involving ComEd,” Grant added. “The facts relative to the agreement involve ComEd and ‘Public Official A,’ who was referred to as the Speaker of the House. Mr. Lausch painted a disgusting picture of pay-to-play politics, including this latest scheme through which ComEd paid out $1.3 million to friends and allies of Mike Madigan in exchange for favorable votes on controversial bills.”

Grant argues none of it comes as a much of a surprise to anyone who knows Springfield.

“Mike Madigan has abused his position for years, and since it does not seem like he will step down voluntarily, I’m co-sponsoring H.R. 885 to at least strip him of the speakership,” she said. “It’s time to clean up ethics in Springfield once and for all, and that won’t happen until we have a new speaker of the House.”