Dupage Policy Journal

Republican state Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) admits she can’t begin to get into the mind of Illinois' longtime House speaker.

“I don’t know how he can think he survive this,” Grant told the DuPage Policy Journal. “With everything that’s happened, Mike Madigan needs to go and it’s been that way for a while now.”

Federal authorities recently moved to charge Fidel Marquez, who formerly served as vice president of governmental affairs, with bribery and conspiracy stemming from his alleged part in a pay-for-play scheme in which indictments say jobs, contracts and payments were steered to associates known to be close to Madigan in exchange for his support on certain legislation.

Earlier this summer, federal investigators also announced that the utility giant had been charged with a years-long bribery scheme where at least $1.3 million in perks were steered to Madigan associates. At the same time, Madigan’s office was served with a grand jury subpoena seeking more information about their dealings with such companies as at AT&T, Walgreens and Rush University Medical Center.

“Just with what what’s come out so far, you wonder how Democrats can be standing by him the way they are,” Grant added. “This isn’t the first time you’ve heard rumblings about him.”

Grant, who is now running for a second term against Ken Mejia-Beal, said the actions of her Democrat challenger are some of those that perplex her most of all.

“My opponent just set out these mailers talking about how we need to get rid of corruption in Springfield, but he’s taking money from Madigan for his campaign,” she said. “With everything that’s happened, Mike Madigan is still keeping the tribe happy by steering money into their campaigns.”