Dupage Policy Journal

GOP state House candidate Laura Hois insists she’s seen it all before when it comes to the scrutiny now being cast on House Speaker Mike Madigan.

“Knowing how the speaker operates, he will find a way to avoid testifying,” Hois said of the bipartisan Special House committee now looking into some of Madigan’s purported behavior. “The Special House Investigating Committee wants to ask Madigan questions, however I doubt that Madigan will fully cooperate.”

The state’s longest-tenured lawmaker finds himself at the center of an unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd and an alleged pay-for-play scheme in which all perks were steered to the veteran lawmaker in exchange for his support on pending legislation. Through it all, Hois expects Madigan to still be Madigan.

“If Madigan agrees to testify, I don’t think he will reveal much,” said Hois, who is running against incumbent state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville) in the 81st District. “For as long as I’ve known Madigan, he appears to be extremely calculated.”

Hois said she isn’t sure how much should be expected from the committee to begin with.

“The Republican members of the committee are very capable and up to the task of conducting the investigation properly,” she said. “If Speaker Madigan does agree to answer any of their questions, I believe he will be evasive rather than honest and forthright. I think Madigan knows about everything that happened.

With so many people now demanding answers, Hois is hoping that might make a difference.

“Remember, not only Republicans are demanding answers from the speaker," she said. "The governor (J.B. Pritzker) and several members of his own caucus have publicly asked for answers or his resignation."