Dupage Policy Journal

Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) recently voiced her feelings about the federal indictment of former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan.

“I think we need ethics reform and this shows it,” Grant said. "Going forward, we could use a lot more reform. We have to see what happens to him, but the idea that something is finally being done is a good thing because we definitely need change."

A release from the Illinois DOJ said that “the 22-count indictment accuses Madigan of leading for nearly a decade a criminal enterprise whose purpose was to enhance Madigan’s political power and financial well-being while also generating income for his political allies and associates.”

Madigan is facing charges of racketeering conspiracy, as well as individual counts of using interstate facilities to carry out bribery, wire fraud, and attempted extortion. The release notes that in addition to his role as Speaker of the House, Madigan has also held the positions of representative of Illinois’ 22nd District, committeeman for Chicago’s 13th Ward, chairman of both the Illinois Democratic Party and the 13th Ward Democratic Organization, and partner at the Chicago law firm of Madigan & Getzendanner.

Grant doesn't seem optimistic about ethics reform legislation passed last year. She thinks Republicans have better proposals.

"I know this is something really important to Republicans and I think if we can get some of the stuff we’ve proposed heard, it could really make a huge difference," she said.

The ethics reform bill which Pritzker signed in October prompted Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope to resign.

“I’m thinking that the legislature knows the limitations of the power of the LIG and that they want it that way,” Pope told ABC 20. “That’s why I said I am a paper tiger. There are no real teeth to this legislation the way it is now.”

Grant takes the same view as Pope. 

"The LIG’s hands are tied," she said. "They said after Carol Pope quit we would work on this but we just put someone else through and in that office without Republicans being heard. Beyond that, the person in the seat won’t be able to do the job because the root of the problem is still there. We have another LIG, but we haven’t fixed any of the problems that need to be dealt with."

Illinois has a history of corruption in high places. Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was impeached and convicted of multiple corruption charges. He served nearly eight years in prison. Former Gov. George Ryan was convicted of racketeering and served five years in prison. Former U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski was convicted of corruption and served 17 months in prison.