Guys, this is huge. Actually, it is YUGE.
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has led the state’s Democratic Party since 1998. He has served in the house since…1971. Us natives know that Madigan is the one in charge of Illinois.
Madigan is the face of Illinois politics, including alleged corruption. I say allegedly because he has never been convicted of corruption, but you hear the whispers.
The latest charge is the biggest one because Commonwealth Edison admitted “it engaged in a yearslong bribery scheme to win the speaker’s favor.”
Despite The Chicago Way, Illinois Democrats saw losses on Election Day, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s ‘Fair Tax’ amendment.
That “fair tax” amendment would have eliminated the flat income tax in Illinois’s constitution and force the rich to pay their fair share.
I guess Madigan’s star is fading because Illinois Democrats have chosen him as the scapegoat.
Pritzker brought up Madigan after Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) lashed out at the speaker:
Pritzker’s comments come after U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin told WTTW-Ch. 11 in an interview Wednesday that he believes governor’s graduated-rate income tax proposal and Democratic candidates suffered because of Madigan’s continued role as party chairman.“Candidates who had little or no connection with him whatsoever were being tarred as Madigan allies who are behind corruption and so forth and so on,” Durbin said. “It was really disconcerting to see the price that we paid on that. I hope he takes that to heart and understands that his presence as chairman of our party has not helped.”While Durbin didn’t directly call for Madigan to resign, Pritzker was asked at his daily coronavirus briefing Thursday whether he agrees “with Sen. Durbin that we need new leadership at the party.”“Yes,” Pritzker said.
Oh, it gets better, you guys! Everyone is piling on Madigan. It’s so delicious.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined the chorus:
The calls for Madigan to step down hitting a crescendo, Duckworth issued her statement later in the day.“The ongoing investigation surrounding Speaker Madigan is an unnecessary distraction and makes it harder to carry out the work of helping the people of Illinois,” Duckworth said. “As our nation hopefully embarks on a brighter path with a new President, the Illinois Democratic Party and the Illinois House of Representatives should consider new leadership to continue the progress we’ve made at the state level and build on it.”
The Illinois House of Representatives had a brutal night, losing four Democrats: Diane Pappas of Itasca, Mary Edly-Allen of Libertyville, Monica Bristow of Alton, and Nathan Reitz of Steeleville.
Madigan personally tried “oust Republican state Rep. Bradley Stephens” by donating $900,000 to his Democratic challenger Michelle Darbo.
Madigan lost Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride, who Republicans dubbed as the speaker’s “favorite judge.”
Democrat Judy Cates tried to “succeed retiring state Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier.” That did not work.
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