32 Comments - TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:17 pm: Disagree. Madigan had nothing to do with what Blago did. This is just a simplistic attempt from a questionable editorial board to get back on the blame madigan bus. Aside from the fact that some of Shaw’s local papers have corruption issues that put Illinois to shame. - Perrid - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:17 pm: If Madigan walked out the door tomorrow, I have a hard time seeing the end of sweetheart deals or pork or other “corruption”. It seems fairly endemic in IL. Not just for Democrats, either. - Grandson of Man - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:20 pm: Disagree at this point. Who’s to say some leader other than Madigan would pass “meaningful ethics changes?” Maybe Madigan and his colleagues from both parties can pass something this spring. They should. The president and his supporters set a dangerous precedent when it comes to ethics and corruption. It’s more than ironic that these supporters would call for Madigan to step down. - Oak Parker - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:20 pm: If JB decides to expend his political capital on ethics reform, it can get done. - Rutro - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:21 pm: Agree, one look at the D2’s for the groups Madigan controls makes me sick. When so many give him so much $, it stinks. You can say they don’t have to give him the money, maybe, but they’re not giving it to him for good publicity. - High Times Low Standards - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:23 pm: Madigan has been compared on this blog to Paulie from Goodfellas. That comparison isn’t made because we think Madigan is an agent of integrity - the comparison is made because Madigan has more in common with a criminal than a saint. Madigan persisting as Speaker and head of the Democrat Party helps keep the culture of corruption firmly entrenched. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:23 pm: === We don’t expect any meaningful ethics changes so long as Madigan is in charge. He has to go.=== Strongly disagree. Why? Put 60 on the stairs, put pressure on by a bipartisan want, Madigan or no Madigan, it’ll be impossible to put 60 on the stairs and it not go thru, especially in the environment. And lets be very crystal clear what “60 on the stairs” means, outside numerology. It means the Dem goo-goos and the thoughtful GOP (not the phony Wehrli types) cobble together actual language that isn’t a waste of time, where those pushing for accountability have words and actions with teeth, and “both sides” for about 17 minutes dispense with partisan rhetoric vilifying the side, where “downstate” isn’t a snickering word and “Democrat member” isn’t a disparaging remark. It’ll only fly if adults decide the other side can be as thoughtful as “my side” and wins are given (and taken) to build a coalition that can’t be ignored and worse, if ignored, will bring heat other than from the phonies like Grant Wehrli. - Donnie Elgin - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:24 pm: Reforms will not begin until the depths of the corruption is fully revealed. The feds will be squeezing MJM allies over the next few months. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:28 pm: === head of the Democrat Party=== Almost perfect example as to what the “60 on the stairs” are fighting against, almost on cue, lol Thank you. - Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:34 pm: I disagree with the premise that removing Madigan would actually make a difference one way or another. - Claude Rains is shocked - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:36 pm: I got news for all the bite size news lovers out there. There was corruption before Mike Madigan. - 47th Ward - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:48 pm: Lol, no. What are these people going to say when Illlinois politicians continue to be busted for corruption long after Mike Madigan is gone? Who will they blame then? Tip: it’s easier if you blame the individual pols themselves for their behavior, or you could blame human nature. Blaming Madigan because other pols are corrupt is a convenient excuse for his political enemies who can’t seem to out organize him or out work him. He ain’t perfect but he’s not the devil either. So much of this anti-Madigan stuff is detached from reality. Instead of working harder, his enemies are just shouting louder. It’s tiresome. - RNUG - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:49 pm: == meaningful ethics changes == Meaningful is in the eye of the beholder. Put specific proposals on paper, get a sponsor, and try to pass them. Don’t try to pass a massive bill, just address obvious problems one at a time. Don’t let the adequate be the enemy of the perfect, because you will never get perfect. A few big issues come to mind: * do we want legislators to be full time or part time, and if full time, are we going to increase their pay? * are we going to close the revolving lobbyist door or not, and if we close it, how long should the prohibition be? * should we tighten up the disclosure and recursion rules, and if so, how much? * on a related topic, should there be campaign funding reform, and if so, what limits should apply? - RNUG - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:51 pm: Forgot to answer about MJM. In the bigger picture of reform, he can help push it through; IF there is enough outcry for it he will get behind it. - Anyone Remember - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:54 pm: Disagree. How is Madigan responsible for Bill Cellini / Sangamon County GOP? Ethics problems and corruption are a bi-partisan / statewide curse. - Benjamin - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 3:57 pm: Disagree. It seems to me that the culture of corruption caused Madigan, not the other way around. If he and every other member of the state legislature quit tomorrow, their successors would find themselves battered by same financial and ethical temptations that have caused many a lawmaker (of both major parties) to go astray. I agree with RNUG: each one of those ethics proposals would cut off avenues for corrupt dealing. No one is sufficient, but all are necessary. - Jocko - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 4:03 pm: Disagree. This ‘culture of corruption’ brought us marriage equality, abolishing the death penalty, and (with any luck) the millionaire’s tax. - SSL - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 4:12 pm: Disagree. No matter the culture, there will be bad actors. Blago has the moral compass of a jackal and would have behaved no differently. - Henry Francis - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 4:14 pm: Disagree. It has been going on long before MJM and will presumably continue after he is gone. As others have said, everyone is doing it, many of whom were not friendly with MJM. MJM just has done it better, and longer, than anyone else. Don’t hate the player, hate the game. - Professor - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 4:22 pm: Illinois, by today’s standards, has always been corrupt. From the very first session in 1819 the legislature has been a place to enhance yourself. The reality is that today’s legislators are choir boys compared to past sessions. It is a mistake to think the replacement of the Speaker will change that. However Illinois is changing, just examine the last election in Chicago and the Legislature has turned over in a great amount in the recent decade. Now, will the changes result in more honest government? That is questionable. It is a mistake to think all you have to do is replace Michael Madigan. What has to change is the 200 year old culture, and that will take a mass movement. - Tommydanger - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 4:24 pm: Disagree. The removal or retirement of Madigan will no more end corruption in Illinois than the conviction of Weinstein will end sexual assaults in Hollywood. The thirst for power, money, lust among other human failings, are present throughout our society. People go to prison, lose jobs, pensions, reputations and fortunes over the choices they make. No law, no matter how draconian the penalty, will dissuade some people from making poor, selfish choices. - Karma's Janitor - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 4:38 pm: Strongly disagree. Where are the votes for real ethics reform in both chambers ? - Annonin' - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 4:48 pm: When one sees the dummies at Shaw at work it is sadly easier to understand why newspapers are in full flounder mode. Let’s remember GOPies think a fair map ends all the bad stuff. Will they amend their bill to outlaw killing vets or owning plants with poison gas emissions? How about banning the leaders with slot machine interests or income from govt bond deals? - Generic Drone - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 5:14 pm: The removal of Madigan won’t stop corruption. However, he needs to go anyway. Citizens United needs to go also. - Last Bull Moose - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 5:16 pm: Agree in part. If leaders do not allow the whiff of corruption, it will decrease. Madigan seems to accept it as part of the world. If Pritzker really goes after corrupt actors, I think Madigan will support him. Or at least be neutral. - Keyrock - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 5:46 pm: Disagree. And second what Benjamin said. Corruption was in Illinois long before Madigan was born. It will be here long after Madigan is gone. - Flapdoodle - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 7:14 pm: Simple minds always want simple solutions. Right, Shaw Media? - Woodstock willy - Monday, Feb 24, 20 @ 9:48 pm: Didnt we think killing Saddam would put some end to the worst of terrorism. Likewise, corruption is far deeper than any one person, Madigan or otherwise. - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 9:05 am: ===Meaningful is in the eye of the beholder.=== Legislation is one thing, but removing culture of winky-winky nudgey-nudgey can go a long way to help with the implementation of legislation. The administration of our public thing — our great state of Illinois — is full of well intended and well written legislation that is ignored in whole or in part with little ramifications for those responsible regardless of whether or not the intention was deliberate, malicious, or just a lack of resources and competence. Governors own, OW, and I agree with you there. The Speaker needs to own a thing or two done in his stead or in the implication of his stead. - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 9:11 am: ===Didnt we think killing Saddam would put some end to the worst of terrorism. === As a pro-tip when trying to make a shocking point by referencing a historic event it can be a good idea to avoid choosing an invasion and execution where numerous experts in the field took staunch positions against those actions based off of their actual knowledge of the field only to be ignored and have the course of history prove them right. I am left facing the choice of either accepting your ignorance, or propping you up to a level of brilliance where you’re making a joke about how the removal of Madigan will result in the State of Illinois losing a sizable amount of territory to extremists with backward views and incredible detachment from reality and the consequences of their actions. And I don’t think you’re really making a complicated joke comparing the Eastern Block to ISIS. So. Lets leave the foreign policy examples out of discussion of Illinois politics because it seems like you’re making a different point than you think you’re making. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 9:18 am: - Candy Dogood - With respect. The question was; === We don’t expect any meaningful ethics changes so long as Madigan is in charge. He has to go.=== I strongly disagree. Governor or not, and governors own, it’s going to be up to 60 in the House to force this, and if the governor decides to participate, that would help, but not necessary. I’d like to see it, if it’ll move it, but the Governor, any governor is not as important or intricate if anything can get to 60 - An Illinois Man - Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 9:44 am: OW - Doesn’t matter if you have 60 on the stairs if the Speaker never calls the bill. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.