* Leader Durkin had previously issued one of those “if true” statements about Speaker Madigan. Gov. Pritzker mentioned Durkin’s comments yesterday to defend his own “if true” demand. Welp…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin released the following statement regarding the call for Speaker Madigan’s immediate resignation and will be filing a House resolution to call for another vote on Speaker for the Illinois House of Representatives:
“The federal charges outlined in the ComEd prosecution highlight a scheme solely for the benefit of Speaker Madigan. These facts are a disgrace of the highest level to the citizens of Illinois and to the institution of which we serve, the Illinois House of Representatives.
The House Rules for the 101st General Assembly provide great responsibilities and duties of the Speaker of the House. After reviewing the facts contained in the ComEd deferred prosecution agreement, it is abundantly clear that Michael J. Madigan is unable to execute his responsibilities as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and as state representative for the 22nd House District.
I call for the immediate resignation of Speaker Madigan from the Illinois House of Representatives, and will be filing a resolution to have the House Chamber vote on a new Speaker immediately.”
…Adding… HRO…
State Representative candidates Amy Elik, Lisa Ciampoli, and David Friess released the following statements regarding the ongoing corruption scandal surrounding House Speaker Michael Madigan and State Representatives Monica Bristow (IL-111), Katie Stuart (IL-112), Nathan Reitz’s (IL-116), continued silence on the matter as their Democratic legislative colleagues call for Madigan’s resignation.
“It’s impossible to reform Illinois as long as Speaker Madigan remains in power,” said Amy Elik, state representative candidate for the 111th district. “Speaker Madigan continues to block any chance of ethics reform, property tax reform, and term limits, and Monica Bristow is a willing conspirator by remaining silent.”
“The people are demanding change to how Springfield operates,” said Lisa Ciampoli, state representative candidate for the 112th district. “Speaker Madigan has a clear conflict of interest to continue serving as speaker. It’s time for him to step down, and for Katie Stuart to stop playing follow the leader by remaining silent on the matter.”
“Speaker Madigan cannot lead the House of Representatives, and must resign,” said David Friess, state representative candidate for the 116th district. “It’s time for Nathan Reitz to end his silence and let his constituents know if he’s with them or Speaker Madigan.”
This incident is not the first-time area state representatives failed to speak out. When WBEZ covered the story alleging a “powerful former Springfield lobbyist and close friend of House Speaker Madigan” covered up a rape in Champaign and ghost payrolling of government workers, State Representatives Bristow, Stuart, and Reitz failed to hold Madigan accountable.
Alaina Hampton, the individual who sued and settled with Madigan’s operation for sexual harassment, noted in a July 26, 2019 tweet to the Democratic Women’s Caucus, saying:
“I’ve now been waiting a year & a half for you to support me publicly, or even address me by name in a statement. Where are you? What is your stance? We all want to know.”
Why are Representatives Bristow, Reitz, and Stuart among the few House Democrats yet to speak out on Speaker Madigan?
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:32 am:
Durkin may hold the title of “Leader,” but he’s definitely following on this one, i.e. https://capitolfax.com/2020/07/29/democratic-rep-terra-costa-howard-calls-on-speaker-madigan-to-resign/
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:33 am:
=== Gov. Pritzker mentioned Durkin’s comments yesterday to defend his own “if true” demand. Welp…===
This is a “call” at the poker table.
If Rich’s column has the math right, Madigan does not have 60 votes.
If any Speaker can’t cobble 60 votes in a time where resignation is on the table, then said Speaker best re-evaluate where they stand.
I’m glad to see Durkin unequivocally call for resignation.
The ridiculousness of “if true” was a phony-baloney way to also keep the politics of Madigan around to the politics only.
This call is now of a leader asking the Body to show a vote of not only no confidence, but hold accountable Madigan.
Now let’s see if the chamber will convene, and will the chamber move to change.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:36 am:
Speaker Madigan finally takes umbrage at Oswego Willy’s remark
- phocion - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:37 am:
In which I agree with OW. Strong showing of leadership by the Leader.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:40 am:
“If true” should never have been the standard for the Speaker. It was never the Speaker’s own standard. An indictment is the litmus test. The only question is should the Speaker resign absent an indictment (which may or may not come). That becomes a bit trickier but at some point the politics dictate that he should step down. Durkin’s move puts us one step closer.
- radio flyer - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:48 am:
I am shaken to learn I agree with OW.
- Upon Further Review - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:52 am:
At minimum, Leader Durkin cannot be in the untenable position as a crutch for Dems to lean on while mustering their own courage.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:55 am:
- Lucky Pierre -
Since July 17th, I’ve written;
I *think* he should resign.
You give me far too much credit… far too big of a readership… far greater importance than I have or deserve.
Only *you* read my comments… except where it doesn’t agree with what you want as a foil.
I *think*, as I’ve stated repeatedly, he should resign. The politics to it is to invoke the Arroro Rule. “Why?” It allowed those like Brady and Durkin that political foil they seemingly think they need, and gave Dems the chance to have actual process to the removal.
Still, ignoring what you don’t think is good for your own thoughts isn’t honest to this situation.
Thanks for your readership, try to read a little harder.
To Leader Durkin, make the change that good for the state first, the politics after will take care of itself as that crutch could finally be removed.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:56 am:
I have a lot of negative opinions about ComEd, but I doubt they’d fork over $200,000,000 for something that was not demonstrably true beyond a reasonable doubt with very few arguments available to suppress ample evidence against them.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:08 am:
=I doubt they’d fork over $200,000,000 for something that was not demonstrably true beyond a reasonable doubt with very few arguments available to suppress ample evidence against them=
Don’t be so sure about that. The business and financial consequences of a criminal indictment against ComEd would make $200M look like chump change. That’s not to say that they are innocent at all in this, but I wouldn’t base their guilt solely on their willingness to write a check.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:22 am:
Again,the fine is the lower cost of doing business…it’s chump change…comparably.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:29 am:
OW, point taken.
You have been particularly tough on old white people lately.
My compliments on not mentioning Trump, Rauner or racism and bigotry and just sticking with the issue at hand.
It is refreshing
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:44 am:
===point taken.===
I wait, with baited breath, further criticisms.
Email them to me. Thanks.
To the HRO statement,
Y’all realize that once Madigan is gone that crutch is gone too… right?
So decidedly trying to call out, politically, as you are, if there is a following up on what Durkin has demanded, and Madigan is gone… “now what?”
You think targets who can “add” are still going to vote to keep Madigan?
Pushing the politics in concert with Durkin is seemingly smart, but, ok, now what?
And this?
=== It’s impossible to reform Illinois as long as Speaker Madigan remains in power,” said Amy Elik, state representative candidate for the 111th district. “Speaker Madigan continues to block any chance of ethics reform, property tax reform, and term limits, and Monica Bristow is a willing conspirator by remaining silent.”===
Listing a bunch of gobbily-gook sorta misses the whole point;
Madigan has been identified as Public Official A and as such is enough to force change, and deeper than that a resignation from the body.
That grab I had is like a Facebook screed where the reader forgets the reasoning to the whole thing.
A real reminder;
The Raunerite laundry list was wholly rejected in 2018, and even with Madigan nearly an end, the embarrassing Raunerite thoughts must be the reason, because a USA shaming isn’t enough? Wow.
- radio flyer - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:51 am:
===A real reminder===
Madigan brought Rauner down to his level and passed a tax hike. Illinois voters saw JB as Rauner but a Democrat and changed horses. But the Madigan brand continued to become more toxic throughout.
JB ties his fate to Madigan and voters will be open to a Republican version of JB. Just as they were open to a Democratic version of Rauner. It’s the hope of defeating Madigan and changing the trajectory of the state.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:57 am:
=== JB ties his fate to Madigan and voters will be open to a Republican version of JB. Just as they were open to a Democratic version of Rauner. ===
Can’t beat someone with no one.
Bring $300,00 a day, every day, for 430+ days… against an incumbent governor polling well with his response to the pandemic, and a call that the wealthy 3% need to pay their share.
Rauner couldn’t find people to fill 4 constitutional offices for a ticket.
I don’t think you grasp the hole the Raunerites are in.
Durkin going, very simply, for a call to resignation will take away, politically the biggest thing Raunerites thought they had to help them, but also removes the scab of all that held the real GOP back from Murphys and Beaubiens, Petersens abd Mulligans.
That’s the reminder… of the winning politics needed.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:59 am:
== Madigan brought Rauner down to his level and passed a tax hike. ==
Lol, that’s certainly one way to interpret Rauner being abandoned by half of his party because they were tired of defending his insistence on ruining the state’s finances.
- Notorious RBG - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 12:06 pm:
–The federal charges outlined in the ComEd prosecution highlight a scheme solely for the benefit of Speaker Madigan.–
I disagree. It was clearly also to the benefit of Comed/Exelon, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars in profit…
- Pundent - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 12:06 pm:
=Illinois voters saw JB as Rauner but a Democrat and changed horses.=
Other than both men being wealthy what exactly makes JB and Rauner equivalent? From where I sit the contrast couldn’t be more night and day.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 12:21 pm:
They are more alike than you think, you are just more tolerant of JB’s failures because he is a Democrat.
Both have had unbalanced budgets and have been unable to reform pensions and bring spending under control.
Both have been unable to pass ethics reforms that would restore faith in Illinois government.
Both have been unable to pass term limits or fair maps huge majorities of Illinois voters support.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 12:38 pm:
- Lucky Pierre -
If Rauner was such a failure, and you supported him over a change candidate… how can you question *anyone* as you readily admit Rauner was a failure, and you felt he needed re-electing?
If they are the *same* as you say, I’d expect the same support for Pritzker.
:)
To the post,
===…will be filing a resolution to have the House Chamber vote on a new Speaker immediately.===
Has such a filing occurred, and is there status on it. Has Durkin released it?
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 1:01 pm:
Maybe now with the Speaker’s days hopefully numbered, you will acknowledge what the obvious roadblock to reforming the dysfunction and corruption in Illinois politics for the past few decades has been.
- Matt Vernau - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 1:01 pm:
Interesting comparison of Rauner and JB. But somehow lacking. Trump and Rauner and lots of others have turned the GOP into the party of dumb and dumber. Leadership is always about the law and ethics and morality. Politics is about getting a vote count. Both should mean caring about as many as possible and that should mean the middle matters most.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 1:06 pm:
===obvious roadblock===
Show 60, show 30…
Same as it ever was. That’s not changing.
Get those 60 and 30, not look for Dunkins, Drurys, and Franks.
That’s the measure.