* I noticed that I hadn’t seen any response by Speaker Madigan to two recent events. So, I reached out. First, the filing of a civil RICO lawsuit yesterday against ComEd, Madigan and others…
By their own admission, the plaintiffs’ lawyers filed this lawsuit for political purposes. I have occasionally made job recommendations for good people seeking jobs, believing that the applicant could and would do successful work. That is commonplace in all industries. Sometimes the applicant is hired, and sometimes the applicant is not hired. The decision is the employer’s and I do not act differently either way. And I have not, and would not, make a job recommendation believing that the applicant wouldn’t be asked to perform work by their employer.
The notion that the passage of two consequential pieces of energy legislation were tied to the hiring or retention of a few individuals is seriously mistaken. Those bills had broad support—from Democrats and Republicans; from the other legislative leaders, sponsors, and individual legislators; and from labor supporters, consumer advocates, and environmentalists. The bills couldn’t have passed otherwise, and they were the product of years of deliberation, negotiations, and consensus building. Nothing I or my staff did in the course of those bills was influenced by a company’s decision to hire or retain a person, nor did I ever suggest that such a decision could influence me.
I have never made a legislative decision with improper motives. We intend to defeat this transparently political lawsuit, which is wrong on both the facts and the law.
* Second, the press release today by former state Sen. Daniel Biss and several others including Chris Kennedy calling on Madigan to resign…
There have always been differences within the Democratic party. I have devoted my entire career to working with all Democrats in Illinois. I will continue to do that, especially as we face defeating Donald Trump, who has a track record of sowing division and suppressing minority voices. As Trump ends the Census count early, ensuring all of our communities are fairly and fully represented has been and will continue to be a main priority of mine as the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Discuss.
*** UPDATE *** One more MJM statement…
Vice President Biden has made an excellent choice in selecting Senator Kamala Harris as our next vice president of the United States. Senator Harris has an impressive legislative and legal background that will help guide our country out of one of our darkest periods. Senator Harris has compassion and strength and is the right woman for the job.
- Proud Sucker - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 4:13 pm:
How thinly veiled is the “I may make your district go away” I’m reading in the second response? There a lot things he could have tied to recent Trump actions, interesting to focus on the Census.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 4:23 pm:
If some Democrats are virtue signaling to their voters in shaky districts, then that’s what they have to do. Unless they can muster the votes or Madigan is indicted, he is their leader. Illinois has much bigger fish to fry now. Personally would like to see the party led right now by someone who is not on old Machine white guy but have to temper any angst due to much bigger problems.
- Jerry Krause - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 4:25 pm:
“My value to this organization is absolute.”
- Fav human - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 4:25 pm:
Let me translate:
1) See you in court
2) I’m still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I’m still standing after all this time
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 4:27 pm:
===Those bills had broad support—from Democrats and Republicans; from the other legislative leaders, sponsors, and individual legislators; and from labor supporters, consumer advocates, and environmentalists. The bills couldn’t have passed otherwise, and they were the product of years of deliberation, negotiations, and consensus building.===
If this “thing” ever gets beyond civil suits and moves into serious things like indictment, this is the opening argument to the prosecutor’s open to the charges.
In a way, it helps Madigan to continually, passively, repeat this premise.
To Biss, Kennedy, et al;
Ignoring the words to promote his thoughts is textbook redirect.
It’s as though the shade and dismissive way is being done to do work others aren’t doing(?)
- Pundent - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 4:29 pm:
He’s either brazen or confident. We’ll see what happens next.
- Thinkers - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 4:31 pm:
He points out something that may actually help explain why those publicly calling for his resignation are doing so now - it’s about the future of the party and the map. Madigan’s brand of Democrat is more conservative, and those who have gone public are absolute progressives. If Madigan walked away today the party would fracture like the GOP and the tea partiers. The 2022 map would be in chaos.
- The Edge - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 4:37 pm:
Hmm, in January will he have the 60 votes to be elected Speaker?
- The Captain - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 4:48 pm:
Noted.
- Marty36 - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 5:02 pm:
oh my gosh, Dan Biss thinks Madigan ought to resign. Exactly who cares what this political loser thinks?
- Chatham Resident - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 5:51 pm:
==oh my gosh, Dan Biss thinks Madigan ought to resign. Exactly who cares what this political loser thinks?==
Not to mention a wannabe Tier 1 pension thief.
- HighSox - Tuesday, Aug 11, 20 @ 7:52 pm:
Kamala Harris calls on Madigan to resign. Just kidding. Now that would be a deal breaker-lol
- illinoyed - Wednesday, Aug 12, 20 @ 8:40 am:
He pulls environmentalists and consumer advocates into it - I’ll be interested to see if they will let Madigan use them as cover, or if they’ll decide to jump ship before it’s too late.