Madigan issues final statement as House Speaker
Wednesday, Jan 13, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan released the following statement Wednesday:
“As I prepare to pass the Speaker’s gavel to a new generation of Democratic leadership, I want to thank the people of my district and the members of the House Democratic Caucus for the faith and trust they have placed in me over the years. I want to thank my staff for their hard work on behalf of every member of this caucus. It has been the honor of a lifetime to help bring people of different experiences and backgrounds together to serve our state.
“It is time for new leadership in the House. I wish all the best for Speaker-elect Welch as he begins a historic speakership. It is my sincere hope today that the caucus I leave to him and to all who will serve alongside him is stronger than when I began. And as I look at the large and diverse Democratic majority we have built—full of young leaders ready to continue moving our state forward, strong women and people of color, and members representing all parts of our state—I am confident Illinois remains in good hands.”
As I mentioned below, Madigan will be sworn in to the new General Assembly. There was no comment about his future plans.
- Dan Johnson - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:20 pm:
There ought to be a statute of him in the Capitol. Longest-serving legislative leader in the country’s history.
- Perrid - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:24 pm:
Dan, I think that depends entirely on what the feds do or do not find.
- Funtimes - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:26 pm:
“I am confident Illinois remains in good hands.”
Glad you are confident Mike. I am, most assuredly, not confident about that.
- Rich Hill - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:30 pm:
Always good to see an orderly, peaceful transition of power.
- Really - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:30 pm:
A statute? Really? I thought we were busy taking those down? And a simple question for fiscally challenged Democrats. What in the world will you use to pay for it? Mr. Madigan will need his funds to pay for legal assistance. It is statements like this that show beyond a shadow of a doubt why this state is broke.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:32 pm:
Perrid, let’s not let a bunch of cops ruin a well-earned legacy. Innocent until proven guilty.
- essentially working - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:34 pm:
I can’t believe they elected him with the reported domestic history… wow…
- Redbird Pundit - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:34 pm:
“There ought to be a statute of him in the Capitol. Longest-serving legislative leader in the country’s history.”
Now that’s funny…..
- Austinman - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:34 pm:
Wow let him be… Speaker Madigan thank you for the work you have done with the IL Democratic Party and the People of Illinois.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:39 pm:
Well, kids. This is history.
- Anon y mouse - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:41 pm:
“I am confident Illinois remains in good hands.”
Patently a ludicrous comment; comical actually.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:41 pm:
Serious question. I know it is not the Speakership but he does remain head of the Democratic Party in Illinois correct? Is that a powerful position? Does he still control and keep money he raised?
- AD - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:44 pm:
Good riddance. He thanked the people of his district and the house democrats and those were the only people that ever mattered to him. He’s been the Speaker of the House for the whole State for decades and didn’t thank the people of Illinois. I encourage Speaker Welch to realize he represents every single person in the State now and to act on behalf of the whole State and regain the trust of the people of Illinois.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:44 pm:
You really have to admire the class with which he departs the office.
While the House Republican Caucus has become increasingly less diverse in every way over the decades, Madigan has made a conscious effort to make the Caucus more reflective of the diversity of the state.
- Rich Hill - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:44 pm:
Speaker Welch graduated high school in 1989. Mike Madigan was Speaker in 1989.
- Feldy - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:47 pm:
Seems anticlimactic.
- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:48 pm:
Thank You Mr. Madigan, for your strong support of working Men and Women and long service as our Speaker.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:51 pm:
There will be a lot of dancing on his grave in the coming days for sure. I agree it was time for him to leave the speaker’s office, but some of you young ones are about to see if anyone can enforce the needed constraint and structure on the D caucus that is going to be demanded by the current fiscal condition of Illinois.
You don’t have to agree with his style but Madigan did keep order when things were often headed off the rails. Speaker Welch is going to be tested early and often by his caucus, the GOP and the budget making process.
This will be a session to watch.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 12:54 pm:
Though forced out, Madigan leaves with his party having a super majority for the second straight election. He led House Democrats arguably through the worst time in state government history, Rauner’s budget sabotage.
- Downers Delight - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 1:01 pm:
Was there meant to be pun intended with the statute reference? Meaning term limits? Or was that a serious comment to build a statue of him?
- ETown60120 - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 1:06 pm:
Thank you Mr.Speaker!
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 1:06 pm:
I just want to thank speaker Madigan for having our back during the Rauner years. We owe you so much for that.
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 1:07 pm:
@AD -
That is not how it works.
- JSI - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 1:19 pm:
I was born in 1986. This is possibly one of the most significant things to happen specifically in Illinois politics in my life. Probably top 5? Top 10?
- Mr. Hand - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 1:24 pm:
(Madigan Thought Bubble)
mUahahaha.I’ll be back.
- Guzzlepot - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 1:26 pm:
Wow. This is one of those things that you intellectually knew was going to happen, but you have a hard time believing when it actually happens.
Thanks for your service Speaker Madigan. I think Rauner would have run over anyone else.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 1:41 pm:
Has anyone asked him about continuing as head of DPI?
- Dan B - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 1:57 pm:
Wow a statue of him, for what? To always remind us who destroyed the state of IL?
- outwestofthecapitol - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 2:04 pm:
Hey everybody…it’s statue, not statute.
- Boone's is Back - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 2:11 pm:
People joked that MJM would outlive everyone and reign as speaker ad Infinium. I don’t know if I ever really expected this day. I just have to say that Rich put it really well this week in the Cap Fax. MJM is a human, with his own ups and downs. Despite the array of negativity around the man I will always respect him for his work ethic, intelligence, and mastery of IL politics.
The man holds a record for a reason and many (if not all) of his haters will hate him because he accomplished what they couldn’t.
- Dan Johnson - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 2:13 pm:
Ha: Freudian slip of mine. A statue
- Pizza Man - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 2:20 pm:
MJM: “Can someone direct me to the Stratton Building? Not sure where it is.”
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 2:27 pm:
= I will always respect him for his work ethic, intelligence, and mastery of IL politics.=
Spot on. His departure was long overdue, but it is hard not to begrudgingly respect the man’s longevity and skill.
Unlike someone else, who shall remain nameless, MJM went out in a fairly dignified manner and did not attempt to leave scorched earth behind. I know he didn’t want to go, but I cannot help but respect the way he handled his final days.
- Newser - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 3:14 pm:
Three words that will tarnish his image in my book.
State pension funding.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 3:16 pm:
Glad to see Madigan go. His place in history seems secure, depending on the outcome of the ComEd legal situation.
- Bear3 - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 4:30 pm:
As a true professional, MJM is needed “of council”. Interesting to watch as the seams are not tied yet for influence and deals….
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 6:55 pm:
God Bless Speaker Madigan for helping all the Unions
- Chris Waller - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 9:44 pm:
I liked him. As an old retired Union guy, back in
the day,…. sometimes he was all we had between
us and the wall. I will always be thankful for
what he did for working people.
- Jolly1 - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 8:38 am:
The reason we need Term Limits