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Pritzker: “The speaker knows where I stand on all of these matters related to corruption”

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Illinois

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday that House Speaker Michael Madigan knows how he feels about the cloud of corruption at the Illinois statehouse, although the governor said he hasn’t spoken directly about the issue with the leader of the state’s Democratic party.

The latest in a series of a stream of corruption news included a report that a Madigan ally had tried to thwart the governor’s selection of a chief of staff. The Chicago Sun-Times this week reported former ComEd lobbyist Michael McClain sent messages to the governor’s office to try to block the governor’s choice.

“I was very upset when I read these remarks that somebody was making at the time, now it turns out as I understand it was who was reported today,” Pritzker said Monday.

Federal investigators raided McClain’s home this summer. The Chicago Tribune reported that emails showed McClain set up payments to a former Madigan aide after the aide was fired amid sexual harassment allegations. McClain has not been charged with a crime.

The report that McLain was trying to thwart Pritzker’s chief of staff selection comes after a report from the Chicago Tribune that said Madigan’s son was the subject of a federal investigation.

Pritzker was asked if he had talked to Madigan about federal investigations.

“I have not,” Pritzker said. “We honestly, the times when I do speak with the Speaker, it’s about legislation that I’m trying to get through. Sometimes he agrees with me. Sometimes he disagrees with me.”

Pritzker said the speaker knows where he stands on corruption.

“We need to make sure that we’re putting forward legislation that deals with ethical lapses, the crimes that seem to have been committed,” Pritzker said. […]

Pritzker said the corruption investigations were upsetting.

“I’m upset that there are people who have acted in a corrupt fashion in our government, in the legislature, they should be rooted out,” Pritzker said. “I want them out of government. They don’t deserve to hold public office.”

* Brian Mackey at Illinois Public Radio…

Pritzker has always taken a diplomatic approach to Madigan, even as the speaker faced scandals over aides accused of sexual harassment and, more recently, was named in federal inquiries.

Chicago public radio station WBEZ-FM has reported investigators sought information about Madigan in raids. And the Chicago Tribune says the feds are asking questions about the speaker’s political operation.

Asked whether he had spoken to Madigan about the investigations, Pritzker suggested a conversation is unnecessary.

“The speaker knows where I stand on all of these matters related to corruption,” Pritzker said. “I intend to be out front, as I have been, talking about and advocating for significant changes in our ethics laws.”

Your thoughts about what the governor should or shouldn’t do on this MJM topic?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 9:37 am

Comments

Pritzker does not need to do anything at this time.

Madigan has not been accused or charged with anything.

Comment by MOON Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 9:43 am
The Governor should urge Madigan to retire. Time for new leadership and ideas to begin progress on actully solving Illinois ludicrous financial problems.

Comment by downstate hack Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 9:46 am
The governor has played it as well as he can based on what is presently known. Crossing bridges when he reaches them is the best policy.

Comment by Moe Berg Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 9:46 am
The Gov should let Madigan handle it for now. But he must set a deadline. If Madigan fails, then the Gov should step in as he finds appropriate.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 9:47 am
IMHO, he should publicly say we need a new speaker, lets face it we’re going to have one at some point, if Madigan gets in more hot water he’s already come out in favor of a change of leadership, if he doesn’t, the vast majority of the state still agrees with him that Madigan should go.

Comment by Rutro Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 9:50 am
Well, definitely don’t call him on the phone…

Comment by Ok Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 9:51 am
The Governor could say he supports different leadership in the legislative branch if he wanted to . But, he doesn’t want to just yet.

Comment by Steve Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 9:52 am
It looks like after four years of Governor Rauner calling the Illinois legislature corrupt and demanding legislation to fix it, the message has finally sunk in for JB.

Better late than never Governor

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 9:53 am
The governor is about right where he needs to be;

No need to fuel the failed “Fire Madigan” nonsense with a statement about Madigan’s “status”, because the Illinois House has its own standard… indicted equals removal.

If anything, the governor could say… “The chamber has decided its own standard, and the chamber will use that standard now on its members. As governor, there’s no need to be in the middle of what a branch does on this issue”.

The politics even say “let it be”, with Madigan at his peak in seats and the Democrats at their most powerful during Madigan’s term as a Speaker, with a presidential election coming, Democrats here in Illinois need not make issue of helping a flawed and failed strategy for a perceived “ethical” issue that will sort itself out… once things come to pass, or don’t.

So, it’s just about right, the handling. There’s nothing more to say, unless the Feds decide to say something in the short term.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 9:56 am
The governor should be honest with the citizens of the state about his true feelings–whatever they are. Although he is rich and from a powerful Illinois family who have played roles in national politics for a long time it is entirely possible that he was somewhat naive with respect to the deep and dirty inner workings of Illinois politics–especially with respect to the Com Ed situation and its tentacles. Somehow he has to separate himself and inoculate himself from what appears to be coming down the road before it is too late.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 9:59 am
@OW, it’s ok for his to duck the issue, ie, the house gets to run it’s own house, but when he’s the chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party that argument doesn’t work.

Comment by Rutro Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:06 am
=== but when he’s the chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party that argument doesn’t work.===

And “Fire Madigan” has?

The only vulnerability isn’t the political vulnerability, it’s the question of “is the Speaker capable to be *Speaker* under this cloud?” and the answer to that vulnerability is… the chamber has a remedy.

If anything, Democrats know already the failure of “Fire Madigan”, and if I’m them, I’d “embrace” that vulnerability in a presidential cycle, even more than 2 years ago. The Raunerites still running the shop have nothing, and the top of the ticket isn’t going to help either.

With respect.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:10 am
He might want to add no charges and no reporting on what is a crime —- the Tribbies great secret

Comment by Annonin Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:11 am
“Pritzker has always taken a diplomatic approach to Madigan”

Madigan is a fading 40 year plus tenured politician, who so is under a growing cloud of federal corruption. JB is in the honeymoon phase of his political career. JB does not need MJM’s imprimatur. JB could tactically move to undercut MJM, betting that corruption charges will
either finally stick, or wound him so much he has no firepower. JB then can be a big part of filling the power vacuum left out of the 13th ward. Fate smiles on the bold.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:12 am
Pritzker can probably count on both hands the number of regrettable decisions he has made in his lifetime.
People like that rarely act rashly, nearly always sit back and let the story play out.

Comment by efudd Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:13 am
===Fate smiles on the bold===

We had a bold governor re MJM for four years. Fate did not smile.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:17 am
Providing context for yesterday’s Sun-Times article was a good start. Agree with others, saying that the Speaker knows where he stands on corruption without directly calling him out is the best policy. Calling on Madigan to step down is fruitless, and you cannot out-wait the Speaker.

Comment by Wondering aloud Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:18 am
Fire Madigan doesn’t work for the Republicans, for the Dem’s to say, you’re out mike, easy way or hard way is a completely different story.

Comment by Rutro Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:20 am
=== Fate smiles on the bold.===

So said Icarus and his wings of wax as he flew towards the sun…

=== JB does not need MJM’s imprimatur. JB could tactically move to undercut MJM, betting that corruption charges will
either finally stick, or wound him so much he has no firepower.===

This political ignorance will find this governor on the same road littered with folks who went after him… and missed.

The truly bold move is to wait and watch… not get sucked into a fool’s errand of choosing to stand when the remedy already exists… if need be.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:24 am
=== Dem’s to say, you’re out mike, easy way or hard way is a completely different story.===

Why would they? There’s no political advantage to do so.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:26 am
Even though “everyone knows” Madigan is corrupt he has not been accused of anything let alone indicted or convicted. Governor should let it alone. Better the devil you know

Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:28 am
I think he’s toeing the line pretty well. Burning bridges based on rumor and innuendo, by blasting Madigan now, would seem premature and ill advised.

When and if charges are filed, THEN he’ll have to take a stand.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:29 am
The governor is handling this correctly.

If he criticizes Madigan more overtly or calls for him to step down, he immediately puts rank-and-file House members in a terrible position where they are forced to publicly pick sides between the governor or speaker. Not a great way to engender good relations with legislators.

He got a small taste of what could happened when he kinda/sorta stuck his toe in the water in the senate president succession battle. It created a “stay-out-of-our-business” backlash against the governor among senate dems that may have hurt the candidate he was trying to help.

Comment by Roman Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:30 am
=This political ignorance will find this governor on the same road littered with folks who went after him… and missed.=

Once Pritzker figures out that Madigan needs him ($$$) more than JB needs Madigan the world will be a better place.

Comment by Flat Bed Ford Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:30 am
=== Pritzker figures out that Madigan needs him … more than JB needs Madigan===

The governing says otherwise. They need each other.

This last session proved what any governor willing to work with a legislature can do if the will and the votes exist.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:34 am
The governor absolutely shouldn’t let the super-minority party and its supporters dictate to him what he should do—also because Republicans are so firmly behind Trump.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:37 am
Since he’s the new face of the Democratic party, why doesn’t Pritzker work with both houses to create legislation for statewide grand juries with real teeth, so citizens don’t have to wait around for forty years until the federal government finally investigates political corruption in Illinois? Where’s the bold vision for the future with equal justice for all?

P.S. don’t expect AG Kwame Raoul to investigate political corruption. Despite the fawning press coverage of Raoul, he did nothing when he was chairman of senate judiciary committee in 2013 to address the Duty to Inform that police unions placed in Phelps’ concealed carry bill, unlike house Black Caucus reps., and he did not place criminal penalties in his body cam bill if police delete tapes. The state AG is a glorified Better Business Bureau.

Comment by Elmer Keith Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 10:58 am
For four years the prior governor railed about Mike Madigan. The IPI produced a documentary. He saw his popularity (which is a bit of an oxymoron) drop to historic lows. And what was the upshot of all that? He won even more seats and swept all state wide offices. Clearly the “fire Madigan” message is a dud. And the only ones that seem to be repeating it are those that failed to learn from the mistake last time. If he’s indicted (remains to be seen) the issue will resolve itself. Short of that there’s just a lot of heat. But with Mike Madigan there’s always been a lot of heat and he survives just fine. As OW points out Madigan and Pritzker clearly need each other. If and when that changes it changes. But we don’t seem to be at that point yet despite the hyperventilating.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 11:00 am
Oh. Boy. Wow.

=== create legislation for statewide grand juries with real teeth, so citizens don’t have to wait around for forty years until the federal government finally investigates political corruption in Illinois?===

Lemme guess, create a “special police” too… you know, to really focus on this. Wow. This says more than maybe you’d like others to think about you.

This is quite comical, thou…

=== P.S. don’t expect AG Kwame Raoul to investigate political corruption. … The state AG is a glorified Better BusinessBureau.===

So you’ve read the constitution, lol.

You’re right.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 11:04 am
Pundent pretty much nailed it. Let plays itself out and find out where it is going. Until then take the high road and continue to work with each other.

Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 11:17 am
The Executive should tread lightly in matters relating to Legislative leadership. Neither Rod’s meddling in the Senate nor Bruce’s “no @#$& problems” speeches ended well. They’re co-equal branches.

Comment by DIstant watcher Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 11:28 am
==JB could tactically move to undercut MJM, betting that corruption charges will
either finally stick, or wound him so much he has no firepower==

Read the room. That’s seems to be the current dynamic.

Comment by Not for Nothing Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 11:40 am
Where is the ‘go big’ update for the Governor when it comes to Madigan?

The possible results all in the long (or even short run) are harmful to the Governor.

He gets him to step down quickly and cleanly without disagreement.

The Governor ends up with a legislature led by a less powerful leader. Whomever and whenever someone else is in charge (it will happen someday), they are going to have less influence and power and likely will never have the same level of ‘power.’

He takes him out in a protracted process by working the media and the members.

All the above, but you will end up with an even more divided membership, and it will be even harder to get stuff done. There will be Madigan folks waiting in the tall weeds with axes to grind.

He fails to take him out in a protracted process by working the media and the members.

At best, you end up with a lack of trust and a problematic relationship between Madigan and the Governor, which is not a recipe for getting things done.

The Governor’s best bet for getting stuff done right now is Madigan and I have a hard time forseeing a situation where things would get bad enough that it would have a significant electoral impact.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 12:01 pm
So the crowd that thought “Fire Madigan” was the best battle cry for Republican success under Rauner now suggest that anthem for the Democratic governor?

Laughable on its face.

If there’s anyone who’s political advice is best ignored, it’s that one-note choir.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 12:05 pm
“Hey Gov.”? Just grab the popcorn and chill. Move only after the path becomes clear.

Comment by Generic Drone Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 12:27 pm
Do not go after Madigan like Rauner. I think we know how that worked to attack the speaker.

But use the Rauner tactic of financing legislative races. Ensure that legislators that want to stand up get the resources to campaign. JB can protect democrat legislators that will get cut off from the machine for not going along with Madigan.

Comment by the Patriot Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 12:36 pm
=== JB can protect democrat legislators that will get cut off from the machine for not going along with Madigan.===

(Sigh)

This was Rod Blagojevich’s plan that begat the Rauner model.

Keep up. This isn’t any way to run a railroad. The Executive should not undercut the legislative or co-op any of the caucuses…

#InstitionalKnowledge

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 12:44 pm
I think JB should challenge Madigan to a duel. Pistols at twenty paces. Granted, JB is at a significant disadvantage as he presents a larger target, but it is time for bold action.

Go big or go home JB.

Comment by SSL Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 12:45 pm
I am sure this boils down to a cost-benefit analysis, politically and otherwise.

Right now, the costs of attacking Madigan and risking an all-out split in the party vastly outweigh the benefits.

As others have noted, when Madigan (or “if” I suppose) is indicted, then it’s time to press forward.

In the meanwhile, I would love to see a long-term trend of pushing ethics and political reforms throughout the state. Force Madigan and allies to oppose clean politics or, even better, force them to vote for policies that will clean up their own shops.

Even though I hated Rauner’s policies, I really did hope he could do this at least: clean up the politics! Parties in the minority (Repubs here but Dems elsewhere) have everything to gain from eliminating corruption and nothing to lose. JB can move the state forward permanently by doing the same - and he can do so without causing a crisis by confronting Madigan.

Comment by Progressive Guy Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 12:59 pm
=But use the Rauner tactic of financing legislative races.=

Requires two things. Resources and elected candidates. Both are currently in short supply. As best as I can tell the current ILGOP is defined by a bunch of Eastern Bloc characters who want to form a 51st state.

Here’s a better idea. Instead of making this about all Madigan all the time, why not come up with some ideas that the voters can get behind? Or continue down the same path where the ILGOP is nothing more than a marginalized regional party.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 1:01 pm
If you’re actually interested in Madigan being kicked to the curb then I’d say the current approach by Pritzker works best. You don’t help end Madigan’s career by coming out against him before he’s has actually confirmably been implicated in anything or indicted. Wait and see.

Comment by Nick Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 3:57 pm
Of course MADIGAN knows where PRITZKER stands on corruption, with him all the way.

Comment by Latina Tuesday, Dec 17, 19 @ 6:53 pm