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* Background is here if you need it. My Crain’s Chicago Business column…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin made huge headlines recently when he filed a petition to commence formal disciplinary proceedings against House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Leader Durkin’s petition relied on information contained in ComEd’s “Deferred Prosecution Agreement” with the US Attorney’s office. The DPA claimed ComEd participated in a years-long scheme to essentially bribe Madigan into giving it favorable Statehouse treatment with jobs, contracts, internships and even a corporate board seat.
Speaker Madigan has denied all wrongdoing, and claimed Durkin’s rarely used maneuver was a “political stunt” in an election year to distract from Republican President Donald Trump’s spectacular unpopularity in Illinois.
Public opinion polling has consistently shown that Madigan is the most unpopular politician in Illinois – even more so than Trump, who lost Illinois by 17 points in 2016.
So, it’s natural that tying Madigan to his House Democratic incumbents and candidates has been the go-to move by Republicans for years. It appeared to work well only once, in 2016 when then-Gov. Bruce Rauner spent a fortune to bust Madigan’s chops and the House Speaker lost a net of four seats. The Madigan people blamed Trump’s huge popularity and Hillary Clinton’s unpopularity in Downstate districts for the setback.
Two of the three members Durkin appointed to the newly created investigative committee are in extremely difficult reelection battles. Both members, Reps. Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) and Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst), have darkly warned voters about Madigan’s ties to their opponents. They’re not exactly bringing open minds to the proceedings.
“Every ad you see for her,” one of Rep. Wehrli’s recent campaign mailers claimed as an arrow pointed to a photo of his Democratic opponent Janet Yang Rohr, “is paid for by him,” as an arrow pointed to a pic of Madigan.
So, is Madigan right that this is all about politics? Well, the petition and subsequent committee hearings (if any) will help Leader Durkin’s political interests. As in the past, all of Durkin’s candidates have been using the Madigan issue in their races.
Durkin has also vowed to defeat Gov. JB Pritzker’s graduated income tax proposal at the ballot, and at least one of the groups opposing the tax change has already used the investigation into Madigan to ask voters not to trust the “corrupt politicians” with additional taxation power.
But, really, who cares?
Click here to read the rest before commenting, please.
* Meanwhile, this is from the WBEZ report…
Republicans filed paperwork this past week to launch the investigation, which will be led by state Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside. […]
“I have never seen the speaker engage in anything inappropriate,” Welch told WBEZ. “Every conversation I’ve had with him, every interaction I’ve had with him, he’s by the book.” […]
Welch said he could envision a scenario where the speaker might be willing to cooperate.
“This is going to be an opportunity for Speaker Madigan to receive due process and a fair hearing,” Welch said. “And if he’s called upon to participate, I’m sure he’ll participate.”
* Capitol News Illinois…
A majority vote of the committee is needed to authorize charges, so at least one Democrat would be needed for this to occur. […]
But the rules do not specify what constitutes a chargeable offense, something Wehrli said the General Assembly needs to address.
“If you look at our rules, it’s basically ‘conduct unbecoming’ and things like that. It’s very vague and nebulous, which is once again another reason why we’ve been pushing for ethics reforms is to highlight and make it crystal clear what goes beyond the pale when it comes to ethics,” he said. “Ethics can be very personal to each individual, and we can each interpret them differently. But what we need to do is make sure that the public has set a standard for us to adhere to, which is why I think the ethics reform is probably one of the most pressing issues we can do in Springfield.” […]
The first hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10 at 9 a.m.
* Finke…
Retired University of Illinois-Springfield political scientist Kent Redfield said he’s not even sure what kind of case House Republicans will be able to make against Madigan. The U.S. Attorney’s office has said it is continuing to investigate political corruption issues. When news of the investigating committee surfaced, Durkin said the U.S. Attorney’s office was notified of it and that it will not interfere with the federal investigation.
Based on that, Redfield said he’s not sure where the House committee investigation is headed.
“It’s not clear to me what they are going to look at or who they’re going to talk to,” Redfield said. “The U.S Attorney doesn’t want the ComEd people answering questions and going on the records on things that might come up in some kind of trial.”
He said it is doubtful that any potential targets of the feds will want to testify to state lawmakers about things federal investigators may be interested in. Moreover, a defense attorney wouldn’t allow a client to put himself in jeopardy by testifying, he said.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 2:56 am
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The silly circus has come to town.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 8:42 am
No the silly circus has been running the State into the ground for decades. Great bond ratings and monumental pension debt show their ineptness.
Comment by Arock Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 9:07 am
Apparently, nearly 30 years on, they’re employing the same playbook used against Bill Clinton. But Mike Madigan is no Bill Clinton.
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 9:08 am
=== No the silly circus has been running the State into the ground for decades. Great bond ratings and monumental pension debt show their ineptness.===
Explain the Edgar Ramp. That should keep you busy for a few hours.
To the post,
Great stuff by Rich, but I’ve argued the opposite to the strength of the party, even with this 2016 fact;
=== So, it’s natural that tying Madigan to his House Democratic incumbents and candidates has been the go-to move by Republicans for years. It appeared to work well only once, in 2016 when then-Gov. Bruce Rauner spent a fortune to bust Madigan’s chops and the House Speaker lost a net of four seats. The Madigan people blamed Trump’s huge popularity and Hillary Clinton’s unpopularity in Downstate districts for the setback.===
In reality, Rauner was a huge loser, and so were the HRaunerites in 2016, even as the picked up seats.
By losing Munger, Rauner and the HRaunerites were set up to not only to have the Perfect 10 and the Brave 15 even exist, and have Rauner “himself” first beg to be overridden during that time, but have Rauner eventually sign a budget, one in four years, due in large part to the macro as the micro, two years later, led to Madigan having his largest majority as Speaker… ever.
Rauner, looking back, probably would’ve traded all those gained seats (due in part that, well, it was fool’s gold 2 years later) for a Munger win over Mendoza.
When you think about the nine digit monies Bruce and Diana spent, were those few gained seats for those precious months the payoff?
It could be said that Rauner “exposed” Madigan, but exposed him as what, the rallying point for Dems and Labor to meld like never before?
This part is genius. This sums up Wehrli’s legislative career too;
===But, really, who cares?===
We can revisit the Wehrli quote as he describes his tenure in the GA as ineffective, I have it if you’d like to read it, but this hearing, what can change that nine digits of Bruce and Diana’s money only made stronger?
“But, really, who cares?”
Great read, Rich, hope you had a great week off.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 9:24 am
=The silly circus has come to town.=
The tell tale sign that the circus has arrived in town is when a “Committee of the Whole” is announced.
Rarely has there been a dynamic better suited to having individuals spend more time doing less than the dreaded “Committee of the Whole”.
Comment by Upon Further Review Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 9:27 am
While everyone is reading all the stuff be sure to check out the editorial from the always “fair and balanced Champaign News Gazette which said in part “…No one should kid themselves about the nature of this inquiry. It is, as Madigan charged, a “stunt,” political theater designed to score points in advance of the November election….” Certain Capt.Fax wanted to include, but ….
Comment by LarryLitesOut Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 9:59 am
I sure hope the Repubs have clean hands and never sought white collar patronage from a utility. Otherwise, that glass house can crack quick.
Comment by Centennial Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 10:03 am
Another feeble attempt by the GOP to fire madigan before the remapping
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 10:19 am
It will be quick and give Wehrli and Mazzochi FB video talking points but that’s it. Unless the Fed drops the hammer in the next 55 days it won’t mean a thing.
Trump is still top of ticket.
Fair tax is buying all the airwaves. HRO doesn’t have the money for the war. This is a Hail Mary to try and save a couple seats.
Comment by Frank talks Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 5:14 pm