Prairie State Wire

The publisher of an influential Illinois newsletter is trying to call Gov. J.B. Pritzker's attention to comments the governor made in January to what is currently applicable regarding House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).

In a July 27 partial reprint of his Capitol Fax column published in January, publisher Rich Miller said Pritzker's resignation requirements for General Assembly members were certainly different than they are today because Miller remembers what Pritzker said. The only difference now is that accusations are against the state's embattled but still powerful longtime house speaker. 

Miller also suggested in his January column that Pritzker's resignation bar might have implications for Madigan, as federal lawmakers were looking into a bribery scheme even than.

"Pritzker’s latest answer, however, is more specific and allows him to set the bar for any showdown with Madigan, who surely seems to be on the federal government's radar screen but for what nobody knows for sure," Miller said in his column. "No crimes have yet been alleged. We know that some of his pals have been raided [including former state representative and longtime ComEd lobbyist Mike McClain], but it’s still unclear what, exactly, the feds are looking at other than hiring Democratic cronies by the private company ComEd."

Since then, federal prosecutors have alleged Commonwealth Edison agreed to a $200 million fine as part of a bribery scheme to influence Madigan and guarantee his support in important legislation. Madigan's office also has been subpoenaed for documents in the federal case.

Madigan has been implicated in the scheme but has denied any wrongdoing.

Three Democrats, state Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville), have issued unqualified calls for Madigan’s resignation as speaker and chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party. The Chicago Sun-Times said Madigan "might be wise to step down."

In late July, Madigan responded that "all is well" and that he will not resign.

Pritzker has not called for Madigan's resignation, a sharp departure from his earlier measure for resignation that he shared with Miller.

The lower bar led Pritzker, prior his talk with Miller, to separately demand the resignation of three General Assembly members: Sen. Tom Cullerton following his bribery indictment; and the resignations as committee chairs by Sen. Martin Sandoval, after his office was raided by federal agents, and Rep. Luis Arroyo after his bribery charge.

In Miller's column, which was published in The Southern, Pritzker said that when there is "clear" evidence of a lawmaker being targeted by criminal investigators, "that's the point at which folks should step aside."

Pritzker's resignation bar apparently is higher for Madigan than it was for Cullerton, Sandoval and Arroyo, Miller argues.

"I do not see how there is less than 'clear' evidence of targeting by criminal investigators right now," Miller said in a single-line note added to the July partial reprint of his January column.

Miller has published and edited the Capitol Fax since 1993. MediaBiasFactCheck.com refers to Miller as "one of the most knowledgeable and connected journalists in the Illinois State Capitol" and reports the Capitol Fax's $500-per-year subscription newsletter "is widely read by politicians and lawmakers in the state."