Prairie State Wire

Rep. Mike Madigan’s (D-Chicago) tenure as House speaker ending was long overdue, said a former Republican candidate for state treasurer.

“He’s controlled this state now for nearly four decades, and it’s a financial mess,” Jim Dodge told the Prairie State Wire. “Everybody knows that Madigan has been a big part of that.”

Dodge’s comments come a few days after the longest-running legislative leader in the U.S. modern history was replaced as House speaker on Jan. 13.

Jim Dodge | File Photo

“You have to approach this as closing one chapter and opening another in terms of where we go from here,” Dodge said. “The majority party has to decide what they’re willing to do to move this state forward. Let’s hope good ideas are talked about and debated with what’s in [the] best interest of the state [and] what’s seen as most important instead of having complete control over everything.”

Madigan’s ouster from the speaker role is potentially related to a Justice Department investigation. Federal authorities implicated Madigan as the alleged recipient of a yearslong bribery scheme that included ComEd. The utility company conceded to authorities about its involvement and was fined $200 million but did not admit wrongdoing. Madigan has not been charged and denied any wrongdoing.

Lawmakers replaced Madigan with Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside), making him the first Black House speaker. Soon after his appointment, the eight-year representative faced a backlash from Republicans.

Given his close ties to Madigan, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider has doubts about Welch leading the House, coupled with alleged troubles, which include accusations of harassing, assaulting and retaliating against women.

“House Democrats have chosen to go from Mike Madigan, the most corrupt politician in America, to Rep. Chris Welch, a top Madigan lieutenant who has been credibly accused by multiple women in court documents of harassment, assault, and retaliation,” he said in a statement. “It’s now clear that House Democrats are doubling down on allowing Madigan’s corrupt machine to continue running state government.”

Authorities found no wrongdoing by Welch and dismissed the case and charges were never filed in another incident.