Prairie State Wire

Mike Madigan's resignation doesn't mean that Democrats' agenda in the House will change, a former Republican congressional candidate said.

"To be honest, I think the democratic agenda and so many members being fiscally irresponsible is as big a problem as Madigan ever was," Republican Mark Curran told the Prairie State Wire. "I really don't think Madigan has much in the way of a core set of believes. He just blows with the wind. With him gone, the agenda could become as progressive as it's ever been."

Madigan, a Chicago Democrat and state's longest-running lawmaker, resigned from his District 22 House seat and post as chair of the Illinois Democratic Party after nearly 40 years of being a leading voice of Springfield.

His departure comes a few weeks after a group of Democratic lawmakers refused to support his reelection efforts as House speaker, paving the way for Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside) to supplant him in that post.

The changes also come as Madigan finds himself under increased scrutiny in an ongoing federal corruption probe involving ComEd and an alleged pay-for-play scheme.

While Madigan has not been charged in connection with the alleged scheme and continues to proclaim his innocence, at least four individuals with known links to him have already been indicted, and ComEd has was fined $200 million.

Curran said it remains to be seen what all the changes will come to mean for Springfield and residents of the cash-strapped state.

"Welch seems like a nice enough guy, but you know he's not going to buck his party, so it could be the same, old story or worse with all the liberal ideas we're seeing," he said. "I would say the only good thing we know for certain about Madigan retiring is he knew how to win elections better than republicans."