Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) was the speaker of the House for nearly 40 years. | File Photo
Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) was the speaker of the House for nearly 40 years. | File Photo
When Rep. Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) was replaced as House speaker, it ended decades of political control felt in many regions, including southern Illinois.
As speaker for nearly 40 years, Madigan collected immense power and could be a vital benefactor or a mighty foe.
“When people say he ran the show, there is no possible way to say that in a strong enough way,” Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) said, the Belleville News-Democrat reported. “No bill moved without his approval. No committee functioned without his stamp of approval. He didn’t just turn off the spigot on your bills. He’d turn off the spigot on your campaign money.”
Madigan was implicated last year in a U.S. Department of Justice bribery investigation and faced pressure to step down. He stepped down in January, but has not been charged with a crime and has denied any wrongdoing.
Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) replaced Madigan as House speaker. Although Madigan is no longer speaker, he retains his seat in the house. Some Republicans worry that the powerful Democrat may continue to be a major player behind the scenes.
“I’m curious to see whether or not the joke that he’s not speaker in name, but he’s going to be speaker behind the scenes will come true,” Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud) said, the News-Democrat reported. “I hope, given the fact that he could not muster up the support in his own caucus, that he moves on and that he lets Speaker Welch act as speaker on his own.”
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