Illinois Valley Times

Veteran state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) argues Democrats' growing silence in the House Speaker Mike Madigan scandal only adds to the level of damage being done to the state.

“We are at a pivotal time in our state and the Democrats' radioactive silence only raises the stakes,” Rezin told the Illinois Valley Times. “The reality is Mike Madigan needs to go and we can’t be afraid to say that.”

After nearly four decades of being in control in Springfield, Madigan now finds himself at the center of an unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd. Federal prosecutors contend the company engaged in a “years-long bribery scheme” involving jobs, contracts and payments that were steered to him in his role as house speaker and chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.

To date, no charges have been filed against the state’s longest-serving lawmaker, but prosecutors have not been shy in asserting that the utility giant sought to “influence and reward” Madigan by providing financial benefits to those directly tied to him in a scheme believed to date all the way back to 2011.

“The opportunity to change the culture of corruption in Springfield is upon us and we can get there by asking Speaker Madigan to step down” Rezin added. “For Democrats, this is their opportunity to put the state back on the right path.”

In the end, Rezin said too many lawmakers seem only concerned with protecting their own interests in the way they religiously align themselves with Madigan.

“Speaker Madigan controls the money and the elections coming up in November, and I think a lot of them fear there will retribution if they speak out against him,” she said. “If you really want to change corruption in the state, pass real ethics reform so that all the bills proposed receive a fair debate in Springfield.”