Will County Gazette

Republican Congressional candidate Rick Laib argues that House Speaker Mike Madigan stopped being what’s best for Springfield long ago.

“The speaker has been ineffective in advancing legislation that would help Illinoisians thrive,” Laib told the Will County Gazette. “The speaker did not need this new line of federal investigations to call for his resignation.”

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.

Running against U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-Aurora) in the 11th District, Laib argues it all screams out for the need for change.

“The fact that we have a house speaker and governor under federal corruption simply indicates that voters should ask for better candidates and that is to say they should ask for something different,” he added.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Madigan said he plans to cooperate with the probe, adding “The speaker has never helped someone find a job with the expectation that the person would not be asked to perform work by their employer, nor did he ever expect to provide anything to a prospective employer if it should choose to hire a person he recommended.”