State Rep. Margo McDermed | File photo
State Rep. Margo McDermed | File photo
Veteran state Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) feels it’s well past time that Democrats in Springfield begin to put the people they’re supposed to speak for ahead of their self-interest.
“Democrat representatives need to decide who they want to be,” McDermed told the Will County Gazette. “Do they want to represent their districts or do they want to continue to take money from (House Speaker Mike) Madigan to do his bidding? I’ve spoken to some of the voters in those districts and they have very strong and negative feelings about Mike Madigan. When representatives vote for Madigan, they’re not voting in tune with the people in their districts.”
McDermed said she finds it refreshing that at least 18 Democrat lawmakers have stepped forward to insist they have no intentions of supporting Madigan’s reelection bid for House Speaker.
At the same time that the longtime House speaker is vowing to seek another term, more and more Democrat lawmakers are anxiously distancing themselves from him as fallout from the ongoing ComEd scandal and federal corruption probe it has sparked continues to play out. The latest shoe to drop includes the indictment of four individuals with ties to Madigan, including longtime associate and lobbyist Michael McClain, who now faces bribery charges stemming from a years-long, pay-to-play scheme in which perks were allegedly steered to Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation.
“I know you have to wonder what Madigan might offer them to change their mind, but I think the lawmakers that have stepped forward would be pretty hard pressed to do that,” McDermed added. “They’ve taken a public stance and told their constituents what they plan to do.”
Still, McDermed laments ousting Madigan will not magically rid Springfield of all its problems.
“Madigan has built his power base on unions, with trial lawyers and certain other organizations that have money,” she said. “Whoever becomes the next speaker still needs money. There’s really no reason to think any of that will change if the Democrat Party remains in charge.”
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