Will County Gazette

Former republican House hopeful, Rick Laib, is pushing Illinois voters to be the change many of them insist they want to see in Springfield; particularly when it comes to putting an end to House Speaker Mike Madigan’s roughly four decades long reign in Springfield.

“Madigan's removal will only create the opportunity for different,” Laib told the Will County Gazette. 

"The voters of Illinois must aspire for better," said Laib when asked of growing talk the state’s longest tenured lawmaker’s days could be numbered. 

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan | File Photo

With as many as 18 democratic lawmakers now insisting they have no plans of supporting Madigan’s reelection efforts, Laib is hoping the time for change could be here.

“I think the time for new leadership has passed,” he said. “I would like to hear one argument, one accomplishment, one persuasive claim that would suggest that Mike Madigan should remain the Speaker of the House,” said Laib, alluding to how the veteran lawmaker now finds himself at the center of a still unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme where all the perks were allegedly steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation.

More recently, four individuals with close ties to Madigan were indicted in connection with the scheme, including longtime pal and local lobbyist Michael McClain, who counts bribery among the charges he faces.

While Laib insists all the evidence he sees mounting against Madigan strikes him as overwhelming, he still doesn’t expect the end to come easily.

“He has not maintained 39 years of service by passively being in office,” said Laib, “He has maintained his position by actively and intentionally locking in the kind of support that would permit him never to ask about leaving quietly.”