Will County Gazette

In the hours after longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan was finally shown the door, former 11th Congressional District Republican candidate Rick Laib is holding out hope for Illinois despite all Springfield's chaos.

“I am encouraged by the natural changes a change in leadership brings,” Laib told the Will County Gazette. “However, if the new speaker does not actively support the policies that will not just enable Illinois to recover, but also thrive, I question the difference he will make.”

After nearly four decades of rule by Madigan, lawmakers moved during the lame-duck session to install state Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) as his successor. The state’s longest-tenured lawmaker, Madigan now finds himself at the center of a still unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd a pay-for-play scheme where all the perks were allegedly steered to him exchange for favorable legislation.

Laib isn’t alone in having reservations about Welch stemming from his strong ties to Madigan, highlighting how he recently abruptly ended the work of a special Executive House Committee convened to look into Madigan’s role in the ComEd scandal. Welch has also faced multiple accusations in court documents of harassing, assaulting and retaliating against women.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider rages it’s all a sign that the political machine Madigan largely built stands to remain alive and well under Welch. 

“House Democrats have chosen to go from Mike Madigan, the most corrupt politician in America, to Rep. Chris Welch, a top Madigan lieutenant who has been credibly accused by multiple women in court documents of harassment, assault, and retaliation,” he said in a statement. “It’s now clear that House Democrats are doubling down on allowing Madigan’s corrupt machine to continue running state government.”

Laib doesn't mince words about supporting Schneider's point. 

“The same day he became speaker, Mr. Welch supported an attack-on-law-enforcement bill that will weaken the safety of communities and has previously supported the grotesque "Human Reproduction Act" that made it easier to murder innocent human lives,” he said. “I am optimistic that Illinois can recover. I am not persuaded that Mr. Welch will be part of that change.”