Lake County Gazette

State Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) insists he can think of at least $23 million reasons why Democratic lawmakers in Springfield continue to stand by embattled House Speaker Mike Madigan.

“That’s how much he has in campaign funds and many (Democrat officials) are up for re-election in November,” Wilcox told the Lake County Gazette. “I think it’s as simple as that, and for some of them it’s also about there being a lack of character. This is the same structure to the system we’ve been talking about for years now.”

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.

“Given all that’s happening, their silence is completely disappointing, but, then again, they are showing themselves to be as enabling as they always are,” Wilcox added.

As the scandal plays out and the eye on Springfield grows wider, Wilcox said he doesn’t expect to see Madigan change much of anything about the way he operates.

“I don’t think we’ll see him resign, because the way everything has to run through him he isn’t expecting to see any Democrats go against him,” he said. “It really comes down to the way so many of them are beholden to him.”

Wilcox said he’s starting to feel it’ll take even more intervention from the federal government to truly change the culture in Springfield.  

“Right now, the left is setting the tone,” he said. “We may need more of that to send a message.”