Lake County Gazette

State Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) feels its time supporters of ethical reform in Springfield put their money where their mouth is.

The veteran lawmaker is now cosponsoring Senate Resolution 1290, which would mandate the government returning the $200 million fine slapped on ComEd to ratepayers, either through directs payments or a system established by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

“The real victims of ComEd’s fraudulent behavior are their consumers, the hard-working families of Illinois,” Wilcox said. “It is only fair that any financial restitution ComEd is required to pay as part of their admission of guilt goes to those most directly impacted, their customers.” 

The fines are tied to the ongoing federal corruption probe in which longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) has been implicated. The longest-serving lawmaker in state history, federal prosecutors charge Madigan stands at the center of a “years-long bribery scheme” involving jobs, contracts and payments that were steered to him in his role as a way of currying favor.

While no formal charges have been levied against the chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, Wilcox has blasted Democrats for largely refusing to speak out on the issue, attributing much of the silence to the power and financial influence Madigan wields.

“I think it’s as simple as that,” Wilcox told the Lake County Gazette of the at least $23 million war chest Madigan boasts. "This is the same structure to the system we’ve been talking about for years now. Given all that’s happening, their silence is completely disappointing."

Wilcox said he's not surprised that Madigan recently boasted he has no intentions of stepping down and feels he has the support of most of those in his party..

“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.