Lake County Gazette

House Democrats have chosen a new speaker in the Statehouse as Republicans call for the man who previously held the gavel to be held responsible. 

Members of his party chose Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside) to lead the chamber mid-week after Rep. Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) suspended his campaign for speaker, a position he's held for nearly four decades. 

Madigan made it clear he wasn't withdrawing but almost challenged House Democrats to find another representative who could receive the 60 votes needed to become speaker. 

"Madigan puts the best interests of Madigan first," Kathy Myalls, New Trier GOP chair and New Trier Township GOP committeeman, told the Lake County Gazette. "It's obvious he wants to try to keep his power."

Some believed Madigan's announcement was yet another political game.

Madigan's replacement, Welch, will have his name forever etched in history by becoming the first Black person to serve as speaker in Illinois. 

History aside, Republicans remain skeptical. 

"Voters should see through this ploy and understand that the real losers will not be those who challenge Madigan, but the voters in Illinois who will have to sit back and watch this traffic accident, which Madigan could easily avoid if he would put anybody's interest in front of his own," Myalls said. 

Madigan's support began dwindling earlier this year when he was incriminated in an alleged bribery scheme involving electric services company Commonwealth Edison. The company paid a $200 million fine and conceded that it gave jobs and contracts to Madigan's allies for laws that worked in their favor. The Chicago Tribune reported four people have since been charged and pleaded not guilty in connection to the ordeal, including Madigan's friend and former lawmaker Michael McLain. 

"I would like to see Madigan actually held accountable for the damage he has done to the state of Illinois protecting his own power and that of his public union cronies who sit at his table with him and spend our money," Myalls said.