Bribery scheme implicating Madigan revives term limits talk

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — When federal prosecutors unveil a bribery scheme in the state Capitol that points a finger at the House speaker, and the speaker has been in charge for 3 1/2 decades, it's natural that some would turn to a popular but contentious solution:

Term limits.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois unleashed the political thunderbolt this month in announcing that utility giant ComEd will pay $200 million to resolve a criminal case which alleges it took part in a decade-long scam that implicates Speaker Michael Madigan. The investigation found that ComEd accepted favorable legislation in return for arranging jobs and contracts “for various associates of a high-level elected official” whom they identified as the speaker without naming Madigan.

The Chicago Democrat, who in 2017 became the longest-serving leader of a legislative body in U.S. history, has said he will be exonerated. A spokeswoman declined further comment.

The problem the allegations pose is obvious. Mike Lawrence, a longtime statehouse reporter, senior adviser to former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar and political-reform activist, has long opposed term limits in favor of “stability” in leadership, noting that while many complain that Madigan is “part of the problem,” he's been a part of many solutions over the years. But Lawrence is aware of the downside.

Read more: https://www.nwitimes.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/bribery-scheme-implicating-madigan-revives-term-limits-talk/article_c261989f-efa4-5bfe-bc1b-3f8fb06602e2.html
(Northwest Indiana Times)