Kankakee Times

Illinois House Republicans are demanding that Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker call a special session of the General Assembly to pass reforms in the wake of accusations that implicated House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) in an alleged influence-peddling scheme with the state’s biggest electric power company.

“While we can’t control the direction or scope it takes, we can close loopholes in our existing laws and adopt common-sense reform measures to root out the corruption that has been allowed to infiltrate our statehouse,” Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) posted on RepUgaste.com. “There are many pieces of legislation the Republican caucus filed this session to reform our ethics laws, and while they were stopped by Speaker Madigan, today those and more can become reality should a special session be convened. Silence is corruption.”

Ugaste and fellow House Republicans Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) and Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) accused Madigan of being improperly involved with Commonwealth Edison. ComEd, the largest electricity producer in Illinois, powers the entire city of Chicago.

Illinois state Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva)

The three Republicans accused the company of hiring political cronies of the House Speaker to curry his favor, to gain friendly legislation and increased profits.

“Speaker Madigan has spent decades creating his Springfield machine,” Mazzochi said in the report. “Madigan must go. But it does the people of Illinois no good if his crony culture stays. Otherwise, another insider will just take the reins and the corruption cycle will start all over again. The time is now for Democrats to stand up and join us in saying enough is enough. Let’s get back to good governance, real change and a culture of public servants who finally choose the people over power.”

Ugaste, Wehrli and Mazzochi held a video press conference on July 21 demanding the reforms be enacted.

The Chicago Tribune reported that federal prosecutors on July 17 revealed a criminal complaint against ComEd officials, charging them with bribery. Prosecutors are willing to drop the charge, called a “deferred prosecution agreement,” if the electric company cooperates with the government and pays a $200 million fine.