SE Illinois News

In the mind of Republican state House candidate Paul Jacobs, the reasons House Speaker Mike Madigan needs to go span far beyond the current federal corruption probe.

“Mr. Madigan has many conflicts of interest between his law office and the companies he represents for a reduction in taxes in Chicago,” Jacobs told the SE Illinois News. “I find it difficult to believe he doesn’t have a number of get out of jail free cards in his possession.”

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.

“In the state of Illinois, business as usual will frequently involve bribes and special interest groups getting additional help,” added Jacobs, who is running in the 115th District. “We need to nip this in the bud, so to speak, even though it’s been done this way for decades and decades.”

As the investigation continues, Jacobs said he’d like to see voters become more responsible about whom they elect to send to Springfield.

“The real ethics reform question is going to require the citizens of the state of Illinois to vote more conservative individuals into the state House and in the state Senate,” he said. “We are blocked from true ethics reform until we get the people backing us up through the vote.”