SE Illinois News

Illinois State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) says he thinks Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s (D-Chicago) slip is showing by virtue of him recently having to go before members of the House Black Caucus to sell himself as much as he ever has.

“That he would have to resort to such measures, it kind of shows weakness on his part because if you read between the lines he was also reaching out to the governor for his support,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. 

“I think he’s hoping the governor might hear his plea and step up to coerce some other legislators to side with him," Bailey said.

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicao) | File Photo

With at least 19 democratic lawmakers having now publicly insisted that they have no intentions of supporting his reelection efforts, Madigan is  busily pulling out all the stops to brush his troubles aside, and get to the 60 votes he needs to secure another term as Speaker.

The state’s longest tenured lawmaker, he now finds himself at the center of a still unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd where he is suspected of pocketing bribes in exchange for favorable legislation.

“I’m sure he’s talked quite a bit with Pritzker and they’re on the same page,” Bailey said. 

“The fact is Madigan needs to resign, and Pritzker is a failed governor, and the only thing holding the two up is the governor’s checkbook. I think voters need to stay on all those democratic lawmakers that have said they won’t vote for his reelection. While I believe they only said it a part of a ploy with the permission of the Speaker, I think if another of their constituents step up to hold them accountable they will have to honor it," Bailey said.

Meanwhile, with the state saddled with a nearly $4 billion budget hole, and the job of a map redistricting looming, Madigan is also busy selling himself as the only man with requisite experience for the job.

“I expect to see Pritzker’s dollars flowing into the campaigns of some of these lawmakers if Madigan’s plan works,” Bailey said. 

“All I know is I really don’t trust democrats to do anything they say and Illinois is in real trouble and it all leads back to their party," Bailey said.