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Rep. Chris Miller (R-Robinson) said longtime Speaker of the House Michael Madigan’s indictment is a good first step, but more is needed to fight corruption in Springfield.

"It is great that Mike Madigan is facing an indictment, and I certainly hope there is justice for the people of Illinois," Miller said. "But let’s honest about the state of affairs in Springfield. There is corruption on both sides of the political aisle. We need Democrats and Republicans to get serious about the anti-corruption reforms we need. Until we get serious about real reform, the shadow of Mike Madigan will continue to linger over state government."

Madigan was indicted on March 2 on federal racketeering and bribery charges. 

A release from the Illinois DOJ said that “the 22-count indictment accuses Madigan of leading for nearly a decade a criminal enterprise whose purpose was to enhance Madigan’s political power and financial well-being while also generating income for his political allies and associates.”

Madigan is facing charges of racketeering conspiracy, as well as individual counts of using interstate facilities to carry out bribery, wire fraud, and attempted extortion. The release notes that in addition to his role as speaker of the House, Madigan has also held the positions of Representative of Illinois’s 22nd District, committeeman for Chicago’s 13th Ward, chairman of both the Illinois Democratic Party and the 13th Ward Democratic Organization, and partner at the Chicago law firm of Madigan & Getzendanner.

Legislators passed an ethics reform bill last year which Governor J.B. Pritzker signed in October. The Legislative Inspector General at the time, Carol Pope, showed her disappointment with the legislation by resigning.

In her letter of resignation, Pope called the office of LIG a “paper tiger” and stated that the reform bill did not go far enough, and actually tied her hands more than they had been before.

Miller doesn't think the legislation goes far enough either.

"I voted against the so-called ethics reform bill last spring because it was too weak," Miller said. "The whole point of that legislation was to allow legislators to send out press releases to claim we had solved the corruption problems in Springfield."

Miller is sympathetic to Pope's position. 

"Carol Pope saw through the legislation and wanted no part of it because she understands that pretending to do something and actually doing it are two different things," Miller said. "We needed a bill that gave independence to the office of Legislative Inspector General and instead Democrats along with some Republicans passed a fake ethics bill that does nothing to address the culture of corruption in Springfield."

Miller says Springfield  lacks the political will to accomplish reform.

"The Legislative Inspector General lacks the necessary authority to fight corruption in Illinois," He said. "We know what needs to be done to give the office the appropriate authority it needs. What is lacking is the political will to do it."

Illinois has a history of corruption in high places. Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was impeached and convicted of multiple corruption charges. He served nearly eight years in prison. Former Gov. George Ryan was convicted of racketeering and served five years in prison. Former U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski was  convicted of corruption and served 17 months in prison.