Macon Reporter

State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) is one of a trio of veteran GOP lawmakers now calling for the immediate resignation of House Speaker Mike Madigan after he was publicly tied to an ongoing federal corruption probe into Commonwealth Edison.

“ComEd has just agreed to fully cooperate with federal investigators in its dealings with House Speaker Madigan,” Halbrook said in a statement along with fellow state Reps. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) and Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City). “The company has admitted to seeking special legislation from Madigan that could be worth $150 million to the company.”

While the group concedes documents thus far made public only implicate Madigan by position, they argue it’s easy to figure out his role in the scheme.

“The cookie is starting to crumble,” Halbrook added.

Madigan, who easily reigns as the longest-tenured lawmaker in the state, now finds himself at the center of a still-evolving probe into ComEd, in which prosecutors are on record in asserting that 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.

While stopping short of formally levying any charges, prosecutors contend Commonwealth Edison attempted to “influence and reward” Madigan by providing financial benefits to those directly tied to him.

“Speaker Madigan has ruled Illinois long enough,” the trio added. “It is time for our state to finally rid itself of the corruption and abuse of power that has been the hallmark of Madigan’s tenure as Speaker of the House.”

Madigan, who easily reigns as the longest-tenured lawmaker in the state, now finds himself at the center of a still-evolving probe into ComEd, in which prosecutors are on record in asserting that 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.

While stopping short of formally levying any charges, prosecutors contend Commonwealth Edison attempted to “influence and reward” Madigan by providing financial benefits to those directly tied to him.

Halbrook and his colleagues aren’t buying it, even if saying so means there might be a price to pay.

“We know full well that by issuing this statement the speaker will block our bills and take actions to make our jobs as legislators more difficult than it needs to be,” they added. “This is the pettiness, selfishness and immaturity we have allowed to take place as a result of handing power to a corrupt Chicago politician. We are prepared to deal with Madigan’s childish antics because we understand that truth is on our side.”