THE ILLINOIZE: Dems preparing for life after Madigan...Pritzker statement left wiggle room...House investigation still stalled...Plans if Duckworth goes to cabinet?

November 20, 2020

WELCOME TO CHAOS

With Wednesday night’s indictment of Mike McClain, a former State Representative turned lobbyist and close confidante of embattled House Speaker Michael Madigan, the flood gates of criticism have opened. It appears, for now at least, that Madigan has lost enough support from his caucus to earn another term as Speaker in January.

Where do we begin?

LET’S START WITH THE INDICTMENTS

News Wednesday night of the indictment of McClain along with former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore and two other lobbyists, John Hooker and Jay Doherty for their role in a long running ComEd bribery scheme raised eyebrows to some, but wasn’t completely unexpected by many.

Maybe most notable was a phone call that the feds intercepted between McClain and Pramaggiore (McClain had wiretaps in place, we believe) in which Pramaggiore confirmed to McClain that she had a request from the Speaker to “keep pressing” for former McPier CEO Juan Ochoa to get a seat on the ComEd board.

Add that to an e-mail from Madigan’s assistant in which she passed on Ochoa’s resume to ComEd at the Speaker’s request that supposedly exists, and it is direct evidence that Madigan played a role in the scheme and wasn’t just a bystander.

The question is, how many taped phone calls exist between Madigan and McClain? Even if McClain isn’t cooperating, tapes of Madigan saying something criminal could be the nail in the coffin.

THEN THE DAM BROKE

Early Thursday, Madigan released a nearly 1,000-word statement denying wrongdoing and playing the part of victim at the hand of Republican political ads.

“Some individuals have spent millions of dollars and worked diligently to establish a false narrative that I am corrupt and unethical. I have publicly ignored their antics because those who know me and work with me know that this rhetoric is simply untrue,” he said.

Because he’s a choirboy at St. Mary Star of the Sea down the street.

Two north suburban State Representatives, Jonathan Carroll and Sam Yingling announced they wouldn’t support Madigan for another term, which was followed by four female legislators, Deb Conroy of Elmhurst, Ann Williams of Chicago, Anna Moeller of Elgin, and Robyn Gabel of Evanston said they wouldn’t support Madigan either.

Incoming Rep. Margaret Croke said later in the day she wouldn’t vote for Madigan.

Considering the House is going to have 72 Democrats in January, the latest defections dropped Madigan’s support below the 60 votes he needs to remain Speaker.

Is it all over but the shouting? Maybe. Are there power plays he can make to get through it? Maybe. But is Madigan’s grip on power looking more perilous than ever?

Absolutely.

DID PRITZKER GO FAR ENOUGH?

Governor JB Pritzker, with his progressive bonafides and hundreds of millions of dollars he’s willing to sink into Democrat candidates and causes, is clearly the figure to fill any political vacuum left by Madigan’s potential departure. He could have made a strong statement Thursday metaphorically kicking Madigan on the backside on his way out the door.

But he waivered.

“If Speaker Madigan wants to continue in a position of enormous public trust with such a serious ethical cloud hanging over his head, then he has to, at the very least, be willing to stand in front of the press and the people and answer every last question to their satisfaction. Written statements and dodged investigatory hearings are not going to cut it,” said Pritzker during his daily COVID-19 news conference. “If the speaker cannot commit to that level of transparency, then the time has come for him to resign as Speaker.”

Obviously, it gives some wiggle room for all parties involved.

Some people I spoke to yesterday were shocked that Pritzker didn’t go farther and simply call for Madigan to step down immediately. Maybe he believes there’s still a chance Madigan can get through this and he doesn’t want to completely poison remaining FY2021 and upcoming FY22 budget negotiations with the Speaker, which would be hard enough under the best of circumstances.

LIFE AFTER MADIGAN

Here’s a shocker for you: the guy who has clung to power for decades doesn’t have a successor in mind.

Gone are Barbara Flynn Currie, Lou Lang, Jim McPike, or even Harry Osterman, Kurt Granberg or Joe Lyons. Those names of the past have all moved on, and if Madigan has to give up the Speaker’s office either willingly or via coup, there is no leader in the clubhouse for the job.

We called around yesterday and asked Democrats across the age spectrum and the same two names kept coming up: current Majority Leader Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) and Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside), who is chair of the powerful House Executive Committee.

Harris would be an intriguing candidate having served in the House since 2006 and becoming Minority Leader in 2019. He is gay and would likely be the first HIV-positive legislative leader in the nation’s history.

Welch is an attorney and would be the first African-American Speaker of the House.

“I’ve thought for some time Chris Welch was the next guy in line,” said one Democratic operative.

Each comes with potential challenges, as Harris was appointed by Madigan and Welch is being accused of covering for Madigan during the ongoing House Investigative Committee process.

If an open leadership battle were to break out, the Democrats could be divided among ideological lines. The liberal or progressive wing of the caucus has grown in ranks in recent years while more moderate members, especially from downstate, have been depleted. Madigan, while he has made some moves in recent years to protect himself with progressives, is often considered a moderate at governing.

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) and a progressive member of the Democratic caucus tweeted Thursday “It's time for us to choose new, progressive leadership for the House.”

That’s where some Democrats tell us candidacies for Representatives like Ann Williams (D-Chicago) and Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) could find traction.

Compromise candidates like Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) and Rep. Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park) could emerge. Interestingly, Republican lawmakers we spoke to Thursday had high marks for Burke as someone they would want to work with.

INVESTIGATION FROZEN?

House Republicans held a news conference yesterday complaining that Democrats were “stalling” in an effort to stop the investigative committee aimed with looking into House Speaker Michael Madigan.

“This is a crisis of confidence at the highest level that I have seen serving in my years in the House of Representatives,” said Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs).

He said if Madigan won’t resign on his own, the committee made to investigate his actions in the ComEd bribery scandal needs to meet again.

But, Democrats don’t appear in any hurry to make that happen.

The three on the committee, Chair Emanuel Chris Welch (R-Hillside), Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet ) and Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero), all Madigan supporters, issued a biting statement Thursday sayin the GOP was trying to “rush things along”

“Republicans’ repeated insistence that this committee rush forward id nothing more than political theater,” he said.

DUCKWORTH, TOO?

You may not have noticed it yet, but there appears to be some jockeying underway if Senator Tammy Duckworth finds herself appointed to President-Elect Joe Biden’s cabinet.

Our Ben Garbarek spoke to a clued-in Democratic operative to some of the names we may be hearing if Governor Pritzker is tasked with appointing Duckworth’s replacement.

“Tammy could easily be appointed. It would not surprise anybody I know because of the political logic of it,” the operative said.

Duckworth’s military heroism while serving in Iraq is well documented. She’s also one of only three Asian-Americans serving in the Senate (soon to be two with Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris leaving the chamber). The same reasons Duckworth was on the VP shortlist would make her an appealing choice for a potential cabinet position.

Potential cabinet appointments for Duckworth include the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

Who is being mentioned as a possible successor to Duckworth? Here are some names we’re hearing:

• State Comptroller Susana Mendoza

• Attorney General Kwame Raoul

• Deputy Governor Sol Flores

• Congresswoman Robin Kelly

I suppose we’ll see the jockeying pick up if Duckworth is actually nominated.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday tomorrow to U.S Senator Dick Durbin. He turns 76. Also, to former State Senator Pam Althoff, who celebrates Sunday.

YOUR HELP REQUIRED

Phil Rogers at NBC 5 did a great story yesterday on the need and impact of the Salvation Army. Watch it here.

The need all around our state is unbelievable right now. People are hurting, out of work, some can’t pay rent or the electric bill. Salvation Army helps.

This winter, we won’t see as many of the iconic red kettles out, so, why don’t you give a few bucks to my Salvation Army Online Red Kettle? It’s an easy way to help and the money raised will stay local.

Click here to give $5, $10, or more.

As always, we appreciate your thoughts, concerns, comments, and suggestions. Drop me an email anytime at patrick@theillinoize.com. We hope you’ll like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

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ONE LAST THING

Hats off to House Republican spokesperson Eleni Demertzis, who had her hands full during the GOP Zoom news conference yesterday. She was trying to balance the timing and messaging of all four of her legislators as well as ask questions media sends her. She did it with a smile and a grumpy toddler on her lap.

Moms are superheroes.