Chambana Sun

A downstate Republican lawmaker is pointing an accusatory finger at the entire Democratic Party in Springfield as allegations around longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan continue to swell.

“They put party and politics ahead of good government,” state Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) told the Chambana Sun. “They sat on their hands when we were trying to have a discussion on ethics reform and now that their boss has been implicated, they’re doing it again.”

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.

Caulkins argues it’s not surprising that Democrats have been as reticent as they have been on the issue.

“Democrats are essentially bought and paid for by the speaker,” he said. “I think they’re probably scared of possible retribution if he finds some way to escape all this. They’re just waiting to see which way the wind blows before taking a step, instead of just doing what’s morally the right thing for any elected official to do.”

In the end, Caulkins said it all comes down to there being a lack of leadership in Springfield and not enough members of the General Assembly having the moral courage to do what they know is the right thing.

“And that’s the problem with Springfield,” he said. “It’s corrupted by all the power one party has been able to accumulate under the same leader for the last 40 years.”