Chambana Sun

After almost 50 years of Mike Madigan, Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) doesn't know how politics will change in the Legislature now that the Chicago Democrat resigned.

"I don't know what it will mean in terms of how we can expect Democrats to now behave," Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. "Just like Madigan, they all have the attitude they're in the majority, and they're doing things their way no matter what anyone else thinks about it."

After almost four decades of leading the House, Madigan resigned from his District 22 House seat, with his departure coming a month after being replaced as the speaker in favor of state Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside).

The pressure was growing on Madigan to step aside after being linked to a federal Department of Justice investigation last year.

The ongoing investigation centers on an alleged pay-to-play scheme that involved ComEd, which was fined $200 million but did not admit any wrongdoing.

Federal authorities have not charged Madigan, and he maintains his innocence.

In some ways, Caulkins said he's not surprised that things have come to this for Madigan.

"I think it has to be really hard for him being the leader all those years to now just be looked at as a regular member of the House," he said. "After you've been in charge for that long, it's really hard to step back and become just another member."

Caulkins, though, doesn't believe Madigan's resignations will mean a full break from the Democratic Party given his five decades of public service. 

"If I had to bet, I would say he won't be completely going away," he said. "He's been involved in this for way too long, and it's become too big a part of his routine for him to just walk away. I don't see him totally disappearing unless his legal problems become a lot more serious."