Sangamon Sun

Illinois State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) recently voiced his opinion on the recent indictment of former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan.

McClure argues the federal corruption indictment of Madigan is another example of why one-party rule across the state needs to end.

"It shows how corrupt politicians are in this state right now, especially when you consider he was head of the Democratic Party and speaker of the House," McClure told the Sangamon Sun.

On March 2, Madigan was indicted for federal racketeering and bribery charges. 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 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," according to a release from the Department of Justice.

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.

Illinois legislators passed an ethics reform bill last year, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed in October, according to Illinois Policy. The legislative inspector general at the time, Carol Pope, announced her resignation in response to the "ethics reform" bill.

ABC reported that in her letter of resignation, Pope called the office of LIG a "paper tiger" and stated that the so-called ethics reform bill did not go far enough, and actually tied her hands more than they had been before. 

"I'm thinking that the legislature knows the limitations of the power of the LIG and that they want it that way," Pope told ABC. "That's why I said I am a paper tiger. There are no real teeth to this legislation the way it is now."

McClure said he agrees with Pope that the ethics reform bill did not go far enough.

"The number one thing, if you’ve been indicted you should not be serving in the Senate or the House until after your case has been resolved," McClure told the Sangamon Sun. "We got several people that have been indicted voting on big bills. We need to give the LIG more power to investigate, not just not enough tools to be able to do the job." 

The state Senator also said he believes that the office of Legislative Inspector General should have more power to fight corruption. 

"The office needs more power and that’s why last LIG resigned and said there's not enough power to do anything," McClure told the Sangamon Sun. "The very people charged with crimes are the ones not wanting to allow more powers in the position."