East Central Reporter

Freshmen state Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) is astounded by what he considers to be the evil genius of longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago).

“As far as how he operates, he’s been in power this long and we’ve had all this smoke, but never a paper trail directly connecting him or a trial holding him accountable,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “He insulates himself like no one else and I’ve been told whenever he has a meeting he has somebody that he talks to and that guy relays to the person he’s having a meeting with so if he’s ever asked, he can always say he’s never talked to someone.”

The latest controversy to engulf the state’s longest-serving lawmaker centers around longtime associate Mike McClain and an email he sent in 2012 which he refers to a rape cover-up and a ghost payrolling scheme, both involving government workers.

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago)

"This just speaks to the culture to which Springfield has deteriorated under his watch,” Miller said. “In the last General Assembly, there were over 30 ethics bills filed by Republicans and not one of them was heard as they were all sent to the Rules Committee. You have to come to the conclusion that as long as Madigan is in charge, not anything will ever get done on ethics or toward changing the state’s reputation as the most corrupt in the nation.”

Miller has joined the growing number of Republicans calling for a full investigation of the McClain situation, with anyone found to have been involved in a crime or a cover-up being held fully accountable.

“It’s time for real action,” Miller said. “The time for all the talking has come and gone. As it is, Illinois will never rid itself of all the corruption as long as Mike Madigan is around.”