Kendall County Times

Kendall County Republican Party Chairman James Marter said that changing the House speaker will not solely solve the numerous problems he believes are plaguing Illinois.

“[Rep.] Mike Madigan [D-Chicago] has been the head of the snake of a political machine built nearly 50-years ago,” Marter told the Kendall County Times. “After all that time, that doesn’t just go away even if he’s replaced.”

After nearly four decades of Madigan serving as House speaker, lawmakers on Jan. 13 voted for Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) for the leadership role.

Marter hopes Welch is serious about bringing about the kind of change the Hillside Democrat has pledged.

“It would be good to have a leader that actually allows Republicans to participate in the process,” Marter said. “It’s been so long since that was the case I’d have to see it happen to believe it.”

Soon after Welch’s House speaker election, the eight-year representative faced backlash from many Republicans, including a top GOP leader. 

“House Democrats have chosen to go from Mike Madigan, the most corrupt politician in America, to Rep. Chris Welch, a top Madigan lieutenant who has been credibly accused by multiple women in court documents of harassment, assault, and retaliation,” Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider said in a statement. “It’s now clear that House Democrats are doubling down on allowing Madigan’s corrupt machine to continue running state government.”

The legal claims against Welch have not advanced. In one case the female nor the police pressed forward with charges. In the court filings, the case was dismissed.

The shakeup comes after Madigan was implicated in a U.S. Department of Justice investigation last summer. Federal authorities’ allegation linked Madigan as the alleged recipient of a years-long bribery scheme that included ComEd. The state’s largest utility conceded to authorities of its involvement and was fined $200 million but did not admit wrongdoing. Madigan has not been charged and denied any wrongdoing.