By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – While you likely weren’t able to vote for or against House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, unless you live in District 22, your district’s state House lawmaker will soon will vote on whether Madigan remains at the helm.
It’s likely the Democratic majority in the next state House session will give Madigan another two years, but at least one Democrat is urging for a change in how to move the state forward.
Newly elected 112th state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Glen Carbon, said shortly after being elected that it’s a bit premature to say whether she’ll support Madigan for speaker.
“I don’t know what the options will be,” Stuart said. “You’re asking me a hypothetical question just like I wouldn’t tell you how I would vote on any piece of legislation until I actually read the legislation.”
State Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside, said Madigan always will have his support for speaker and said the problems of the State of Illinois can’t be placed solely on Madigan’s doorstep.
“They lie at every legislator that voted for a (cost-of-living allocation) increase with compound interest. They lie at pension holidays that were supported by Republicans and signed by Gov. (Rod) Blagojevich and Gov. (Jim) Edgar, so there’s plenty of blame to go around.”
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said Madigan is lobbying for the position, and with Democrats still holding a simple majority, it’s likely he’ll get the spot.
“I think we’re going to see the same results, and maybe that’s OK, but they have to be doing things differently than they’ve been doing them,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy acknowledged growing dissatisfaction all around. “There’s a lot of discontent; there’s a lot of frustration among members and among the people we serve.”
After the swearing in ceremony in January, lawmakers in the House will then cast their votes for Speaker and also the House rule. The Senate will chose who will be their chamber’s President.
Since 1983 Madigan has been Speaker of the House for all but two years, and has been criticized by some for being largely responsible for Illinois various fiscal crises.
The state has been without a full budget since July 2015. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said Illinois hasn’t had a balanced budget for decades.
