By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Earlier this year, Republicans at the statehouse boasted of using House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago)’s own rules against him. As it turned out, the Democrats used the rules against Republicans.

Supermajority Democrats are shutting down their investigation of Com Ed and the speaker without hearing from Madigan. That’s because, on a 3-3 party-line vote, the committee found insufficient evidence to find the speaker guilty of conduct unbecoming a lawmaker.

State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) said the Democrats “are apparently terrified of putting the speaker under oath to say what the truth actually is, and by refusing to issue subpoenas, they have turned this into a kangaroo process.”

“Talk about a kangaroo court?” said an angry State Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside), the committee chair. “The Republicans on this committee had their minds made up before that petition was ever filed on Aug. 31. Who are we kidding here? Had their minds made up – before the signatures were even dry – that Mike Madigan was guilty. The kangaroo court was instigated by you!!”

Com Ed’s admitted trying to grease its way into favorable legislation by bribing Madigan, who is not charged. The utility entered into a “deferred prosecution agreement.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]