By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The chairman of the special investigative committee examining Commonwealth Edison and House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) sounds as if he is pumping the brakes. 

State Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside) says the committee’s progress will stop – even going so far as to refuse to schedule a second meeting – pending word from the U.S. attorney in Chicago, whose office is working a criminal investigation that has already led to Commonwealth Edison entering into a deferred prosecution agreement.

Republicans on the committee have engaged a former criminal chief in that office, Ron Safer, as counsel. He said, “The crimes that are described in the deferred prosecution agreement are a bribery scheme, an extortion scheme, a conspiracy to violate state and federal law, and other misconduct. But that is not for this body to decide.”

What’s to decide, rather, is whether Madigan is guilty of conduct unbecoming a lawmaker.

State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) says there is no reason to wait.

“The indication that we had had from Chairman Welch all along was that he was planning on moving things along every single week,” Mazzochi said after the hearing. “And then we showed up (Thursday), and it appeared that he was trying to put all of our proceedings on hold until the U.S. attorney said something that would make Chairman Welch feel happy about proceeding, and that’s certainly not what this is all supposed to be about.”

Mazzochi says it’s right there in Commonwealth Edison’s deferred prosecution agreement: the utility admits trying to bribe Madigan so it can get its way in the legislature. Madigan is not charged and has denied wrongdoing. Lawmakers did not indicate that they will use subpoena power to compel Madigan to testify. 

Though he has been invited.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].