Mike Madigan resigns: longtime Illinois House president and representative resigns after 50 years in office

After 50 years in the state legislature, Mike Madigan is finally calling on him to resign.

On Thursday, the legendary politician sent a letter to the Speaker of the House announcing that he would resign from the post of state representative he had held since 1971. A second letter to the Clerk of the House presented Madigan’s resignation, effective today.

“It’s no secret that I have been the target of vicious attacks from people who have sought to diminish my many accomplishments by uplifting workers in Illinois,” Madigan said in part. “The point is, my motivation to hold elected office has never wavered. I have been steadfast in my dedication to public service and integrity, always acting in the best interests of the people of Illinois.”

He went on to say, “I am leaving office in peace with my decision and proud of the many contributions I have made to the State of Illinois, and I do so knowing that I have made a difference.”

His career began in 1970, when he was first elected to represent the Southwestern side of Chicago. He has served as Speaker of the House for almost two years since 1983. But Madigan’s reign ended as the longest-serving Speaker of the House in US history. Madigan has been a speaker for almost two years since 1983. He was replaced in that position by Emanuel “Chris” Welch who became the first black person in Illinois history to hold the position.

RELATED: Rep. Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch Succeeds Mike Madigan as Illinois House President

“I think we are at a point where we are changing the political history of the state of Illinois,” said Dick Simpson, professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “Madigan was the last power station still in power.”

Madigan is credited with many accomplishments over the course of his career, including passing a landmark educational reform, increasing the minimum wage, abolishing the death penalty and passing the Law on equality of marriage.

His support collapsed during a federal corruption investigation by ComEd where he was involved, but not indicted in a corruption and jobs program. Last month, when he realized he couldn’t garner the 60 votes needed to remain president, he announced he would step down.

In 2018, support for Madigan began to erode with the #MeToo movement when he faced issues of sexual harassment with his staff and under his leadership.

Madigan’s career spanned nine Illinois governors and Chicago mayors and eight presidents. He is one of the last political bosses of the old days, making his debut as a constituency captain under the machine of Mayor Richard J. Daley.

The 78-year-old, who is also a property tax valuation lawyer, remains the chairman of the state Democratic Party, where he still wields significant political power, with a political war chest.

His constituents generally said they thought he had done a good job in power.

“I think he’s done a lot for the community. I voted for him, ”said Garfield Park resident Lindsay Koss.

While political opponents point out how he has contributed to the state’s debt, especially underfunded pensions, many residents of Madigan District are concerned about more tangible issues and the old-school politician taking on care for its constituents.

“It did well by me,” said Garfield Ridge resident Mike Oziminski.

RELATED: ComEd to Pay $ 200 Million in Federal Corruption Investigation; Illinois Speaker of the House of Commons Mike Madigan implicated

After visiting a Metro East COVID-19 vaccination site on Thursday afternoon, Gov. JB Pritzker said he wished Madigan the best and praised the state’s decision to vote Welch as the first black speaker from Illinois.

“When you serve so long and so devotedly in terms of purity, the number of hours a man spends at work, his family can really suffer; it’s a challenge, ”said Pritzker. “I really want to call them up today and say that they really deserve kudos for the public service former President Madigan has done.

When asked about Madigan’s implications in the ComEd investigation, Pritzker said it was “running its course.”

“The accusations that exist around things like this are not good,” Pritzker said. “I believe it’s our job to tell the truth, to be honest, to do the right thing, to serve with integrity.”

WATCH: Governor JB Pritzker responds to Madigan’s resignation

Read Madigan’s full statement here:

“Today, I am announcing that I will be resigning as the 22nd District State Representative at the end of this month. I have had the great honor of serving the people of Illinois as Speaker of the House and State Representative for the 22nd District. This trip wouldn’t have been possible without my wonderful wife, Shirley, and my children, Lisa, Tiffany, Nicole and Andrew, who have stood by my side year after year, providing love and support despite the pressure of growing up under the public spotlight. I am lucky to have them in my life.

“Fifty years ago, I decided to dedicate my life to public service. Simply put, I knew I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. I believed then and still do today that it is our duty as public servants to improve the lives of These ideals have been the cornerstone of my work on behalf of the people of Illinois and the driving force behind my stay at the Illinois House.

“As president, legislator and member of the Illinois Constitutional Convention, I have worked to make the General Assembly a co-equal branch of government, ensuring that it acts as a control of the power of the governor and the executive branch, especially in cases of abuse of a governor. Many heated battles were fought to prevent governors from rewriting the legislation sent to them by the General Assembly.

“I am particularly proud of our work to increase the diversity of voices within the Democratic House caucus to include more women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ community. During my tenure as President of the House of Illinois, we have worked to elect representatives from all walks of life and creeds to truly represent the interests of the people of our state.

“Through the partnership of this diverse and talented group of Illinois Democrats and our colleagues across the way, we were able to level the playing field and strengthen the middle class while workers in other states saw their wages. decrease.

“We have carried out a school funding reform to increase investment in schools in need and tackle inequalities in our state’s education system. We made Illinois a welcoming state by passing the Illinois Dream Act and providing driver’s licenses to undocumented residents.

“We have strengthened workers ‘rights, raised the minimum wage, expanded access to health care for Illinois’ most vulnerable residents, and protected the right of women to make their own decisions about health care.
“We have stood up for the rights of all Illinois residents by embracing marriage equality, finally recognizing the right of men and women to marry the people they love. We have passed criminal justice reforms to break laws that too often target people of color and have led the country to expand voting rights as other states weaken them.

“Working with leaders in the retail, hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare and other sectors, we have partnered with job creators to encourage the economic development and dealing with crises in our unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation systems. We also expanded possibilities in tourism and the film industry, created the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority which reinvented McCormick Place and Navy Pier, and created the Illinois Sports Facility Authority which kept the White Sox in Chicago.

“When we faced the Rauner administration and the interests of the wealthy, who sought to weaken the unions and the labor movement in Illinois, we stood up for the workers.

“Rauner then plunged our state into a budget crisis, nearly bankrupting social service agencies, wiping out funding for higher education, and racking up billions of dollars in public debt in the process. The House Democrats were the last line of defense in protecting our state from collapse.

“Under my leadership, we increased the transparency of state and local government by creating the Freedom of Information Act and protecting it from attempts at dilution, we removed Rod Blagojevich and repeatedly enforced the laws on ethics and state campaign finance.

“It’s no secret that I have been the target of vicious attacks from people who have sought to undermine my many accomplishments by uplifting workers in Illinois. The point is that my motivation to take an elected position has never wavered. I have been steadfast in my dedication to public service and integrity, always acting in the best interests of the people of Illinois. “

“My accomplishments would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of many of my staff over the years. I thank them for their efforts on behalf of the Democratic House Caucus and the people of Illinois. I also want to thank the many volunteers and supporters who have worked on behalf of the people of District 22. It is with the collective support of many that we have made Illinois a stronghold of Democratic values.

“I am leaving office in peace with my decision and proud of the many contributions I have made to the state of Illinois, and I do so knowing that I have made a difference.”

President Chris Welch issued a statement following Madigan’s announcement and thanked him for his decades of service.

“I thank the former President for his sincere and meaningful contributions to our state,” Welch said Thursday.

“We must now build on that with a new generation of leaders focused on racial and gender equity in all dimensions, improving government transparency and leading with the kind of conviction, compassion and cooperation.” expected by our voters. I truly appreciate his contributions and join Illinois states across the state in wishing him well, ”he said.

“Today’s news of Rep. Madigan’s retirement does not surprise me and all other Illinoisans, and I have been looking forward to this ‘new day’ in Illinois for some time. Democrats in both Houses and the Governor to think about how we can use this opportunity to improve Illinois. Rep. Madigan’s autocratic rule over the decades has not made Illinois a more prosperous or more competitive state. ” Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin said Thursday.

“Our state is in ruins – financially, structurally and ethically. New ideas and genuine collaboration between the parties is the only way forward,” Durkin said.