Chicago City Wire

Chicago 13th Ward Republican Committeeman David Krupa said there are reasons one needs to read between the lines to make sense of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s (D-Chicago) recent address before the House Black Caucus detailing why he’s convinced he deserves yet another term as Speaker.

“I think what he was really saying is he plans to use as much leverage as he can to intimidate and threaten people into submission when it comes to voting for him,” Krupa told Chicago City Wire. 

“All the Democrats that have come out against him should hold strong and not cave because I really don’t think he will be around much longer," Krupa said. 

As the state’s longest-tenured lawmaker, Madigan has left no doubt he plans to pull out all the stops in securing the 60 votes needed for reelection, brushing aside his troubles that now find him at the center of a still unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme.

Thus far, at least 19 Democratic lawmakers have pledged not to support his reelection efforts. At the same time, a Special Investigating Committee panel has been convened to look into some of his most questionable actions.

“I would like to see everyone unify around an anti-Madigan campaign so we can finally get him out. I really believe his ouster is on the verge of happening," Krupa said.

Krupa knows none of it will come easily, as, with the state now being saddled with a nearly $4 billion budget hole and the job of a map redistricting looming, Madigan is busy selling himself as the only lawmaker experienced enough to get the job done.

Madigan has also vowed to support Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to raise income taxes, even though the move would come just weeks after voters rejected the governor’s progressive tax increase.

“I think it’s totally unreasonable to even be talking about something like that so soon after the people have spoken,” Krupa said. “It just shows you the lengths Madigan is willing to go to in order to stay in power. It shows you how he and Pritzker are not at all in sync with the people of Illinois."