The legendary political figure sent a letter to the House’s speaker on Thursday announcing that he would resign from the state representative he has held since 1971. In a second letter to the House office, Madigan’s resignation, which he received today from power is.
“It’s no secret that I was the target of malicious attacks by people who wanted to diminish my many achievements to increase the working people of Illinois,” Madigan said in part. “The fact is that my motivation for holding an elected office has never been in doubt. I was determined in my commitment to public service and integrity and have always acted in the interest of the people of Illinois.”
He added: “I leave my office in peace with my decision and am proud of the many contributions I have made to the state of Illinois, and I do so in the knowledge that I have made a difference.”
His career began in 1970 when he was first elected to represent Chicago’s Southwest Side. He has served as Speaker of the House since 1983, but only two years ago. But Madigan’s rule has come as the longest-serving speaker in American history. Madigan has served as speaker for only two years since 1983. He is replaced in the post by Emanuel “Chris” Welch, who became the first black person in the history of Illinois to hold the post.
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“I think we’re at a point where we’re changing the political history of the state of Illinois,” Dick Simpson, a professor of political science, told the University of Illinois at Chicago. “Madigan was the last power station still in power.”
Madigan is credited with many accomplishments in his career, including passing historic education reforms, raising the minimum wage, abolishing the death penalty, and passing the Marriage Equality Act.
His support crumbled under a federal corruption case from ComEd where he was involved but not charged in a bribery and employment system. Last month, when he realized he would not be able to garner the 60 votes to remain Speaker, he announced he would step down.
In 2018, Madigan began to erode support with the #MeToo movement when he experienced problems with sexual harassment with his staff and under his leadership.
Madigan’s career spanned nine governors of Illinois and mayors of Chicago and eight presidents. He is one of the last of the old-fashioned political bosses to start his captaincy as captain under Mayor Richard J. Daley’s machine.
The 78-year-old, who is also a tax attorney, remains the chairman of the Democratic Party, where he still has important political power, with a political war chest.
His constituents generally said they believed he had done a good job in office.
“I think he did a lot for the community. I voted for him,” said Garfield Park resident Lindsay Koss.
While political opponents highlight how he has contributed to the state’s debt, especially underfunded pensions, many residents of Madigan’s district are concerned about more tangible issues and the old school politician caring for his constituents.
“He did everything right through me,” said Mike Oziminski, a Garfield Ridge resident.
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After visiting a COVID-19 vaccination site in the Metro East 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 in Illinois.
“If you serve so long and dedicatedly in terms of just his mere amount, the number of hours the man has done at work, his family can really suffer from it; it’s a challenge,” Pritzker said. “I really just want to call them out today and say that they really deserve honor for the public service that former Speaker Madigan did.”
Asked about the implications of Madigan in the ComEd investigation, Pritzker said it was going its course.
“The accusations that exist around such things are not good,” Pritzker said. “I believe it is our job to speak the truth, to be honest, to do the right thing, to serve with integrity.”
WATCH: Government JB Pritzker responds to Madigan’s resignation
Read Madigan’s full statement here:
“Today I announce that I will be resigning as State Representative of the 22nd District at the end of the month. It was my great honor to serve the people of Illinois as Speaker of the House and State Representative of the 22nd District. This trip would not would have been possible without my wonderful wife, Shirley, and children, Lisa, Tiffany, Nicole, and Andrew, who stood by my side year after year and gave their love and support, despite the pressure to grow in the public spotlight. I’m happy to have it in my life.
“Fifty years ago I decided to dedicate my life to public services. Simply put, I knew I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. I then believed and still do today that it is our duty as civil servants. to the lives of the most vulnerable and help hardworking people build a good life.These ideals were the cornerstone of my work on behalf of the people of Illinois and the driving force during my time in the Illinois home.
“As speaker, legislator, and member of the Illinois Constitutional Convention, I have worked to make the General Assembly an equal branch of government, to ensure that it serves as an inquiry into the power of the governor and the executive. , especially around the abuse of a governor There have been many fierce battles to deter governors from rewriting legislation sent to them by the General Assembly.
“I am particularly proud of our work to expand the range of votes in the House Democratic Caucus to include more women, coloreds and members of the LGBTQ community. During my tenure as speaker of the Illinois House, we have worked to represent from all backgrounds, and convictions to truly represent the interests of the people of our state.
‘With the partnership of this diverse and talented group of Illinois Democrats and with our colleagues across the aisle, we were able to level the playing field and strengthen the middle class, while workers in other states saw their wages decline.
“We have brought about the reform of school funding to increase investment for schools in need and address inequalities in our education system. We have made Illinois a welcome state by adopting the Illinois Dream Act and issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented residents.
‘We have strengthened the rights of workers, raised the minimum wage, expanded access to health care for the most vulnerable residents of Illinois, and protected a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions.
“We upheld the rights of all Illinois residents by accepting marital equality, and finally recognizing the rights of men and women to marry the people they love. We have enacted reforms of criminal law to make laws demolish what colored too many people and led the country to expand voting rights as other states weakened them.
“In collaboration with leaders in the retail, hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare and other industries, we have built a partnership with job creators to encourage economic development and address crises in our unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation systems. We also have opportunities in tourism and film industry, set up the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority which rediscovered McCormick Place and Navy Pier, and established the Illinois Sports Authority Authority which held the White Sox in Chicago.
“When we were confronted with the Rauner government and the interests of the rich who wanted to weaken unions and the labor movement in Illinois, we stood up for working people.
“Rauner plunged our state into a budget crisis, nearly bankrupted social services agencies, eliminated higher education funding, and in the process recovered billions of dollars in government debt. House Democrats were the last line of defense to protect us. State of collapse.
“Under my leadership, we have increased the transparency of the state and local government by creating the Freedom of Information Act and protecting it from attempts to water it down,” Rod Blagojevich accused, repeatedly repeating the laws of state ethics. and strengthen campaign funding. “
“It’s no secret that I was the target of malicious attacks by people who tried to diminish my many achievements to increase the working people of Illinois. The fact is that my motivation to hold the elected office never wavered. I was determined in my commitment to public service and integrity, always acting in the interests of the people of Illinois. ‘
“My accomplishments would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of many staff members over the years. I thank them for their efforts on behalf of the House Democratic Caucus and the people of Illinois. I would also like to thank the many volunteers and supporters who worked on behalf of the residents of the 22nd District worked.It was with the joint support of many people that Illinois made a bastion of democratic values.
“I leave my office in peace with my decision and am proud of the many contributions I have made to the state of Illinois, and I do so in the knowledge that I have made a difference.”
Speaker Chris Welch made a statement following Madigan’s announcement and thanked him for his decades of service.
“I thank the former speaker for his sincere and meaningful contributions to our state,” Welch said Thursday.
“Now we need to build on that with a new generation of leadership that focuses on racial and gender equality in all dimensions, improves government transparency and leads with the kind of conviction, compassion and cooperation expected of our constituents. I appreciate his contributions. and I appreciate it joining Illinois residents across the state to wish him well, ” he said.
“Today’s news about the retirement of Rep. Madigan is no surprise to me and every other Illinois, and I’re been looking forward to this ‘new day’ in Illinois for some time. I appeal to the Democrats in “both chambers and the governor to think about how we can use this opportunity to improve Illinois. Reputant Madigan’s autocratic rule over the decades has not made Illinois a prosperous or competitive state,” the Illinois Republican leader said. , Jim Durkin, said in a statement Thursday.
“Our state moves – financially, structurally and ethically. New ideas and sincere cooperation between the parties are the only way forward,” Durkin said.
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