An Illinois lawmaker is stirring controversy with a proposal to ban the hanging of former House Speaker Michael Madigan's portrait at the Capitol amid his upcoming federal corruption trial. Rep. Ryan Spain, a Republican from Peoria, has floated a resolution to prevent Madigan from receiving this honor, typically afforded to past speakers of the House. "With indictments delivered for former Speaker Madigan, and a trial underway coming up this spring, I thought it was very important that we say no portrait of Speaker Madigan should be hung in the House of Representatives until such time that he may be acquitted," Spain told the Chicago Sun-Times. Notably, the current chamber does display an oil painting of former Republican Speaker and convicted felon George Ryan.
The push for ethics reform gains momentum, not only in the symbolic gesture of barring Madigan's portrait but also in legislative action, after convictions in the ComEd bribery case which ensnared Madigan’s closest associates. Illinois Republicans are now advocating for substantive changes to the state's ethics laws to prevent future corruption. According to an interview on "Chicago Tonight," House Republican leader Tony McCombie criticized the slow pace of reform under Democratic leadership, pressing for more robust measures. "The public deserves better and we must do more to enforce good government, and that needs to start with a call for legislative action," McCombie said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic-led chamber has remained largely silent on Spain's resolution, which was filed in March. However, the impending trial of Madigan, who faces a 23-count racketeering, bribery and conspiracy indictment related to alleged efforts by utility companies to influence him, could turn the tide. Spain has indicated rising interest from both sides of the political aisle as the trial date approaches.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker's administration has also addressed the need for stronger ethical standards, with his spokesman Alex Gough stating, "Since taking office, Gov. Pritzker has advanced the cause of ethics reform in key areas, especially in bringing more transparency to the process and tightening requirements for lobbyists." But Republicans argue that piecemeal reforms are insufficient given the scale of the issues. Senate minority leader John Curran emphasized the need for more rigorous enforcement, "There have been some steps on transparency and disclosures that the General Assembly has taken, but we continue to under-resource and understaff the law enforcement end of it that actually investigates these types of crimes," Curran told "Chicago Tonight".
In light of the recent convictions, the symbolism of who is immortalized on canvas within the state Capitol has become a battleground in the larger fight against corruption. This comes a decade after the legislature passed a measure to prevent public funds from being used to honor impeached ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was also convicted on corruption charges. The debate continues as Madigan's trial looms, with a nation watching Illinois' attempt to reconcile its storied political past with a more ethical future.
