Metro East Sun

State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) struggles to make sense of Democrats’ growing silence as the federal corruption probe that finds House Speaker Mike Madigan at its center continues to play out.

“Their party bosses have destroyed this state, ruining communities and destroying opportunity for Illinois families to pay to play,” Plummer told the Macon Reporter. “They’re happy to be good little lapdogs as long as the campaign dollars keep flowing and the pay increases keep coming.”

The longest serving lawmaker in state history and arguably the most powerful politician in Illinois, Madigan now finds himself at the center of a probe targeting utility giant ComEd where prosecutors contend the company engaged in a “years-long bribery scheme” involving jobs, contracts and payments that were steered to him as a way of currying favor with the longtime house speaker and chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.

Though no official charges have been filed against Madigan, prosecutors have not been shy in asserting that ComEd attempted to “influence and reward” him by providing financial benefits to those directly tied to him.

“No doubt more is to come,” Plummer added. “Taxpayers should be grabbing torches and pitchforks.”

Through a spokesperson, Madigan has indicated he plans to cooperate with the probe and is already staunchly proclaiming his innocence.

Plummer is one of a growing chorus of GOP lawmakers that aren’t buying it.

“There’s obviously a lot more to learn, but I don’t think anyone is surprised by this,” he said. “For too long, Illinois has been a hotbed of corruption and much of it starts at the top. I’ve been calling for the speaker to resign for many years now.”