Metro East Sun

Bethalto Republican Mike Babcock thinks federal agents probing the ongoing ComEd scandal are on the verge of striking a nerve with House Speaker Mike Madigan.

“They are doing the job,” Babcock told the Metro East Sun. “From everything I hear, Speaker Madigan has a circle of about five people he regularly communicates with and investigators are working on finding someone who maybe deals with one of those individuals that can maybe speak to everything that’s been going on with ComEd.

Federal authorities recently moved to charge Fidel Marquez, who formerly served as vice president of governmental affairs, with bribery and conspiracy stemming from his alleged part in a pay-for-play scheme in which indictments say jobs, contracts and payments were steered to associates known to be close to Madigan in exchange for his support on certain legislation.

Earlier this summer, federal investigators also announced that the utility giant had been charged with a years-long bribery scheme where at least $1.3 million in perks were steered to Madigan associates. At the same time, Madigan’s office was served with a grand jury subpoena seeking more information about their dealings with such companies as at AT&T, Walgreens and Rush University Medical Center.

“I think everyone that cares about Illinois welcomes the feds getting involved here because we can use all the help we can get steering Springfield back on track,” said Babcock, adding that includes the new bipartisan special House committee convened to look into Madigan’s conduct and determine if it merits disciplinary action.   

“I think they can be effective and be of some help to taxpayers,” he said. “He’s been leading Illinois down the wrong path for a long time. So, again, anything they can add that helps clean things up goes a long way.”