|
 Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan
is the only legislative leader in the nation to also serve as a state party
chairman, according to the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, or ICPR.
But that practice would be outlawed under a bill filed Sept. 18 by state Rep.
Margo McDermed, R-Mokena. House Bill 4097 would bar any member of the General
Assembly from “concurrently [serving] as the chairperson for a statewide
political party.”
Of the 100 Republican and Democratic State Party chairs in the nation, just nine
also serve as state lawmakers, according to ICPR.
 McDermed’s bill is virtually guaranteed to be muzzled in committee.
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Madigan is the
longest-serving House speaker in modern American history. He broke
that record earlier this year, after controlling the chamber as
speaker for more than 11,900 days. Not only is he unmatched in
longevity, but he is also the most powerful House speaker in the
nation.
In addition to his leadership position, Madigan has served as the
Democratic state party chairman since 1998. This presents ample
opportunity for pure partisanship to intrude on the policy-making
process.
While McDermed’s bill is unlikely to succeed, it may help bring
attention to yet another way in which Illinois’ political process is
heavily tilted toward the will of a single man.
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