CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A top Republican lawmaker suggests he’s in the best position to become the next Speaker of the Illinois House.
With the latest arraignments of figures in ComEd’s federal Bribery case, Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin said it’s time for Speaker Michael Madigan, the alleged target of the scheme, to resign as Speaker and Representative.
"Both, I am asking him to leave the General Assembly," he said.
Sixty votes are needed in the House to be elected Speaker. So, Durkin was asked if Republicans will join with Democrats—who hold a veto-proof majority—to elect a Democrat other than Madigan? No, he said.
"As of today, I have more votes for Speaker than any other member of the House of Representatives, and I will say I have more votes than Speaker Madigan, so I will over the next month and a half appeal to 15 Democrats, who have a reform agenda, reform-minded Democrats," he said.
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Durkin admits that could lead to a standoff, and he said the Illinois Secretary of State would preside over the House until its resolved.
Until a Speaker is named, a lot of House legislative work would be stalled.