We told you last week that Southtown- Star columnist Phil Kadner had offered his column as a forum for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to explain why this state is so messed up and what should be done to fix it.
The response, or lack thereof, was disappointing to Kadner, but not surprising.
I really didn’t expect Madigan (D-Chicago) to respond. If he ever decides to talk, every newspaper and TV station in the state would cover his news conference.
But Silent Mike doesn’t think the people of Illinois deserve an explanation.
Even the governor of Illinois, a member of Madigan’s Democratic Party, appears inept, befuddled and lost as he tries to figure out what the House speaker is going to do.
Kadner is not a Madigan-hater; pointing out Speaker has done good things, including standing up to utility companies trying to unreasonably jack up rates.
Also, Madigan was pretty much the only obstacle to Rod Blagojevich’s campaign to destroy Illinois.
I give Madigan his due. Still, it’s an insult to the taxpayers of this state to keep them in the dark about this financial mess.
It would harm nothing, as far as I can see, for the speaker to tell us all how he views the current situation and what he sees as the solution.
Then again, Madigan is a master politician. He must believe it’s to his advantage to say nothing.
Government runs best in Illinois when the people remain ignorant.
The Speaker will return, with his colleagues, to Springfield next week. His actions will probably do most of the talking.