State Representative Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) supports the petition which created the Special Investigating Committee to consider whether or not the House of Representatives should take disciplinary action against Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) filed the petition to form a Special Investigating Committee on Monday, August 31.
“The allegations of corruption concerning Mike Madigan is something the House of Representatives must review,” said Rep. Caulkins. “The formation of this Special Investigating Committee is the first step in order for the House of Representatives to consider taking the appropriate disciplinary action towards Mike Madigan. If the House deems these charges are true, Madigan could face up to and including expulsion from the House of Representatives.”
“Given the facts admitted by ComEd for its nine-year-long scheme to bribe Speaker Madigan, the Illinois House of Representatives must do its job and conduct a thorough investigation,” Leader Durkin said.
The House Republican members appointed to the Special Investigative Committee are Reps. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) and Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has been advised of the petition and the legislative process moving forward. It is Leader Durkin’s intention not to interfere in any way with the federal investigation.
(House Rule 91) 91. Special Investigating Committee.
(a) Disciplinary proceedings may be commenced by filing with the Speaker and the Minority Leader a petition, signed by 3 or more members of the House, for a special investigating committee. The petition shall contain the alleged charge or charges that, if true, may subject the member named in the petition to disciplinary action by the House and may include any other factual information that supports the charge or charges.
(b) Upon filing the petition, a special investigating committee consisting of 6 members shall be created. The Speaker shall appoint 3 members from the majority caucus and the Minority Leader shall appoint 3 members from the minority caucus. The Speaker shall appoint the Chairperson from among the 6 members. Members signing the petition may not be appointed to the special investigating committee. The contents of a petition for a special investigating committee shall be confidential until the appointment of all members except as to the member named, the members signing it, the Speaker, the Minority Leader, and the members of a special investigating committee.
(c) The Chairperson shall give reasonable notice of all meetings to the member named in the petition and to the public. All meetings of the special investigating committee shall be open to the public, unless, pursuant to Article IV, Section 5 (c) of the Illinois Constitution, the House votes by the affirmative vote of 79 members to hold proceedings in executive session. The Clerk shall keep an audio recording and transcripts of all meetings.
(d) The member named in the petition has the right to counsel during all meetings of the special investigating committee.
(e) The Chairperson may establish procedural rules (subject to the approval of the Speaker). The Committee may, in the discretion of the Chairperson, administer oaths and compel by subpoena (subject to Rules 4 (c) (9)) any person to appear and give testimony as a witness or produce papers, documents, or other materials relevant to the charge or charges.
(f) This Rule may be suspended only by unanimous consent.