Weekly News from Leader McCombie

CORRUPTION

Dozens of secret recordings at Madigan trial show close ties with McClain, undercutting key defense point. This week began with opening statements in the racketeering conspiracy trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, whose attorneys insisted that no one had the right to speak for the speaker - that Madigan was "ignorant" of what people said behind his back.

But it ended with prosecutors playing a crush of about 30 recordings that suggest otherwise: That Madigan's longtime friend Michael McClain went straight from retiring as a lobbyist in late 2016 to doing "assignments" for Madigan - what a prosecutor called his "dirty work."

"This is no longer me talking," McClain told a veteran lawmaker in one such recording from 2018. "I'm an agent."

The fireworks came as prosecutors began to drill into core pillars of the case against Madigan and McClain - the alleged racketeering enterprise and the bribery scheme at ComEd.

Much of the evidence related to ComEd was aired at a separate trial last year. It ended with the convictions of McClain and three others. Still, the introduction of secret FBI recordings, and the key testimony from former state Rep. Lou Lang, livened things up in the 12th floor courtroom of U.S. District Judge John Blakey as the first week of testimony came to a close.

The evidence supported prosecutors' claim that Madigan led a criminal enterprise designed to enhance his political power and enrich his allies, with McClain serving as his agent. It also undermined the argument from Madigan attorney Tom Breen in opening statements that Madigan was "completely ignorant of what people are saying behind his back."

"They don't have the authority to speak that way for Michael Madigan," Breen said.

Lang, who served more than 30 years in the Illinois House of Representatives, kicked things off by taking the witness stand Thursday morning. Late in 2018, someone had threatened to come forward with an allegation against Lang after Springfield had already endured months of #MeToo scandals, including an earlier one involving Lang.

In one call heard by jurors Thursday, Madigan told McClain that "I think the guy's gonna be a continuing problem." In another, McClain bluntly asked, "When do you want me to call Lang and just lower the boom?"

"Sooner rather than later," Madigan tells him.

Lang looked straight ahead on the witness stand Thursday as prosecutors played the Nov. 8, 2018, call that came next. In it, McClain told Lang it was time to resign from the General Assembly. McClain said, "This is no longer me talking. I'm an agent, somebody that cares deeply about ya, who thinks that you really oughta move on."

"I understood at that time that [McClain] was a messenger for the speaker," Lang testified.

Read the rest of the Chicago Sun-Times coverage of the Madigan Trial.

Regardless of the ultimate verdict in the upcoming Madigan trial, we need to take action to eradicate corruption in state government and begin to restore public trust. As the Illinois House Minority Leader, I am spearheading efforts to advance the commonsense ethics reforms we need in Springfield. The Illinois majority has not passed ANY ethics legislation this year as promised, and I would argue any significant ethics reform since I first came to Springfield in 2017. There are no more excuses, this is the time to pass meaningful ethics reform.

TAXES

House Republicans Respond to Chicago Push for Progressive Tax Hike. With another threat to pass a progressive income tax in Illinois, I released the following statement:

"The default position for Democrats is to raise taxes. Four years ago, they failed to fool voters into passing an extreme income tax hike. Voters today are concerned about the high cost of living and unfriendly business climate in the state, both a product of the Democrats' own tax-and-spend schemes and consistent refusal to pursue any meaningful reforms. The last thing voters want is another tax increase."

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

California Democrats propose giving houses to immigrants: Is Illinois next? The national debate on immigration continues to intensify, and California's recent proposal to offer housing assistance to undocumented immigrants has placed even more attention on how states handle the crisis at hand. The proposed bill in California would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for state-backed home loans of up to $150,000, and with Chicago's migrant crisis making headlines throughout the year, we must ask ourselves, "is Illinois next?"

Illinois has long been recognized as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, reinforced by the Illinois TRUST Act passed in 2017. This act prevents law enforcement from working with or communicating with federal immigration authorities regarding a person's immigration status unless there is a federal criminal warrant issued.

Illinois has also expanded healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants, with the state's program providing healthcare benefits expected to cost nearly $831 million for the fiscal year 2024-far exceeding the $550 million that was budgeted​.

Illinois lawmakers such as State Representatives C.D. Davidsmeyer and Mike Coffey have pushed back.

A significant concern tied to Illinois' immigration policies has been the increasing cost of healthcare for undocumented immigrants. The state's expanded healthcare coverage for this population is expected to exceed $831 million for the fiscal year 2024, well above the original $550 million budget. In response to these rising costs, Davidsmeyer, Coffey, and several other lawmakers have co-sponsored House Resolution 220, which calls for a moratorium on new enrollees in the state's healthcare program for undocumented immigrants. The resolution also urges a state audit to assess how these services are administered and the financial impact on Illinois taxpayers.

Davidsmeyer has also introduced House Bill 5846, co-sponsored by McCombie, which proposes additional regulations to control benefits for undocumented immigrants and aims to ensure greater fiscal responsibility in managing healthcare programs. This bill reflects a growing consensus among Illinois Republicans that further steps must be taken to curb the costs associated with immigration-related policies, particularly as healthcare expenses continue to climb.

The opposition to the TRUST Act and other pro-immigration policies in Illinois comes against the backdrop of broader national debates on immigration and sanctuary policies. California's attempt to provide state-backed housing loans to undocumented immigrants, which was widely debated and ultimately vetoed by Governor Newsom, reflects the growing tensions between those who advocate for stronger protections for immigrants and those who argue that such policies are financially irresponsible​.

The financial toll of these policies cannot be ignored.

Illinois' sanctuary policies come at an unsustainable cost to hardworking Illinoisans who are already struggling with rising taxes, healthcare costs, and affordability issues. While we can all agree that our immigration system needs reform, placing additional financial burdens on Illinois taxpayers without addressing the root causes of this crisis is reckless. We need responsible, transparent, and realistic approaches that prioritize our citizens' needs while respecting the rule of law. California's proposal for state-backed housing loans to undocumented immigrants should sound the alarm here in Illinois, where we cannot afford to compromise our citizens' well-being for policies that only deepen our fiscal challenges.

As California grapples with its own immigration and housing policies, Illinois faces similar challenges. While it is unclear whether Illinois will follow California's proposed path in offering state-backed housing loans for undocumented immigrants, the debate is far from over. Illinois House Republicans are working hard to ensure that Illinois prioritizes the needs of its citizens.

HALLOWEEN

Staying Safe for Halloween. For centuries, Halloween has been celebrated around the world by children and adults alike. While the reason for celebration has gradually changed since the first Celtic festivals, October 31st has long been recognized as a day for communities to come together to enjoy spooky fun. Today, Halloween remains one of the most popular holidays in the United States and is often spent visiting haunted houses, carving pumpkins, and trick-or-treating. In 2024, an estimated $11.6 billion will be spent on Halloween-related goods, with more than 70% of Americans planning to celebrate.

Though many embrace Halloween as a day filled with costumes, decorations, and candy, it can also pose dangers for those who do not know how to enjoy the holiday safely. Emergency room visits due to cuts from pumpkin carving, falls while trick-or-treating, and allergic reactions to peanuts all spike on the 31st, but can be avoided by taking necessary steps to protect yourself and your trick-or-treating partners.

Check out one of my costumes from a years ago; I made sure to make a stop at Riverdale Elementary!

To enjoy the holiday safely, consider the following tips:

• When picking out a costume, ensure its materials are flame-resistant.
• Make sure your costume fits properly to prevent tripping.
• Consider wearing non-toxic makeup instead of masks that can obscure your vision.
• Avoid wearing colored contact lenses unless you have a prescription.
• Do not let young children carry sharp items or long accessories such as swords which can cause injuries.
• Add your child's name, address, and your phone number to their candy baskets in case they get lost.
• If your children plan on trick-or-treating without an adult, create a buddy system, plan a walking route, and set a time when they should return home. Instruct them not to enter strangers' homes or cars and to call 9-1-1 in case of an emergency.
• Do not place candle-lit pumpkins near your doorstep. If you would like a jack-o-lantern on your porch, use a flameless light source.
• Do not allow young children to carve their own pumpkins.
• Check your treats to see if they are unwrapped, expired, or contain allergens.

Following these safety tips can prevent most accidental injuries, but other safety hazards are present on Halloween. With lots of excited children near roads and an increase in impaired drivers, October 31st remains one of the most dangerous days of the year for child pedestrians. These tragic accidents happen far too often on Halloween night; however, they are largely preventable by following a few additional safety tips.

To minimize the risk of pedestrian accidents, make sure to:

• Trick-or-treat before dark and in familiar areas.
• Add reflective tape to darker costumes and carry glow sticks or flashlights to increase visibility.
• Remain on the sidewalk whenever possible. If you must walk on the street, stay to the left, facing traffic.
• Cross the road at crosswalks only. Look both ways and do not assume cars will stop for you, even if you have the right of way.
• Look out for cars that may be backing out of driveways or alleys.
• Keep an eye on young children at all times and have your group stay close together.

UPCOMING EVENTS

I just held two informational events on Medicare in my district, BUT, open enrollment is still going on for Medicare changes, so if you need help, check out my website RepMcCombie.com that has the info you need.

I am hosting a FREE utility clinic in Lanark next month!

The event will help attendees spot unnecessary charges on their natural gas, electric and phone bills, learn about energy efficiency programs, and discover options to access solar.

The event will be held on Thursday, November 21^st from 11:00am-1:00pm at the Lanark Public Library, 111 S. Broad Street.

With the rising costs impacting families across our state, this is an opportunity for residents to learn how to save money on their utility bills. I encourage anyone interested to come by and explore their cost-reducing options.

The utility clinic will be hosted with the Citizens Utility Board, which was created in 1983 by the Illinois General Assembly to represent the interest of residential and small-business utility customers throughout the state.

An RSVP is required to attend the event and can be done online through this link: https://repmccombie.com/utility-bill-clinic-rsvp/.

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