IN LIGHT OF AN ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL CHARGE AGAINST FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE MADIGAN, ILLINOIS HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE CALLING FOR CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT TO BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY. (two stories, same lead).

MADIGAN FACES ANOTHER CORRUPTION CHARGE, THIS TIME INVOLVING A-T-AND-T. THE COMPANY HAS AGREED TO PAY A 23 MILLION DOLLAR FINE FOR ILLEGALLY TRYING TO INFLUENCE THE FORMER SPEAKER. REPRESENTATIVE TOM DEMMER OF DIXON SAYS THIS SHOWS THAT NO ONE PERSON SHOULD HAVE SO MUCH POWER IN THE LEGISLATURE.

HOUSE G-O-P LEADER JIM DURKIN SAYS HIS DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES, WHO HOLD MAJORITIES IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, MUST REALIZE THAT THESE ACCUSATIONS OF TRYING TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION THROUGH BRIBERY HAVE MAJOR CONSEQUENCES.

MADIGAN HAS ALREADY BEEN FEDERALLY INDICTED OVER AN ALLEGED BRIBERY SCHEME WITH COM-ED.