Mike Madigan trial: Day 3 focused on relationship with ComEd

CHICAGO - Day three of testimony in the corruption trial of former House Speaker Mike Madigan focused on the details of how he did business with ComEd in Springfield.

Scott Vogt, a longtime ComEd executive, took the stand on Wednesday and explained that if his company wanted to get big things done in Springfield, there was one person to go through.

"It was very important to understand that (Madigan) controlled to a large degree what bills were going to make it to the floor or make it to committee, or what would have an opportunity to be voted on," Vogt testified.

Vogt explained that ComEd was facing bankruptcy in 2006 and needed two big pieces of legislation to help pull them out. The so-called Smart Grid bill in 2011 and the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2015. Vogt explained that they successfully wooed Madigan and got the bills passed, which provided a windfall of billions for the company.

Then-Governor Pat Quinn vetoed the Smart Grid bill in 2011, saying he felt it was bad for ratepayers—indeed, it led to big rate hikes. Madigan led the charge to override Quinn’s veto.

Prosecutors did not ask Vogt about alleged favors ComEd had to pay in order to get what it wanted—namely, no-work jobs and contracts for Madigan cronies.

Vogt also confirmed the nicknames co-defendant and former top lobbyist Mike McClain used when referring to the Speaker—"he" and "himself."

Testimony continues on Thursday, with former top Democratic lawmaker Lou Lang expected to take the stand.