Sorry I did not see the paywall on my end- Michael Madigan has resigned his seat in the Illinois General Assembly, ending a decades-long legislative career unlike almost any in state history. The resignation takes effect at the end of the month.

In a statement, the Southwest Sider, who was forced to give up his job as House speaker in January, said he leaves office "at peace with my decision and proud of the many contributions I have made." "Fifty years ago, I decided to dedicate my life to public service," Madigan, 78, said in a statement, not mentioning that he simultaneously built a lucrative property tax appeals law practice that made him a very wealthy man. "Simply put, I knew I wanted to make a difference in peoples' lives." Madigan's statement goes on to mention a range of accomplishments, including saving the Chicago White Sox, battling former GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner and diversifying the membership of the Illinois House. "It's no secret that I have been the target of vicious attacks by people who sought to diminish my many achievements lifting up the working people of Illinois," he added. He did not mention the Commonwealth Edison bribery scandal that brought him down. Federal officials appear to be targeting Madigan in that prosecution, and have directly implicated him in some court documents, but Madigan has not been charged with any crimes and has denied any wrongdoing. With Madigan's departure, an era ends in which South Side Democrats long dominated Chicago and Illinois politics. Serving not only as a state representative but also as Democratic committeeman in the 13th Ward, Madigan was a protégé of Mayor Richard J. Daley, fought briefly with Daley successor Mayor Jane Byrne and then amped up his power under successors including Mayor Richard M. Daley. In a statement, Madigan's successor as House speaker, Rep. Chris Welch, praised Madigan as a man of the people who had accomplished much. "I thanks the former speaker for his sincere and meaningful contribution to our state," Welch said, noting legalization of same-sex marriage, abolition of the death penalty and solidified abortion rights. "Now we must build on that with a new generation of leadership." Madigan's decision has been expected since he lost his speakership, and just about everyone in Illinois politics has something to say about it. The Chicago Federation of Labor, in a statement, called Madigan a "steadfast, dedicated and courageous champion of workers and their families in Illinois for a generation." The federation praised Madigan for is dedication to good ethics, noting that the state got the first limits on campaign contributions during Madigan's nearly four decades as speaker. Said Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy on Michael Madigan’s resignation: "Chairman Madigan's legacy is that of presiding over the decline of a once-great state, ballooning pension liabilities by hundreds of billions of dollars and the accumulation of historic political power that primarily benefited government insiders and special interests. Chairman Madigan may no longer be a state representative, but he is still chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois, where he personally controls over $15 million in campaign cash."