Thomas O'Neill, the former general counsel at powerful Illinois electrical utility CommonWealth Edison, testified Oct. 28 that his lobbying efforts aimed at former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D) and his associates saved the utility from what he said was impending bankruptcy via rate hikes the speaker got approved through energy bills only he could bring to the Illinois House floor.
In exchange for political favors, O'Neill says ComEd provided lobbying payments to Madigan associates.