Madigan announced last week that he was leaving the Senate to take a position as a member of the Illinois Industrial Commission, the body that hears appeals for workman’s compensation cases if either the employer or employee is not satisfied with the decision made by an arbitrator.

His resignation was effective at midnight June 30, and he begins his new duties on July 2.

Madigan said he will be serving mostly in Chicago but will also sit on panels in Springfield and hold reviews in various other parts of the state. He will have an office in his home in Lincoln, but his main office is in the state of Illinois building in Chicago. However, he said, he intends to continue to live in Lincoln.

He was appointed by Gov. George Ryan to fill an unexpired term and will serve until the term ends Jan. 17, 2005. Then, if he wishes to continue on the commission, he will have to be reappointed by whoever is governor at the time. He confirmed that his salary in the new position is $101,790. His salary as a state senator was $64,269.

"When I first ran for the legislature, I wanted to serve for 12 or 13 years, then do something else," he said. "I’ve served a little longer, 15 years. Recently the governor asked me if I would be willing to serve on the commission. It is a job I feel comfortable in."

Before serving in the legislature, Madigan was a claims specialist for State Farm Insurance. While in the senate, he was chair of the Insurance and Pension Committee and dealt with legislation in this area. "I felt the Illinois Industrial Commission job was a natural fit," he said.

His believes greatest accomplishment as a senator came in 1994, when five statewide pension systems — pensions for teachers, state employees, judges, General Assembly members and university retirees — were in deep financial trouble.

"I was the Senate sponsor of the plan to bring these systems up to a safe and sound funding level without a tax increase," he told the Lincoln Daily News. "The plan called for continuing appropriations from the general revenue fund so there would be sufficient money in each pension system."

Unfinished business in the legislature which he would like to see completed is putting the retired teachers health insurance fund on a firm financial basis. The fund is running out of money because claims were greater than expected. He said he believes the two task forces working on the problem will come up with a solution before the November veto session.

He would also like to see the legislature solve an age-old problem, finding additional funding for schools and reducing the tax burden on homeowners.

There were some hints that Madigan might be leaving his post, said John Parrett, McLean County GOP chairman.

"I kept hearing rumors that Sen. Madigan might be stepping down to take a position with a commission. I thought something might possibly transpire by August or September," Parrett said.

"Bob Madigan has been a highly respected state senator and has served us well. He will be missed by his constituents. He is well thought of and has an enormous amount of integrity," he added.

Mary Jane Jones, Mason County GOP chairman, said, "I am real sorry to lose him. He is well respected in Springfield. They listen to him, and they know he is there. He is a great loss to our district."

Madigan said he doesn’t know of anyone who has formally stepped forward to replace him.

His replacement, who must be chosen within 30 days of Madigan’s retirement, will be selected by seven Republican county chairmen, including the six who chose Lincoln attorney Jonathan Wright to replace John Turner. Turner was appointed an Appellate Court judge.

The 45th Senatorial District includes all of Logan, Mason and DeWitt counties, most of Tazewell and Woodford counties, and a part of Piatt and McLean counties. However, those boundaries may change later this year when district lines are redrawn to account for changes in the state’s population.

While Logan County GOP Chairman Ron Sparks had the heaviest weighted vote in the choice for the appointment to the 90th House district, Tazewell County Chairman Claude Stone will have the heaviest vote in the 45th Senatorial District.

Stone will have 45.2 percent of the vote, with the Woodford County chairman having 16.8 percent, the Logan County chairman 15.2 percent, DeWitt chairman 7.6 percent, Mason 6.8 percent, McLean 5.9 percent and Piatt 2.4 percent.

Stone said he has already had several people approach him about the appointment, but he referred them to the caucus chairman, Jered Hooker of DeWitt County. He said the GOP chairmen would not meet until after July 4.