Mike Madigan trial updates: Testimony continues in former Illinois speaker's trial

ComEd Vice President of Strategy and Energy Policy Scott Vogt is testifying Wednesday in the Madigan trial.

He spoke to ComEd's "dire" financial condition due to the rate freeze from 1998 to 2006.

Vogt said he works on budget forecasting, energy efficiency programs and general consulting.

He explained that ComEd provides services to customers, but the rates are regulated by state law.

Vogt said that during the rate freeze, there were more outages because their resources became limited.

He said ComEd paid attention to legislation in an effort to help the company.

Former Illinois Rep. Scott Drury echoed the comments made by his fellow former representative, Carol Sente, in speaking to former House Speaker Mike Madigan's power in his testimony Tuesday and Wednesday.

Drury is currently a lawyer, but ran three election cycles for state representative of some of the north suburbs as a Democrat.

He spoke to Madigan asking for his support and to the power he had over both legislation and the legislators.

Drury said Madigan told him at one point he couldn't figure out what the representative wanted.

When Drury said he wanted "good government," Madigan laughed.

Drury also testified that after he voted "present" rather than voting for Madigan and began pulling away from his support, he didn't pass any bills.

One of Madigan's defense attorney said at least one of his bills did pass.

An ethics bill became stuck at one point, however, Drury said.

Drury also said he spoke with an AT&T lobbyist for one of his bills.

It's Day 2 of testimony in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Former Majority Leader Lou Lang is set to take the stand about his resignation.

Tuesday, testimony focused on Madigan's power as house speaker, known by some as the "Velvet Hammer."

Carol Sente and Scott Drury both testified their legislative careers suffered, when they ran afoul of Madigan for various reasons.

They also spoke of how he replaced committee members when he saw fit.

During the second part of her testimony Tuesday, former Illinois Rep. Carol Sente said she respected former House Speaker Mike Madigan, and knew how hard his job was.

During cross-examination, she said she was regularly lobbied by organizations and companies. She said she found it helpful on how to vote on various bills.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's corruption trial continues Tuesday with jurors hearing testimony.

Sente added that ComEd had a large group of lobbyists in Springfield.

She said she was aware Mike McClain was a lobbyist, but that he didn't make her vote one way or another.

She acknowledged certain legislators and McClain had a close relationship with Madigan and had good access to him.

Sente agreed that having good access to Madigan made a lobbyist a good one.