A House committee investigating Speaker Michael Madigan's conduct kicked off its business in earnest Tuesday and almost immediately exposed its strong partisan divisions. Before taking testimony from a Commonwealth Edison executive, the committee spent nearly an hour arguing over whether House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs would be allowed to give an opening statement. Durkin wanted to deliver the statement and also to be allowed to question witnesses. Rep. Emanuel Welch, D-Hillside, chair of the House Special Investigating Committee II, had said Durkin could not deliver an opening statement because he was one of the Republican lawmakers who signed a petition that forced creation of the committee...
