SPRINGFIELD – Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan is being derided as a vindictive leprechaun, called a corrupt tyrant and accused of carrying his daughter to the post of attorney general.

Illinois Republican leaders are heaping increasingly harsh criticism on Madigan as they try to make him an issue in legislative races across Illinois this fall. But it also comes as Madigan and his fellow Democrats are negotiating with Republican legislative leaders on how to cut government pension costs, raising the question of whether the barbs will make it harder to reach a deal.

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said it won’t affect the speaker at the bargaining table, but one top Madigan lieutenant said the personal comments certainly don’t help.