SE Illinois News

With November’s general election weeks away, Darren Bailey isn’t surprised by reports of House Speaker Mike Madigan seeking to deceive voters.

“It’s pretty well known that career politicians like Madigan don’t tell the truth,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. “That’s just the way Springfield works, and Mike Madigan is a master at it.”

The long-time House speaker has been accused of being behind the flood of “no budget, no pay” mailers sent to residents in several districts where he is supporting a candidate. The ad leaves the impression Madigan supports such legislation when in truth he has staunchly opposed it, according to North Cook News.

House Speaker Mike Madigan

Ultimately, Madigan went as far as filing suit against former Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger, after she moved to withhold pay for lawmakers in Springfield when no balanced state budget is in place.

Now serving as Gov. Bruce Rauner’s deputy governor, Munger recently led a group of GOP legislators in a press conference where they sought to bring his "distortions" to light.

“I support no budget, no pay,” said Bailey, running against Democrat Cynthia Given in the 109th District. “I found it disgusting lawmakers continued to get paid while everyone else suffered. I’m even for revamping the pay scale for legislators, because I think they are overpaid for part-time work that they do.”

Still, the fact that Madigan even feels the need to now address such issues bodes well for long-frustrated voters, Bailey said.

“The fact that he is waffling is encouraging, especially when you consider it comes just days after he was apologizing for the sexual harassment in Springfield he allowed,” he said. “To me, the fact that he’s shaken says the heat is on”

Everywhere he goes, Bailey said he talks to voters about holding their representatives accountable.  

“Integrity is important and we need more people who feel that way in state government,” he said. “Right now, all they see is government squandering everything that they touch.”

The 109th House District includes Clay, Edwards, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White counties.