SE Illinois News

Newly elected state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) says he hoped to see more signs of resistance to the Springfield establishment building by now.

“We need to rattle the foundation and shake the leadership in Springfield to no end,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. “That’s what’s desperately needed if we’re ever going to get this state back on track and headed in the right direction.”

 Bailey did not try to hide his disappointment in longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan easily being re-elected to that position.

Illinois State House Speaker Mike Madigan

“You kind of knew it was going to happen, but at the same time you’re kind of hoping against hope that enough of the new members can make a big enough difference to have it really matter,” he said.

Madigan’s re-election extends a run for him of being in leadership in Springfield in 34 of the last 36 years and comes despite Illinois Policy Institute reporting he now holds just a 21 percent approval rating.

“I hope he realizes there can be no more excuses, not with Democrats being in total control,” said Bailey, who was elected in the109th District with over 75 percent of the vote. “He talks about starting this new phase in government of working together. We’ll soon find out if he means any of what he says.”

Bailey vowed to be among the first to call Madigan out if he sees the speaker operating in the same “business as usual” fashion Bailey says has led to many of the state’s hardships.

“I would imagine over the years he’s said a lot of the same things he’s saying now, and all that’s happened is the state has further plummeted,” he said. “This state doesn’t have the luxury of being able to allow him to get away with that any longer, and the people sent me here to speak out and not just stand by as that continues to happen.”

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