Will County Gazette

State Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) says voters have had enough of what she calls Springfield’s pay-for-play politics.

“When I go door-to-door in my district talking to voters they all express outrage at Illinois pay-to-play politics. Everyone knows how the Chicago Democratic machine works,” she told the Will County Gazette. “They know they are not part of it, and they know they are getting screwed because they are paying the cost of corruption.

McDermed said she is dumbfounded as to why the state's Democrats are moving to give even more power to the House Rules Committee they control in terms of what bills actually make it to the Chamber floor for debate. 

Margo McDermed

The five-member panel will now have complete control over the flow of all legislation coming out of Springfield, giving longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) even more authority in the way he flexes his political muscle in terms of what bills get to see the light of day.

McDermed said she’s hopeful that people have had enough of what she says is Madigan’s ironclad control corruption.

“Just as women came forward last year talking about the sexual harassment that is part of the machine’s operation, now people are coming forward to talk about its financial workings,” she added.

McDermed added she believes the still-evolving scandal in Chicago, where Ald. Danny Solis reportedly captured conversations he had with longtime Ald. Ed Burke, leading to his federal indictment, will spark people to action.

“Solis had to wear that wire because the feds were able to leverage him,” she said. “Let’s hope these revelations encourage others who know about any actual financial self-dealing to have the courage to come forward.”

Finally, McDermed said, she is outraged that Democrats in Springfield have so quickly moved to put forth policies completely different from those many ran on in November.