Will County Gazette

Illinois state Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) has one simple question he'd like answered by his 2020 opponent in the 97th District, Plainfield trustee Harry Benton (D-Plainfield).

“He should be asked whether he supports Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) continuing as Speaker of the House,” Batinick told the Will County Gazette. “There’s no question that the Democrats need to make a statement on this, but I suspect that he will avoid the question and to me that signals that he plans to vote for him.”

Batinick, who also serves as House Republican Floor Leader, argues that the issue of Madigan is now more critical than ever given all the rumors swirling around the longtime lawmaker as a number of ongoing federal corruption probes continue to unfold in Springfield. In the last month alone, veteran state lawmakers Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago) and state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) have both been forced to step down from office after being implicated in separate investigations. 

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago)

In the case of Arroyo, who has already left office, federal agents actually took him into custody on bribery charges. More recently, the Chicago Tribune has reported that federal agents are asking more pointed questions about Madigan as they sort through all the dirt.

“This is why we have such high taxes and high debt here in Illinois,” Batinick said. “[Madigan] has been the one common thread, the one who’s been here through it all. I think he’s got to bare at least some of the responsibility. Over the last few years, he’s had as much political responsibility for policy-making in Illinois as anyone.”

Batinick recently joined a group of GOP lawmakers in demanding that Madigan himself steps down. Batinick argues that Benton owes it to voters in the district to at least go on the record with where he stands on the question the House Speaker's ability to lead going forward.

“Our first vote as a state representative is to elect a Speaker of the House,” Batinick said in a press release. “To reform Illinois, we must take that vote seriously and be honest with the voters. I have consistently voted no in allowing Speaker Madigan’s unchecked power to continue and call upon my opponent to provide a straightforward answer as well.”

Since arriving in Springfield, Batinick has pushed a reform-minded agenda that includes term limits, fair maps, revolving-door bans and other proposals aimed at bringing about greater transparency.

“Candidates cannot change Springfield by embracing the status quo and allow Speaker Madigan to continue as the House Leader,” Batinick said. “I am running to reform the culture of corruption in Springfield, and that starts by voting No on Madigan.”