Will County Gazette

Republican House Floor Leader Mark Batinick fears news Gov. J.B. Pritzker has hired at least 35 people from a so-called “clout list” compiled by House Speaker Mike Madigan only tells half the story.

“I really things it’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the level of influence the speaker wields on this administration,” Batinick told the Will County Gazette. “I really feel if the public fully understood how much power Madigan has, they would vote a lot differently when they go to the polls.”

And Batinick argues none of it is just happenstance.

“People are put in those positions for a reason and I don’t think any of them are to the benefit of the people of this state,” he said.

Come November, Batinick said he is hoping enough people will have paid attention to what’s happening in Springfield to cast their votes more strategically.  

“For awhile now, part of the problem has been too many rank-and-file voters have been solely concentrated on national politics,” he said. “We need to have more people starting to pay closer attention to local politics to get the change in results we want and need.”

Batinick has taken issue with several of the governor’s recent moves, including him signing off on the state’s new $42 billion spending plan.

“I’m dumbfounded at the fact legislators would push for something like this while so many people across this state are suffering the way they are,” Batinick told the Will County Gazette. “It just speaks to the misplaced priorities of some of those in the legislature.”

In particular, Batinick has expressed displeasure with all the added spending and borrowing needed to make possible.

“There’s just not much about it that strikes me as Springfield showing that they’re serious about finally doing what we need to be doing to turn things around,” he said. “You would think that things would be more serious at this point, especially when you think about all the people in this state that are now unemployed with no clear idea of what comes next.”