Will County Gazette

State Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) finds the fact that since taking office, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has settled on an overwhelming number of hires endorsed by House Speaker Mike Madigan to be a bit more than just coincidence.  

"Gov. Pritzker claims he knew many of the people or that others had recommended them,” McDermed told the Will County Gazette. "That may be true, but it’s also true all of them were recommended by Mike Madigan. You have to wonder if they weren’t on that list if that would be the case. Would the failure to be there be a reason not to hire them?”

A new WBEZ report details how over his first 18 months in power, the governor has hired at least 35 people from a so-called “clout list” compiled by and supplied to him by Madigan.

“I’m not surprised, but I’m disappointed, dismayed and left more cynical,” McDermed added. “At the end of the day, this is the way Illinois is and it's terribly consistent with many other things we’ve seen. It’s the same ‘good ole boy’ insider stuff. Nothing’s changed, same pay-to-play rules that have always been part of Illinois.”

In the end, McDermed said she sees just one way forward when it comes to safely getting the state back on track.

“I really believe it will take a Republican majority to change the tone of Springfield,” she said. “As long as Madigan is in power, inside deals will continue to be the order of the day and nothing will change until he is no longer the head of the Illinois Democratic Party and speaker of the House.”

McDermed said she’s come to realize Madigan’s power and influence even stretches beyond where many think it goes.

“Too many people come to Springfield feeling like they owe him their loyalty even over their constituents,” she said. “He controls everything by managing the purse strings and until that changes, nothing else will.”