Will County Gazette

House Republican Floor Leader Mark Batinick doesn’t put much stock in an ethics reform package now being advanced by Democrats.

“It means absolutely nothing if you’re not demanding that Mike Madigan resign as House speaker,” Batinick told the Will County Gazette. “Without that, nothing they can say or do really makes much of a difference.”

With Madigan (D-Chicago) now embroiled in a still developing federal corruption probe involving utility giant ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme, some Democrat lawmakers are pushing an array of reform measures they tout as ways to change the culture in Springfield. Topping the list of proposals are measures that would ban legislators from becoming lobbyists, require greater financial disclosures, establish a censure process, make the legislative inspector general more independent, and institute term limits.

While some have openly accused Democrats pushing the plan of engaging in election year posturing, Batinick, at least on some levels, is willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

“I think they may be sincere in wanting certain things done in Springfield, but unless you have the guts to call out Madigan and say he has to go and I will no longer vote for him to be in power, none of this means anything," Batinick said. "It’s not enough to just talk about what you want to see happen.”

Almost from the moment that federal authorities have fingered Madigan as a central character in a still unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme, Batinick has blasted Democrats over their reaction to the scandal.

“For me, the Madigan situation is like a litmus test,” he said. “I don’t think the voters of Illinois should be casting a ballot for anyone that will vote for Mike Madigan to carry on as House speaker.”