From the Illinois Freedom Caucus:
IL Freedom Caucus: IL Democrats have learned nothing since disgraced former Speaker Mike Madigan went to jail
Springfield, IL – A special House Committee convened today to investigate the federal charges State Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) is a facing and it is clear Democrats have not taken to heart the lessons learned from the imprisonment of former House Speaker Mike Madigan, according to the Illinois Freedom Caucus.
“We are here because of years and years of unchecked one-party rule,” said State Representative Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville).
“Sending the most powerful speaker of the House in the country to prison apparently was not enough of a wakeup call for Illinois Democrats who are continuing the same abuse of power that got Madigan into trouble in the first place.”
State Representative Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro) said the current protocols to safeguard ethical conduct are not working.
“Carol Ammons took the same ethics training – a video slideshow – we all took,” Miller said.
“Clearly, it did not work in her case.
“Conversely, Harry Benton took sexual harassment training – another video slideshow – and that did not work either.
“The reality we face is that decades of scandal have destroyed the public’s trust in state government.
“This must end.”
While this is not a partisan issue, Halbrook said the Democrats have total control of the Capitol complex and must take ownership of the ethics problems emanating from their ranks.
“At some point, we have to be honest about who it is that is refusing to make the government more transparent, more ethical, and more accountable,” Halbrook said.
“The reason we do not have ethics reforms with real teeth is because Democrats refuse to pass them.
“We can disagree about policy, politics, issues, but all 118 members of the House should conduct themselves ethically and morally.
“The people of Illinois deserve reform in their government.
“Those who refuse to do better should resign.”
