House GOP freshmen blast Madigan
 

[May 22, 2015]  By Mark Fitton | Illinois News Network
 
 SPRINGFIELD — With bipartisan talks stalled, the governor’s agenda stuck in park and many of their own bills ditched in committee, a group of GOP freshmen House members vented as they called for term limits Wednesday at the Capitol.

In particular, the first-term Republicans aimed their ire at Democrat Michael Madigan, longtime speaker of the House.

A spokesman for Madigan answered the Republicans were trying to distract people from their own issues and were whining.

WE DID OUR JOB: Madigan says the House has acted on pension reform.
WE DID OUR JOB: Madigan says the House has acted on pension reform.
Rep. Steve Andersson, R-Geneva, said Illinoisans’ choice of Republican Bruce Rauner as governor indicated “people wanted bipartisan government, not one party rule.”

Andersson said he was enthusiastic in January when Madigan welcomed Republicans “back to an active role in government.”

“In retrospect, that may have been the high point,” he said.

The freshman Republicans said what they’ve seen since being sworn in has been partisan entrenchment.

They say bills out of favor with Democratic leadership get dropped into a legislative black hole without real consideration, dialog or negotiation.

Meanwhile, they accused Democrats of bringing important measures before the House without the process of committee hearings, conducting votes meant only to reap campaign material and bringing billion-dollar spending bills up for consideration with short notice.

“Politics has gotten in the way of good governance and progress,” said Rep. Christine Winger, R-Bloomingdale.

“Too much time is spent on gamesmanship down here,” said Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield.

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said Republicans were just trying to draw attention away from a large batch of campaign checks handed to Republican legislators this week by Rauner.

Secondly, Brown said, “It’s always disappointing when grown people whine.”

While Republicans hold the Executive Mansion, Democrats have 71 of 118 seats in the House and 39 of 59 seats in the Senate.

Republicans bristle at the campaign funding reference and point out that Madigan, the Democratic Party state chairman, has long raised money for and distributed money to his members.

House Republicans have three separate constitutional amendments filed that are aimed at giving voters a chance to say yes or no to term limits for state officeholders, and Rauner may file his own proposal.