Lake County Gazette

Mike Amrozowicz, running for state Senate in District 31, said remaking the legislative map is crucial to bring new blood into the Capitol.

The re-mapping initiative, which would let Illinois voters decide the parameters of their district’s political boundaries, achieved a big victory earlier this month when the State Board of Elections approved the measure to be an item on the upcoming November ballot. The measure acquired more than 560,000 signatures, suggesting that a large number of constituents are in favor of deciding for themselves their legislative boundaries.

The approval, however, hinges on the results of a pending lawsuit regarding the constitutionality of the proposal. Regardless, Amrozowicz believes in the cause.

Mike Amrozowicz | Contributed photo

“Reforming the legislative mapping process is vital,” Amrozowicz told the Lake County Gazette. “For too long, politicians have been gerrymandering the legislative maps and creating job security for a chosen few. We need to put an end to the process of where legislators choose their voters and return to a process where voters choose their legislators.”

Amrozowicz said several politicians in the Capitol, such as House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Dist. 22) exert too much influence and control on the floor. Such an example is when the speaker canceled another planned session of the General Assembly on June 15, the second time in two weeks, while legislative groups convened to discuss the budget impasse.

Amrozowicz compares Madigan to a spoiled child and is not surprised by his stubborn stand in the budget impasse.

“It's typical,” Amrozowicz said. “Madigan and his cronies have become incredibly spoiled after years of having rubber-stamp governors signing off on their unbalanced budgets. Just like a spoiled child, Madigan's only response is to pout and act impetuously, now that we have a governor that's holding him to account and forcing him to meet the Illinois constitutional mandate of a balanced budget."

Furthering the analogy of a petulant child, Amrozowicz compares the actions of Madigan and his party to that of an inept and incompetent employee.

“As I often said, if we conducted ourselves like that at work, we would get fired, which brings up back to what the voters are saying -- irresponsible behavior and incompetent management of others' resources is cause for firing the Michael Madigan Democrat cabal,” Amrozowicz said.

Voters are tired of Madigan and his associates, Amrozowicz said, and he has spoken to many of his district’s residents, whom he said want Madigan voted out. Amrozowicz said current lawmakers have been spending, taxing and misappropriating at extraordinary levels.

Gov. Bruce Rauner seemingly agreed with Amrozowicz when he vetoed a bill which aimed to appropriate $3.9 billion to higher education and human services. These vital institutions are in danger of closing down and already have reduced their hours and manpower. Many are pleading for assistance and urged the governor to find a resolution.

Rauner, however, was adamant that the proposed bill would cause more harm than good because it had no clear source for funding and was unbalanced. He has instead advocated that lawmakers compromise and develop a balanced budget.

Amrozowicz agrees with the governor, taking aim at Madigan and stressing that the speaker has yet to offer any substantial proposals.

“It is once again typical of the Madigan machine to vote on unfunded mandates that aim to create political headlines, but offer no substantive outcome," Amrozowicz said.

Amrozowicz also compares the actions of Madigan and his party to that of an untrustworthy bank.

“I was just discussing this process with some voters at a Chamber of Commerce event,” Amrozowicz said. “I asked them what their thoughts would be if someone showed them a statement from a personal bank account with a zero balance and that person promised you, your spouse, and your three kids $50,000 each by the end of the year. They responded that they wouldn't believe that person."

Amrozowicz said this is what is currently happening in the Capitol. Voters are promised the money, but the Democrats are hiding the bank statements, Amrozowicz said.