Lake County Gazette

Republican state Senate candidate Thomas McCullagh can’t fathom why anyone would put much stock in any Democratic ethics reform plan that's being offered while House Speaker Mike Madigan is still at the helm.

“It’s absolutely terrifying to think of giving the keys to the kingdom back to someone who’s already shown themselves to be a bad ruler,” McCullagh told the Lake County Gazette. “If we all allow him to have a hand in crafting any ethics reform bill, it’s a given that he will only do what stands to benefit him.”

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.

Running against Illinois state Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) in the 49th District, McCullagh doesn’t seem convinced that any of it would be enough.

“We need to be looking at what other states with low levels of corruption are doing,” he said. “As part of that, we need to hire an independent inspector general that will have the power to do what needs to be done to clean things up while not being bothered by corrupt politicians that still have influence.”

Weeks after Madigan was first named in the still unfolding probe, McCullagh said he finds it odd that Bertino-Tarrant still hasn’t spoken out against him.

“She talks about wanting reform, but is still taking money from Madigan,” he said. “If people like her get back in office, it will only be more of the same because they’ve already shown their loyalty is to keeping a corrupt king in power.”