Lake County Gazette

Former Republican state Senate candidate Chris Kasperski is at a complete loss to comprehend Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s way of governance.

“I do not understand what would compel Gov.  Pritzker to believe that Illinois no longer has systemic issues with patronage, cronyism, and corruption, because we clearly do,” Kasperski told the Lake County Gazette. “Federal investigators have been swarming around Springfield as case after case of corruption comes out and the governor wants to kick out the watchdogs? That seems highly suspect to me.”

Pritzker recently raised many eyebrows with his declaration that he’d like to see the court-ordered federal oversight of state government hiring practices in the executive branch become a thing of the past.

Insisting that there is no longer a need for such oversight, the governor recently outlined in a court filing how he’s convinced the state has already achieved the objectives set forth by the Shakman Decrees from nearly four decades ago and no longer requires a watchdog to monitor patronage hiring. In addition, he maintains oversight can only apply to political coercion of current employees.

“It appears that Gov. Pritzker is pushing for the foxes to guard the henhouse,” added Kasperski, who narrowly lost his 31st District battle against incumbent state Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake). “Perhaps he believes that if they keep their problems internal, then it will increase the confidence that people have in a government that, frankly, doesn't deserve it. After the revelations from the ComEd scandal and the subsequent fallout that is occurring with other companies that appear to have bribed Speaker (Mike) Madigan, it is appalling that he would suggest that federal oversight is no longer needed.”

The state’s longest-tenured lawmaker, Madigan now finds himself at the center of a still evolving federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme where all the perks were allegedly steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation.

And then, there are the governor’s own troubles, namely the federal investigation looking into him avoiding $331,000 in property taxes by ripping the toilets out of a Gold Coast mansion he owns.

“Springfield needs to rid itself of Speaker Madigan once and for all and in two years make Pritzker a one-term governor for being an accessory to such corruption,” Kasperski added. “In the meantime, we must keep a vigilant watch over Springfield, as they have proven incapable of policing themselves.”